Calculus Options

GENERAL COMMENTS:
(1) Depending on the student's background and ability, the Department offers various sequences in calculus to meet the needs and challenges any student. However, in order to be successful in any of these sequences, the student must be dedicated and willing to work at mastering the material in the course. This will quite likely necessitate about two hours to three hours of studying calculus each day.

(2) A qualified student can feel confident in signing up for the strongest class for which he/she is eligible, knowing that a change during the first two or three weeks is permitted on a space available basis.

(3) Students who decide to change to a different calculus sequence may find it necessary to purchase a different textbook.

(4) Students who are unsuccessful in the 161, H161, or H190 sequences may invoke "Freshmen Forgiveness" with the regular sequence (rather than repeating the same course). In this situation, students should consult with the math counseling office and complete the necessary forms in their college office.

 

CALCULUS FOR ARCHITECTURE: MATH 117
This course is a survey of calculus for architecture majors. The course is taught in a lecture/recitation format. Differential and integral calculus of polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions is presented.


CALCULUS FOR BUSINESS: MATH 131, 132 This sequence is a survey of calculus for business majors. The courses are taught in a lecture/recitation format. Differential and integral calculus of polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions is presented but no trigonometric functions are included. In addition, math 132 covers basic multivariable calculus. College of Business highly recommends strong math students to take Math 151 and 152 or higher.


CALCULUS WITH ANALYTIC GEOMETRY: MATH 151, 152, 153, 254
This sequence is the traditional calculus sequence. It meets calculus requirements in all major areas. The courses are taught in a lecture/recitation format with the class meeting with a faculty member three times a week and a graduate teaching assistant twice a week. Math 151 covers limits, continuity, differentiation of the algebraic and trigonometric functions, Mean Value Theorem, curve sketching, related rates and other applications. C- or better is necessary to go from 151 to 152 and 152 to 153.

REFORMED CALCULUS: MATH 151A, 152A, 153A, 254A

These sections of calculus will cover the same material as the regular 151, 152, 153, 254 but with more emphasis on understanding the concepts of calculus through use of such things as graphs, tables and equations for describing functions (in addition to standard f(x) notation). There is also emphasis on how to interpret concepts in a variety of contexts and applications, within engineering, physics, economics, and related areas. Recitations will be run as workshops with students working in groups. This option has the support of the College of Engineering although other majors will also benefit from this approach. The textbook is different from the 151 sequence.


BIOLOGICAL CALCULUS WITH ANALYTIC GEOMETRY: MATH 151L, 152L, 194L (pending)
This sequence is the traditional calculus sequence, only with biologically oriented emphasis and applications. Math 151L and 152L follow the traditional calculus very closely, including being taught in a lecture/recitation format. However, the textbook is different from the one used in the 151 sequence. The third course will depart from the traditional 153 to focus on a project-driven survey of mathematical topics that have emerged as useful and important in the biological sciences in recent years.


ACCELERATED CALCULUS: MATH 161, 162, 263
This three quarter sequence (starting Autumn only) covers calculus at an accelerated pace. It is designed for students with superior algebraic and geometric skills, who place at Course Code L and who have studied calculus in high school. The sequence substitutes for Math 151, 152, 153, and 254 and uses the same textbook as the 151 sequence. It is taught in a lecture/recitation format to well-prepared students, regardless of their chosen major area of study. Because of the accelerated pace, it is essential that students in these courses be proficient and accurate with their precalculus skills; in addition, Math 161 will assume mastery of the computational aspects of polynomial and trigonometric differentiation. The course will briefly review the Mean Value Theorem and selected topics in differentiation, and will then concentrate on integral calculus of the polynomial, logarithmic, exponential, trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions, integration techniques, and applications. Thus, Math 161 substitutes for both Math 151 and 152.


HONORS ACCELERATED CALCULUS: MATH H161, H162, H263 This sequence (starting Autumn only) is the honors versions of the accelerated calculus sequence 161,162 and 263, designed for students with credit for Math 151. These courses are taught daily by faculty members in small classes with considerable student-teacher interaction. Students in this sequence will be exposed to proofs and held to higher standards of mathematical rigor than those in nonhonors versions. They will be expected to demonstrate mastery of definitions, statements and proofs of theorems. Generally speaking, students who earn a B or better in H161 have College Board Advanced Placement AB score of 5, or BC scores of 3, 4 or 5.

Students who feel that H161 is an appropriate course option, whether or not they meet these criteria, should complete the math honors questionnaire and meet with the Math faculty member available at orientation.


HONORS ANALYSIS: MATH H190, H191, H264
 This enriched honors calculus sequence (starting Autumn only) is intended to challenge talented, highly motivated students who enter the University already proficient with differential and integral calculus, regardless of their chosen major area of study. This sequence is the most rigorous of the calculus options and is designed to introduce students to the mathematical underpinnings of calculus and stimulate the development of mathematical thinking. This sequence will substitute for Math 151, 152, 153, 254, and 551 and also satisfies the upper division analysis requirement (547, 548, 549) for mathematics majors. The H190 sequence is taught by faculty members in small sections with considerable student-teacher interaction. The texts for these courses and the syllabi are significantly different from those used in the 151 and 161 sequences.
Generally speaking, students who earn a grade of "B" or better in H190 have either:

1) participated in the College Board Advanced Placement Program and have received a 4 or 5 on the BC exam, or
2) studied calculus in high school and have a Math ACT score > 32 or a Math SAT score > 700.

 Students who feel that H190 is an appropriate course option, whether or not they meet these criteria, should complete the math honors questionaire and meet with the Math faculty member available at orientation.