Accelerated Calculus I course

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
1

So, I am a recent undergraduate transfer student to UT at Dallas, majoring in physics. I wish to challenge myself regarding the curriculum I endeavor upon so that when I come out on the other side, I am stronger in my knowledge in my field. I love learning math, and complex concepts. (Background over)

(Here’s the situation)

(Prepare for a section of boasting, sorry ahead of time, to get you into where my thoughts are about taking this Calculus course)

I have taken Calculus AB in high school whilst taking AP classes in Physics 2/Government/Economics/Biology and enrolled in APDC World Literature (both semesters). I was also very involved in school being captain of the varsity soccer team and my club soccer team (while attempting to get scouted (I was successful!)), section leader for my Acapella choir and show choir (show choir that had a spring show which required a two week-prior 3:00pm-5:00pm everyday after school rehearsal, and then a week prior of 3:00pm-9:00pm everyday after school rehearsal), secretary for the choral department, running varsity cross country, kicker for varsity football (and I participated in a UIL science saturday event, not really involving). AND managing to have a girlfriend (and i’ll add that she will be my future forever). And still managed to receive an A in calculus for the year (although I can NOT say the same for my other classes (don’t worry though, I passed)). So what I’m saying is, I was very busy with my life, and I think I can say more than the typical involved kid. I was the “extra” kid as it was called. And with all of that I still passed my AP test (and 3 others), and managed an A in Calculus for the year (I can NOT say the same for my other classes (don’t worry though, I passed haha)) I apologize again for the what seems like boasting, I know it looks bad. I behave myself to be a humble boy, but I feel it was necessary instead of me saying I was simply “busy” like every other fellow.

With that said. My predicament is that I am deciding whether or not to take what is an Accelerated Calculus I course at UT at Dallas, as opposed to the typical differential calculus math course sequence. I also recently took calculus I again at a community college here in the Dallas CC district, (simply as a refresher course because I took a year off of math since high school). I need assistance in knowing what an accelerated calculus course entails, compared to a typical differential calculus course. I know it to be harder, but I wish to know which aspects of the course make it more difficult than the typical differential calculus course. This course MATH2417, is the first semester sequence in the 2417-2419-2451(Cal I-Cal II-Multivariable Cal) sequence offered at UTD. It is more rigorous than the typical calculus course sequence, and it is unique to UTD.

Please, if any of you have any advice or experience in a course as such, from ANYWHERE, please discuss it here for me, I would greatly appreciate it. Any recommendations?

2

You’ll find more details if you post this to the UT Dallas forum(board? idk). Looking at the course description online, it seems that you’ll be covering the same material but faster, and then at the end a little bit extra. If you have a reasonable grounding in calculus, and math I don’t see how it would be that much harder. However, these are just my impressions from glancing over the course description. It’s better to ask someone who has actually taken the course.

3

Looks like the regular sequence at UTD needs four courses to complete up to 2451.

What UTD lists as the “accelerated” sequence is like a normal sequence in many other schools where it takes three courses to complete up to the material in 2451.

Since you have already had calculus 1 twice, it makes sense to start in 2417 rather than the slower sequence starting course 2413, or start in a more advanced course like 2419 and 2418 if you know the 2417 material well (try the old final exams for 2417).