Hey CC community, need some info. So I’m a graduate student studying applied statistics (statistics for the social sciences, hence the username) and I’m taking Probability Calculus (calculus-based Probability Theory) next semester. The stated pre-reqs are Calc1, 2, and 3. However, I have only taken Calc 1 and 2 along with Linear Algebra. I plan to study Calc 3 over the summer and self-learn a bit. Has anyone done this and performed well in this course? How much from Calc 3 is needed roughly. I’m hesitant to email the professor because of the lack of a prereq course. Thanks in advance.
Yes, you can do well, but the question is will your school allow you to take the stats without the Pre-req. Ask your school.
The coverage of Calc2 and Calc3 is not quite the same by undergraduate programs. If your undergrad covered Series, sequences, and partial differentiation in Calc2, you would be ok, assuming you mastered them. Since you are asking a graduate class for grad students, your advisor would usually drop prerequisite based on your opinion.
In addition, the required level of calculus techniques are not the same depending on Probability class under a graduate program. I am guessing your is a master level course. Long time ago, I have taken a Math probability course for Master only in one of top 20 ranked grad school. I needed higher level of math than calc1,2,3 and LA. I’ve taken again a math prob class for both Master and PhD at 100+ ranked graduate program. Knowledge of a half of calc2 and series were good enough.
I suggest to have a honest talk with the prof who teaches the course or your advisor. You don’t want to have a low grade, nor over prepared.
Thank you
Thanks for the advice, but I don’t think the ranking of the school had too much to do with your experience. There are three probability (intro) courses from what I understand, non-calculus based, calculus-based, then measure-theoretic probability, which yours at the top 20 ranked school sounds like the latter. In that case Calc 1-3 and LA definitely wouldn’t suffice. But the calculus-based one is different, considered more advanced and can be graduate level but isn’t truly graduate-level probability. I am not taking measure-theoretic probability, just to be clear.