Hello,
I will be a freshman at Vandy this fall, and I just received my counseling/course registration information. Like many of my peers, I was excited to see yet another harbinger of the next chapter of my life. After four years of high school, I finally got to enroll in classes of my choosing that actually fit my interests! Unfortunately, my hopes and dreams were dashed as I read the Peabody College Liberal Education Core Requirements. The first of the requirements seemed simple enough, until I reached the dreaded calculus requirement. (Math is the only subject in my entire life that has caused Bruce Banner → Hulk transformations)
I assumed that since my major was not STEM, I could fill my math requirement with a math-like class. It appears that I was blind sided, as it looks like I will have to take either MATH 1100, 1200, 1201, 1300, OR 1301.
I haven’t taken a math class (Algebra 2) since sophomore year of high school. I don’t even remember 75% of the course material. If there is no way out of MATH 1100 Survey of Calculus (and I pray there is an escape route), how hard is the class? Would current students recommend taking classes at the local community college/JC to freshen up? It would not be the end of the world if I have to take the class, I would just prefer not to.
I appreciate any assistance!
Math 1100 is a review of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry with some light analysis (intro to calculus). However you CAN take a statistics class instead. You were placed into this class ‘automatically’ but you don’t have to take it.
You’ll soon receive something like this
https://as.vanderbilt.edu/docs/AXLE-2017-final.pdf
You can find them here
https://webapp.mis.vanderbilt.edu/more/SearchClasses!input.action
You could also register for this for your AXLE math credit
MATH 1111: First-Year Writing Seminar - FYS:Cryptography
03 3.0 hrs Freshman Seminars 0/15 MWF
12:10p - 01:00p
Bruff, Derek O.
Note: Cryptography: the History and Mathematics of Codes and Codebreaking Mathematics has long played key roles in both sides of the cryptography “arms race,” helping cryptographers devise ever more complex cipher systems while also providing tools to cryptanalysts for breaking those ciphers. During World War II, this battle between code makers and code breakers led to the construction of the first digital computers, ushering in an information age in which cryptography makes information security possible, but not always certain. This course will provide an understanding of the ways codes and code breaking have affected and continue to affect history, technology, and privacy. 3 Five seats in this class are reserved for each of the three weeks of enrollment for first year students. The final enrollment limit will be 15.
There should also be an algebra-based statistics class (Math 1011 I think) offered in the Spring and if you’r really allergic to math Philosophy 1003 (Logic) “counts” for the requirement. Instead of taking math now you could just take a science class (unless you have Ap credit, you need to takea total of 3 in this category, including one with lab), such as Astronomy 1010, BSCI1105, EES1030, MHS1600 (health and society). If you take PSY 1111, you can then take 2100 which is statistics applied to psychology, which counts for a math course although it’s in the Psych dept, not math.
@MYOS1634 Thanks man! I think I’m going to go with 1100 because although I dislike math, I have a strong geometry/algebra foundation.
Statistics is usually more useful than algebra/precalculus so you may want to ask if there’ll be an algebra-based stats class in the spring.
Unfortunately since I am majoring in HOD I have to take either MATH 1100, 1200, or 1300 to meet my math requirement, I need six credit hours total for math, 3 calc and 3 stats
Oh, then, 1100 and 1010 are in your future. 1100 should be ok though, it’s the easiest class that involves analysis. You may want to review math before you start lasses though - use Khan Academy to brush up on algebra and geometry.
Every HOD major I know took it pass/ fail to protect their GPA. May be a good option.