Mathematics

Math Faculty Awards and Honors

The following awards represent the strength of our math faculty.

• Professor Sandy Cohen was named Outstanding Peer Mentor by the League for Innovation in the Community College as part of the John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Awards.
• Professor James Rutledge was re-appointed as Editor of the Mathematics Editorial Board of the Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT) (2011).
• Academic Chair Lisa Borzewski was recognized as a Distinguished eLearning Educator by the America Association of Community Colleges' Instructional Technology Council.
• Assistant Professor Manuel Gerakios received the Excellence in College Preparatory Education award for his promotion of fairness and consistency in implementing school policy while maintaining classroom engagement and interaction from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development.
• Professor Carol Weideman received the Innovative Pedagogical Approach to Teaching and Learning award for her adaptation of elementary statistics mathematics courses to coincide with the needs of students in the nursing program in an effort to make the learning experiences relevant to their field from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development.
• Adjunct Instructor Amy Drexler won the Pinellas County Schools High School Math Teacher of the Year Award.
• Professor Ourania Stephanides received a mini-grant from the St. Petersburg College Center for Excellence for Teaching and Learning to support innovative teaching and effective assessment entitled Manipulating the Concrete to Understand the Abstract, Using Algebra Tiles in the Classroom.
• Professor Cora Wilkerson was recognized as a Fundraiser by the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Faculty

View our Math faculty members.

Math is the most widely used subject in the world. Whether you’re buying groceries, remodeling a house or checking traffic patterns for the quickest way to work, math plays a key role. Math is the study of quantity, space, structure and change. Subjects include algebra, geometry, calculus, trigonometry, differential equations, complex analysis, probability and statistics.

Math gives you:

• The ability to identify and analyze patterns
• Logic and critical thinking skills
• The ability to see relationships
• Problem-solving skills

Careers in Math

Math provides some of the highest-paying jobs in the United States. Jobs that are math-driven include software engineers, mathematicians, statisticians, financial managers, computer system analysts, engineers, pharmacists, math teachers and professors and operations research analysts.

Specific jobs for math majors:

Testing into Math Classes

Before taking classes at SPC, your College Placement Test scores determine if you are at a college level in math. You may be exempt from this test if you have qualifying SAT or ACT scores or a college transcript.

If you score below a certain level, you’ll need to take a developmental math class. You take these classes within your first two semesters at SPC since they prepare you for your college math courses.

While you do not receive college credit for developmental math classes, you do receive credit towards full- or part-time student status for purposes of financial aid. Keep in mind that financial aid only pays up to 30 credits of remedial classes. Also, the grades you receive in developmental classes are now included in the GPA calculation for determining Satisfactory Academic Progress for keeping financial aid.

Classes include:

• MAT 0018  Developmental Mathematics I 
• MAT 0028  Developmental Mathematics II 
• MAT 1033 Intermediate Algebra (which can be taken for elective credit but not to meet general education requirements)

My Bridge to Success

If you only missed certain math skills on the College Placement Test and scored just shy of taking MAT 1033, our Elementary Algebra: My Bridge to Success (MAT 0990) class can put you on the right path. These self-paced classes cover the skills you need to master, not ones you already know. You earn from 1 to 3 credits for this class rather than the 4 you would take in other developmental classes.

Courses

From algebra to statistics, SPC’s math courses prepare you for your related four-year university program. Just check the statewide Common Prerequisites Manual for the classes you will need for your chosen institution's program. Our courses also help you meet the general education requirements for mathematics for your A.A. degree or A.S. degree. Your options include:

1. Courses for science, engineering and math majors, which include calculus I, II and III, as well as differential equations
2. Courses for business and marketing majors, including statistics
3. Courses for other majors including math for liberal arts I and II
4. Developmental math courses to get you up to speed on your skills

Find out which math you should take.

Non-Credit Options

If you're still having trouble with developmental math, you can take advantage of SPC's non-credit course alternatives to get you up to speed.

Math Tutoring

Need help in math? It's not far away. You can find math tutors on the following SPC campuses:

• Clearwater 
• Downtown 
• Health Education Center 
• Midtown 
• Seminole 
• St. Petersburg/Gibbs 
• Tarpon Springs 

Math Resources

• Mathematics Flow Chart - which math do I need to take?
• MyMathLab 
• WebAssign 
• Aleks