Staff Resources

Spring Class Options:

Non-Metro specific sections:

For students who have chosen not to register in a support section: Statistics/Non-STEM Area 2/B4 stand-alone sections

For students who have chosen to register in a support section: Statistics/Non-STEM Area 2/B4 with support paired sections

Executive Order 1110 addressed some of the historic inequities related college preparation by removing remedial math and English courses that didn’t count for credit and replaced them with a system of college-level math and English courses with support.  Student placement into these courses, instead of relying on a single, high-stakes test, are now determined by multiple measures (test scores, grades, high school course work, and supplemental advising exercises), giving students multiple ways to demonstrate their current skills and choose the best courses for their success. All courses now count toward the 120 units required to graduate.

Advisor Cheat Sheet for Spring 2026 Area 2/B4 options 

• Students on pathways 1 or 2 in math MUST take the non-stretch version (DS110, MATH 110, or MATH 199) if they are on the Calculus or Business track. 
• Spring 2026 Admits (new starts) should complete the fifteen-minute math advising module at https://mathadvising.sfsu.edu to help them decide which version of the Area 2/B4 for best for them (continuing students are also eligible to take the FYMA module). 
• CR (but not a C-) in a MATH course during a pandemic semester (SP 20, FA 20, SP 21, FA 21) will count as filling a prerequisite for the next MATH in a series.  In all other semesters, a C or higher is required. 
• Some math courses require the purchase of a platform used to turn in homework.  Depending on which platform is used, it can cost between ~$28 - ~$85 per student.  It is possible to start using the platform immediately and have the fee added to the students account balance through the bookstore. 

• It is strongly encouraged for a student to complete their Area2/B4 requirement by the end of their first year.  If they are unable to complete the requirement in fall or spring, some Area2/B4 courses are offered during the summer. 

   

Detailed Breakdown:  

*Reminder, students’ intended major and math pathway play important roles in determining B4 choices. The math advising module will be asking those questions. 

STEM B4 Offered 

• MATH 197 – pathway 3 or 4 only 
• MATH 198 (Area 2/B4) 
• MATH 199 (Area 2/B4) 
• MATH 226 (Area 2/B4)  (Instructors will ask students to see their high school transcripts if using high school coursework to fulfill prereqs)  
  • Prerequisite: One of the following: MATH 198 or MATH 199 or equivalent with a grade of C or better; or MATH 226 or equivalent with a grade of C- or lower; or high school pre-calculus with B or better; or high school calculus with a grade of C or better. 
      

    Business B4 Offered 

• MATH 107 – pathway 3 or 4 only 
• MATH 108 (Area 2/B4) 
• MATH 110 (Area 2/B4) 
• DS 110 (Area 2/B4) 

    

  Other Area 2/B4 Offered** 

• MATH 124 
• MATH 124 w/MATH 123 (1 unit): any MATH 124 can be paired with any MATH 123
• ISED 160 
• ISED 160 w/MATH 123 (1 unit): any section of ISED 160 can go with any MATH 123
• PHIL 111 (No support course available) 
• HIST/IR/LCA/PHIL/PLSI 112 (No support course available) 
• PSY 171
• PSY 171 w/MATH 123 (1 unit): any PSY 171 can be paired with any MATH 123
    

  Not offered this Spring:

• GEOG 203 
• CSC 110  
• MATH 112

  **Metro students who are NOT STEM and NOT Business will take ETHS 116 or ETHS 117 as per their Ed plan. 

Advisor Cheat Sheet for Spring 2026 Area 1A/A2 options  

Overview: 

• Non-metro sections of ENG 105 will be open enrollment (no permit numbers & students can register in whichever section they want). Remaining in cohort is still strongly recommended.  
• There is no ENG 106 offered this semester.
• English has provided the Course Descriptions for all Composition for Multilingual Students (CMS) courses in Spanish and Mandarin here.
• One section of I R 205 is being offered this semester.

Advice to students this Spring: 

• Please complete your Area 1A/A2 in Spring, if possible. 
• If for any reason, a student is not able to enroll in an Area 1A/A2 in Spring, these are some options that students have pursued in the past. 
  • They can take an Area 1A/A2 course over the summer in order to complete their English requirement in their first year.
  • If a student is not table to take a course over the summer, they should prioritize Area 1A/A2 in fall.  

Area 1A/A2: Continuing Students from Fall 2024:  

• ENG 114 (Area 1A/A2)  
  • Students who did not sign up for any English in the first semester should take this course, unless they are multilingual and want to be in a course (ENG 209) with other students who speak multiple languages.  
  • Students who do not pass ENG 114 in fall should sign up again and take advantage of TASC, EOP Tutoring, and other support services or take ENG 209 if they are multilingual.  
• ENG 105 (Area 1A/A2) – second half of the ENG 104/105 
  
  • Students taking 104 currently should plan to register for any section of 105 for spring.
    
    • 105 sections will not require a permission code.
• ENG 209 (Area 1A/A2)
  
  • Intended for students who are multilingual and have not yet completed Area 1A/A2
• ENG 202 (Area 1A/A2)
  
  • Students taking 201 currently should plan to register for any section of 202 for spring
• I R 205 (Area 1A/A2)
  • For students who are interested in the world (travel, news, music, cultures, politics, pop-culture, immigration) and for students who identify as NOT needing additional writing support.

The Math Department supports students taking their Area 2/B4 course for a third time here at SF State only if there is enough seats available after all first and second attempt students have registered.  If a student would like to appeal to take a specific Area 2/B4 course for a third time, they should follow this procedure:

1. Students must wait until the start of the semester - the Chair will not review appeals before the first day of classes.
2. Student start by completing the college waiver.  Please note that this form no longer requires a permission code.
3. Once the semester has begun, the student should contact the Instructor of the section they would like to add, let them know it will be a third attempt, and ask if they can join the class.
4. If the course has a matched course (such as a 4th hour for 199, 226, 227, and 228, or a required co-requisite like 123), please also write that course on the waiver form.  
5. If the Instructor(s) approve, they will send the form to the Department on the students behalf.

The English Department is supportive of students taking their 1A/A2 requirement for a third time here at SF State to help with continuity and stability.  Currently, it is expected that there will be enough seats available so students should follow this procedure:

1. During registration, the student should contact the Instructor of the section they would like to add, let them know it will be a third attempt, and ask if they can join the class.  
2. If the Instructor agrees, they will give them a permission code to add the class.
3. The student will then complete the college waiver and email it to engdept@sfsu.edu for approval and processing. (They will accept the forwarded email from the Instructor as the Instructors signature).  Please note that form no longer requires a permission number.

Problem solving, quantitative awareness, reading and writing are all skills that, when practiced regularly, give individuals more power by increasing their effectiveness in analyzing situations, evaluating options, and communicating through complexity to represent truth(s). More immediate, by taking math and writing courses early in your college journey, you will increase your success in all other classes, since they ask you to employ these skills.