Calculus Credit

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>So. . . there is AP credit and a placement exam. My school only offers Calc AB, and I was thinking od self studying BC, but then I thought. . .</p>

<p>Can I do well on the Calc AB test (5), study the extra topics afterwards and do well on the placement test and get into Calc Honors? </p>

<p>Not looking for Analysis, as my school (all girls) isn't concerned with anything past calculus, which less than half of the seniors take anyway. Gah, I am already at a disadvantage! (Yes, I'm still thinking about that thread about Cantor Sets and I still have no idea what KIND of math that is and when you would learn it). </p>

<p>I mean it would be cool. but 15000 calc is good. I hope I'm understanding the Course Catalog correctly. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Yes you can.</p>

3

<p>I've heard numerous times that the heads of our math department will let pretty much anyone into Honors Calculus as long as they've taken a reasonable amount of calculus, so I don't think you have much to worry about. In Honors Calculus, you'll be re-learning everything in AB/BC except in a more rigorous context, so I don't think that it matters if you've already taken AB OR BC. You just have to be mathematically-minded.</p>

4

<p>My kids' experience was consistent with what phuriku says: AB, BC, or nothing calculus, if know some calculus going in, you will be offered the chance to take Honors Calculus.</p>

5

<p>So. . . options generally are Regular Calculus (1400), Honors Calculus(1500), and Analysis (1600), right?</p>

<p>What about when you "place out" of Calc 1510 or whatever? Do you only take 2 quarters then? </p>

<p>Thank you very much. This plan seems good. This way I don't have to cram everything my teacher doesn't cover in a week.</p>

6

<p>no, move everything forward one, i.e. honors=1600</p>

7

<p>Regular Calculus = 151-152-153
Honors Calculus = 161-162-163
Intro to Analysis and Linear Algebra - 199
Analysis - 203-204-205</p>

8

<p>Do you think a lot of people place out of 15100, then take 15200-15300-19900? this seems like it would work out well for someone who did well on AB and wants to do lots of math in the future. Maybe even a better option than 16000 series.</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
Do you think a lot of people place out of 15100, then take 15200-15300-19900? this seems like it would work out well for someone who did well on AB and wants to do lots of math in the future. Maybe even a better option than 16000 series.

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</p>

<p>The 16000 series is basically the foundation of mathematics. If you want to do pure math in the future, you should take it. The 151-152-153-199 series is by no means a bad course sequence, but it's not fit to train future mathematicians. On the other hand, it would be perfectly sufficient for someone who wanted a job that used applied mathematics. Arguably, the 13000 sequence would be sufficient for such, as the 15000 series does include a lot of delta-epsilon material.</p>

<p>I know a fair amount of people who place out of 151, then take 152-153-199, and I know even more people who place out of both 151 and 152, and then proceed to take 153-199.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
The 16000 series is basically the foundation of mathematics. If you want to do pure math in the future, you should take it. The 151-152-153-199 series is by no means a bad course sequence, but it's not fit to train future mathematicians. On the other hand, it would be perfectly sufficient for someone who wanted a job that used applied mathematics. Arguably, the 13000 sequence would be sufficient for such, as the 15000 series does include a lot of delta-epsilon material.</p>

<p>I know a fair amount of people who place out of 151, then take 152-153-199, and I know even more people who place out of both 151 and 152, and then proceed to take 153-199.

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<p>If you place into the 160s (meaning you can handle all the "computational" aspects of 1-variable calculus well), I would actually suggest taking 199-203-204, so as to get into the "real" math classes earlier. Even a person placing into the 150s could probably do this, depending on how driven he/she was.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for all the speedy responses and help!</p>

<p>I want to major in Astrophysics (or Physics with a specialization in Astronomy or whatever it is called), since that probably helps clarify things for me at least. </p>

<p>CesareBorgia- if you place into the 160s, how do you take 199-203-204? Wouldn't you have to place into them? Ie. . . does Chicago LET you sign up for courses you didn't place into? I hope I'm reading your post correctly.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
I want to major in Astrophysics (or Physics with a specialization in Astronomy or whatever it is called), since that probably helps clarify things for me at least.

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<p>In that case, I don't think it would hurt to take the 150s instead of the 160s, since you're not going to be using really pure math in astrophysics.</p>

13

<p>Well, I want to eventually do Cosmology and theoretical research things, not applied things I don't think.</p>

<p>Also this idea of "pure math" mystifies me. I'm curious :)</p>

<p>I wish my school would tell us about these things.</p>

14

<p>From the catalog:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Every student must take either the mathematics placement test or the calculus placement test during Orientation. Students with no knowledge of calculus take the mathematics test; students who have taken a calculus course take the calculus test. Scores on the mathematics placement test determine the appropriate beginning mathematics course for each student: a precalculus course (MATH 10500) or one of three other courses (MATH 11200, 13100, or 15100). Scores on the calculus placement test determine which level of mathematics is appropriate, but they also place students into Honors Calculus (MATH 16100-16200-16300) or give placement credit for one, two, or three quarters of calculus.</p>

<p>13100-13200-13300. Elementary Functions and Calculus I, II, III. PQ: Invitation only based on adequate performance on the mathematics placement test or MATH 10600. Students may not take the first two quarters of this sequence for P/F grading. MATH 13100-13200 meets the general education requirement in mathematical sciences. </p>

<p>15100-15200-15300. Calculus I, II, III. PQ: Superior performance on the mathematics placement test, or MATH 10600. Students may not take the first two quarters of this sequence for P/F grading. MATH 15100-15200 meets the general education requirement in mathematical sciences.</p>

<p>16100-16200-16300. Honors Calculus I, II, III. PQ: Invitation only based on superior performance on the calculus placement test. Students may not take the first two quarters of this sequence for P/F grading. MATH 16100-16200 meets the general education requirement in mathematical sciences. MATH 16100-16200-16300 is an honors version of MATH 15100-15200-15300. </p>

<p>AP Exam Score Credit Awarded<br>
Calculus AB 5 MATH 15100†
Calculus BC 4 MATH 15100†
Calculus BC 5 MATH 15100-15200†

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15

<p>So here's my deal... I've only gone up to Pre-Calc Part I (never had time to take Part II). How hard would it be to place into just plain old Calculus? Would I have to do a lot of studying for the placement exam? I really don't want to have to take up time doing one of the Pre-Calc type classes. Keep in mind, I'm good at math, but more an English/History kinda guy.</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
I want to major in Astrophysics (or Physics with a specialization in Astronomy or whatever it is called), since that probably helps clarify things for me at least.

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</p>

<p>Since I don't see a seperate Astro major, you will probably be doing Physics w/spec. Analysis will help a lot for a physics major, as you will be doing a lot of math for the degree.</p>

<p>
[quote]
CesareBorgia- if you place into the 160s, how do you take 199-203-204? Wouldn't you have to place into them? Ie. . . does Chicago LET you sign up for courses you didn't place into? I hope I'm reading your post correctly.

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<p>You can take whatever math class you want. Just sit in, and have the teacher sign a pinkslip (course registration slip). 199 starts out with the most elementary pure math, so it builds proofs from the ground up, and you really don't even need calculus to learn the material in the class. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Well, I want to eventually do Cosmology and theoretical research things, not applied things I don't think.

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<p>Well cosmology is by definition applied math, because it's not "pure math" (i.e. math for its own sake, rather than to be applied to any another field such as physics/astro/finance/cs etc.) This said, theoretical physics/astro require (at the undergrad level) a lot of advanced calculus, which is just slightly below analysis level, so you will be well served taking analysis. It will also help you a lot in Quantum Mechanics/E&M, which you will take as a physics major. If you want to pursue physics/astro at the Phd level, you should definitely not only take analysis, but other higher level math classes. </p>

<p>
[quote]
So here's my deal... I've only gone up to Pre-Calc Part I (never had time to take Part II). How hard would it be to place into just plain old Calculus? Would I have to do a lot of studying for the placement exam? I really don't want to have to take up time doing one of the Pre-Calc type classes. Keep in mind, I'm good at math, but more an English/History kinda guy.

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</p>

<p>I don't think you HAVE to take calculus to satisfy the math requirement for the Core. A computer science or lower level math class may be acceptable. Look in the course catalog to make sure.</p>

17

<p>Yeah, but I think I'll want to end up doing more than just Calculus. I'm not a "math guy" but I do enjoy it a lot at the same time. I'm not sure how much math I'd actually want to get into (depends on my major), but I just don't want to start out too far behind, especially if I end up majoring in something that requires extra, which is very well possible I think. I was really interested in Econ. for a while, but I'm more into the social science side of it, and don't dig so much the fact that I'd have to take a TON of math. Basically I'm clueless about my major again, haha.</p>

18

<p>
[quote]
You can take whatever math class you want. Just sit in, and have the teacher sign a pinkslip (course registration slip). 199 starts out with the most elementary pure math, so it builds proofs from the ground up, and you really don't even need calculus to learn the material in the class.

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</p>

<p>Hmm. I don't think this is necessarily true, especially with 199. First of all, I don't know how it is in other departments, but in the math department, everything has to go through Paul Sally. That means that you're going to have to go to his office and get permission directly from him to take a class you didn't test in to. And he is very strict on who he lets in to most classes. For example, for winter quarter, I wanted to take Topology, and as someone already in Honors Analysis, that really shouldn't've been a problem, right? Well, I went to Sally's office to get his permission, and he told me that only under extreme circumstances does he let underclassmen take higher-level courses: to even consider it, he said that he would have to know the student extremely well and the student would have to be getting an A in Honors Analysis. I don't see why it would be anything different for 199... he's pretty adamant about not letting people who tested into 199 into 207, so if you tested into 151 or 161, it wouldn't make sense to me for him to let you into 199. Not to mention that to get a math, physics, or any degree in a mildly quantitative field, you HAVE to have credit for calculus (in particular, 153 or 163), and they're not just going to give it to you.</p>

19

<p>
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First of all, I don't know how it is in other departments, but in the math department, everything has to go through Paul Sally.

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<p>In my experience, that is not true. Diane Herrmann is the person who you have to see regarding (math) course changes. This may not be true for honors analysis (since it is def. sally's class), but it is true for all calculus sequences and for algebra/honors algebra at the least.</p>

<p>
[quote]
don't see why it would be anything different for 199... he's pretty adamant about not letting people who tested into 199 into 207, so if you tested into 151 or 161, it wouldn't make sense to me for him to let you into 199.

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</p>

<p>207 is significantly harder than 199. 199 is easier than the 160s, so I don't think it is a similar situation. 199 does a Cauchy construction of the reals, 160s does both Cauchy & (albeit briefly) Dedekind constructions.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Not to mention that to get a math, physics, or any degree in a mildly quantitative field, you HAVE to have credit for calculus (in particular, 153 or 163), and they're not just going to give it to you.

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<p>Calculus credit is automatically conferred if you take a higher class. For example, if a student takes analysis (and passes), he gets calc credit regardless of what he passed in to. This is most definitely not a problem.</p>

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[quote]

he's pretty adamant about not letting people who tested into 199 into 207

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<p>From what I have heard, he will try to (understandably) scare you out of taking 207, but if you tell him you still want to take it after he explains how time consuming it is, he will let you do so.</p>

20

<p>As long as you can solve simultaneous equations, interpret a graph, and have a good handle on all the arithmetic required (say, undoing a logarithm, or knowing that division by zero is a problem), you will be fine. They are basically looking for a rudimentary grapy of Algebra II type topics to place into Calculus 13100. You do not need to know trigonometry topics at all, although it is helpful to have had a good trig course in high school in terms of actually doing 13000’s level calc (since a lot of the questions, especially the third quarter, expect you to integrate and differentiate equations that have embedded trigonometric functions).</p>