Free online algebra prep course for USCA students

The University of South Carolina Aiken is offering a free online college algebra preparatory course to new and incoming students to refresh their knowledge before officially beginning classes this fall.

USCA will offer the Mathematics Preparation Online Course, designed to help students succeed in college algebra. The course will cover number theory, set theory, linear equations, quadratic functions, and exponential functions. It is free and available to USCA and non-USCA students entering regional colleges and universities from July 8 to Aug. 9.

Dr. Scott McKay, dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering at USCA, said this course was created to better prepare incoming students for college algebra. Many of them haven’t had an algebra course since middle or early high school.

“Our main focus is to reach rising high school students who may feel a little uneasy about taking math courses in a college setting,” McKay said. “When students succeed in their initial math course at college, they have a much higher rate of degree attainment.”

“We found out that some of our college algebra students need more preparation to succeed in the course,” said Dr. Mohammad Hailat, chair of the Department of Computer Science, Engineering & Mathematics at USCA. “This summer math prep course provides students with that preparation before they start college.”

Professor William Shipes is the course instructor. For more information, contact him at williamsh@usca.edu or (803) 641-3694.

Interested parties can can sign up for the course by clicking here. The deadline to register is July 1.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.