If you have not taken an AP exam, your placement can be regarded as tentative. In any case, you'll have plenty of chances to switch courses if it turns out you're not in the right course. This can be done during Orientation (see the Calculus Placement Exam below) or even during the first week or two of classes (see the question on switching classes).
Math 50-60 | - | 1st semester calculus spread over two semesters |
Math 70 | - | 1st semester calculus with social science applications |
Math 90 | - | 1st semester calculus |
Math 100 | - | 2nd semester calculus |
Math 170 | - | 2nd semester calculus with less review and more advanced topics |
Math 190 | - | 2nd semester calculus plus extra engineering topics for students with an advanced background |
Math 180 | - | 3rd semester (multivariable) calculus |
Math 200 | - | 3rd semester (multivariable) calculus plus extra engineering topics background |
Math 350 | - | 3rd semester (multivariable) calculus, honors |
Math 520 | - | linear algebra |
Math 540 | - | linear algebra, honors |
Many students will have taken calculus in high school, so they will be
able to place out of one or more of our courses.
Math 170 is a good choice for students who
have done well in a year of AB Advanced Placement calculus or the equivalent.
Math 190 is the version of Math 170 recommended for engineering
students.
Math 180 is the standard placement for students who have done well in a year
of BC Advanced Placement Calculus or the equivalent.
Math 200 is the version of Math 180 recommended for engineering
students.
Look below for an expanded description of the content of each course.
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* Students who receive a 5 on the AB exam and are willing to do some studying on their own to learn the additional BC material (infinite series and Taylor series, polar coordinates and parametric equations, and first and second order ordinary differential equations) may also consider taking one of the third semester calculus courses (Math 180, 200, or 350). Consult with your advisor during Orientation. |
High School Math Background | Placement |
No calculus, weak grades in algebra and trigonometry | Math 50 |
No calculus, good grades (A's and B's) in algebra and trigonometry | Math 90 (or 70) |
One semester calculus, good grades (A or high B) | Math 100 |
Two semesters calculus, weak grades | Math 100 |
Two semesters calculus, good grades, did not study infinite series and Taylor series, polar coordinates and parametric equations, and first and second order ordinary differential equations | Math 170 (or 190) |
Two semesters calculus, good grades, covered infinite series and Taylor polynomials | Math 180 (or 200) |
Two semesters calculus, good grades, covered infinite series and Taylor series, polar coordinates and parametric equations, and first and second order ordinary differential equations, strong interest in Math | Math 350 |
Math 100 | Math 100 is the second semester of the introductory calculus sequence. It covers techniques of integration and applications of integration, sequences and series including Taylor series and power series, parametric curves, polar coordinates and some differential equations. |
Math 170 | Math 17 is for students who have the equivalent of a one-year AB calculus AP course. It treats in more detail the topics of Math 100, assuming that students already have studied some integration and its applications. |
Math 190 | Math 190 is a version of Math 170 especially suited for students of engineering and physics. It has an additional weekly problem session devoted to applied problems. |
Math 180 | Math 180 is the standard multivariable calculus course. It's appropriate for anyone who is going on to study math or any of the sciences, as well as for people in the humanities or social sciences who are interested in continuing their mathematical education. Students taking Math 180 normally have taken either Math 100 or Math 170, or have received an honor grade (3 or higher) on the Advanced Placement BC calculus exam. |
Math 200 | Math 200 is a version of Math 180 specially adapted for concentrators in Engineering or Physics with an additional weekly problem session devoted to applications. It has the same prerequisites as Math 180. |
Math 350 | Math 350 is the honors version of third-semester calculus. It covers the same material as Math 180, but at a more theoretical level and in more depth. It's recommended for students with high motivation and interest in mathematics who have shown high achievement (i) through their work in Math 100, 170 or 190; or (ii) through a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement BC calculus exam; or (iii) through their work in a course equivalent to Brown's second semester calculus courses. |
Math 90 | or | Math 100 |
Math 100 | or | Math 170 |
Math 100/170 | or | Math 180. |
If you switch into a course, the professor will expect you to make up the work that you've missed, and some assignments might not be accepted late. So if you're shopping courses during the first week or two of classes, be sure to keep up with the work in all of them.