Calculus Classes

Courses in the Calculus Sequence

The systematic study of mathematics begins with one of the following two alternative sequences:

Calculus I
Calculus II
Calculus III
Calculus IV

or

Honors Math A and B

Honors Math A-B is aimed at students with a strong interest in and aptitude for Mathematics who also have a strong Calculus background from high school. This is a course for the best prepared and most able mathematics students. It covers the material of multivariable calculus and linear algebra from a thoroughly mathematical point of view as well as other topics chosen by the instructor. This course serves as an introduction to the upper level, undergraduate level mathematics courses offered by the Department.

Placement in the Calculus Sequences

For the Fall Semester 2011, students with questions about Calculus Placement should come to the:

Academic Resources Fair, Wednesday August 31, 11:00-1:00 in the Roone Arledge Auditorium, Lerner Hall

or the

Math Infosession, Wednesday August 31, 3:30-4:30 in the Lerner Cinema, Lerner Hall.

School of Engineering and Applied Science Students:

with a score of 5 on the Calculus BC Advanced Placement (AP) exam must begin with Calculus III (or Honors Math A).
with a score of 4 on the Calculus BC Advanced Placement exam, or a score of 4 or 5 on the Calculus AB Advanced Placement exam must begin with Calculus II.
with a score of 6 or 7 on the IB HL Calculus exam, or a grade or A or B on the A-Level GCE Further Maths exams must begin with Calculus II.
with an A grade in a full-year high school calculus course must begin with Calculus II.
with other AP scores, less than an A in a full year high school calculus course, or less than a full year of calculus in high school must begin with Calculus I.

Columbia College and other non-SEAS students:

with a score of 5 on the Calculus BC Advanced Placement, or a score of 7 on the International Baccalaureate Calculus exam or an A in A-Level Further Mathematics may begin with Calculus III (or Honors Math A).
with a score of 4 on the Calculus BC Advanced Placement exam, or a score of 5 on the Calculus AB Advanced Placement exam, or a 6 on the IB HL Calculus exam or a B on the A-Level Further Maths exam may begin with either Calculus II or Calculus III. The Mathematics Department recommends that these students begin with Calculus II, except those whose prospective majors don't require Calculus II (mainly the Economics department, prospective Economics majors should consult the Economics department website for their guidelines).
with a score of 4 on the Calculus AB Advanced Placement exam or with an A grade in a full-year high school calculus course should start with Calculus II.
all others should start with Calculus I.

Calculus II: Those with a score of 4 or 5 on the AB exam or 4 on the BC exam may receive 3 points of AP credit upon completion of this course with a grade of C or higher.

Calculus III: Upon completion of Calculus III with a grade of C or higher, those students with a score of 5 on the BC exam may receive 6 points of AP credit, and those students with a score of 4 on the BC exam or 5 on the AB exam may receive 3 points of AP credit.

Honors mathematics A: Students who want a proof-oriented theoretical sequence and have a score of 5 on the BC exam may begin with Honors mathematics A, which is especially designed for mathematics majors. Upon completion of this course with a grade of C or higher, they may receive 6 points of AP credit.

Contacts

For questions either contact your instructor or the relevant person below.

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Panagiota Daskalopoulos

Undergraduate Administrative Assistant: Mary Young

WebAssign

Some sections of all Calculus classes will be using WebAssign, an on-line system integrated with the course textbook.

Course Textbook

The print version of the textbook for Calculus I-IV is

James Stewart
Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 7th Edition

The Columbia bookstore carries a bundled package which includes the print version of the textbook, and access codes for an electronic version of the book as well as the on-line WebAssign system. This has ISBN numbers:

ISBN10# 1-111-64957-X (ISBN13# 978-1-111-64957-9)

The cost at the bookstore for this package is $255.75

It is also available from the publisher at CengageBrain.com for the price of $226.49

Access to WebAssign is only required for students in certain sections of Calculus that will be using it to assign homework problems. In other cases it is optional, but students may find it a useful study tool.

Students can buy an eBook version of the textbook together with access to WebAssign at CengageBrain.com, or at WebAssign.net as follows:

Access to WebAssign and the eBook version of the textbook for all semesters of the Calculus sequence: ISBN# 0538738073 $95

Access to WebAssign and the eBook version of the textbook for one semester can be purchased directly from WebAssign after enrolling in the appropriate class there.

The book store may also be selling a slightly cheaper "Single Variable" version of the textbook which is usable if you only take Calculus I and/or II, but does not contain the material used in Calculus III and IV.

The publisher also sells a "Hybrid" version of the print textbook that doesn't contain the problems. You should avoid this, since problems will be assigned from the textbook.

Syllabi

While different instructors will choose to cover somewhat different topics, we have a web-page giving suggested and typical syllabi for the four courses in the Calculus sequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to switch between sections, levels and sequences of calculus?
I am not sure that, following department guidelines, the scores on my AP exam place me in the appropriate section. What should I do?
How does Advanced Placement credit work?
What pocket calculator should I get?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it possible to switch between sections, levels and sequences of calculus?
A: Students can always go to the first few lectures of one Calculus class and then, if it seems appropriate, switch to another level or a different sequence. Such transfers require the approval of the instructors and, after the drop/add date, the class dean.

Q: I am not sure that, following department guidelines, the scores on my AP exam place me in the appropriate section. What should I do?
A: These are guidelines only, but they are based on years of experience.

Q: How does Advanced Placement credit work?
A: See the discussion under placement.

Q: What pocket calculator should I get?
A: Calculators are not allowed in Calculus exams. You do not need a calculator.

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