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Introductory Courses Please Note: The Placement Test should be taken by all first-year students intending to take an introductory calculus-based course (such as Math 20, 31, or 52 ) or the Finite Mathematics for the Social and Management Sciences course (Math 51).
Designed with the liberal arts student in mind, these are courses in ``mathematical culture,'' which introduce students to the methods of analysis, reasoning and deduction by which mathematical facts are derived. The material discussed is not quite what your high-school mathematics courses may lead you to expect but more an introduction to actual fields of mathematical research such as number theory, graph theory, set theory, logic, and probability. Math 9 is offered every Fall semester and Summer, Math 10 is offered every Spring and Summer. Note: Math 9 is not a prerequisite for Math 10; these courses may be taken in any order. Designed for students who wish to take Math 31 but find themselves inadequately prepared, this is a pair of courses that covers precisely the same material as Math 31 (see below) but at a much slower pace, incorporating into the treatment a full discussion of ``precalculus,'' the mathematical prerequisites necessary for a full understanding of our first course in calculus. The text is Calculus by Stewart (which is also the text for Math 31, 32 and 33), supported by A Companion to Calculus by Ebersole and others (from which the precalculus material will be studied). Designed for students majoring in mathematics, engineering, physics, chemistry and economics, this is our first course discussing the Differential and Integral Calculus. It considers differentiation and integration of algebraic and trigonometric functions, with applications (from the fields mentioned). We offer two further Calculus courses, Math 32 and Math 33. Any student who contemplates a major in the sciences, economics, engineering or medicine would be well-advised, if not required, to take this course. We require it (and Math 32 and 33) of our majors. Math 31 is offered during both Spring and Fall semesters and every Summer. The text (for this course and Math 32 and 33) is Calculus by Stewart. Math 51 covers systems of linear equations, matrices, linear programming, the mathematics of finance, and probability theory; Math 52 covers Differential and Integral Calculus with applications to the management and social sciences. Both courses are offered during both Fall and Spring semesters and every Summer. Math 51 is not a prerequisite for Math 52; these courses may be taken in any order. All these mathematics courses are three credit hours. The entry requirement for these courses is an adequate high-school preparation in mathematics. This will be determined via a placement test, that all incoming students are advised to take prior to the day they register for their courses. The Columbian College Arts and Sciences has among its General Curriculum Requirements one on Quantitative and/or Logical Reasoning. This requirement can be met by taking any two courses (or combination) from Mathematics, Statistics or Symbolic Logic. School of Business and Public Management requires Math 31-32, or Math 51-52 or equivalent. Elliott School of International Affairs requires any six credits of math or science courses. School of Engineering and Applied Science requires Math 31 (or Math 20 and 21), Math 32 and Math 33, as do we in the Department of Mathematics. Information on our advanced undergraduate course offerings is availble here. For further information, contact: Department of Mathematics
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