Planning your mathematics courses can be an exciting opportunity to shape your academic journey. With so many important courses to choose from, it’s helpful to have guidance on selecting the right classes at the right time. Here, we’ll provide you with the information you need to make confident and informed decisions about your coursework. If you are an incoming student looking for information about placement, please visit Mathematics Placement Process.

If you are not a math major:

Your first goal should be the successful completion of Calculus I and II

• Math AS.110.106 and AS.110.107 (Calculus for Biological and Social Sciences), or
• Math AS.110.108 and AS.110.109 (Calculus for Engineering and Physical Sciences).

These are equally challenging course sequences.
Students needing only Calculus I and II should take 106 and 107.
Students intending to continue to Calculus III and Differential Equations should take AS.110.108 and AS.110.109.
Honors variants of these courses (e.g. AS.110.113) will teach more theory and detail. Honors courses are intended for students going on to pursue higher mathematics later. These courses include fewer applications, and may not be appropriate for engineers regardless of ability.

After completing AS.110.108 and AS.110.109, students may continue to Calculus III, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations. These three may be taken in any order that fits your schedule, but the listed order is most common.

If you are a math major:

Your first focus will probably be calculus, unless you enter with more mathematical experience. We recommend that you take the honors variants whenever possible as it will prepare you better for higher mathematics (this is not required). As an entering student, you will probably go into Calculus II, then Linear Algebra, followed by Calculus III. Or perhaps Calculus III followed by Linear Algebra.

The courses 401 (Abstract Algebra) and 405 (Analysis I) are the only two courses absolutely required for all majors. In these courses, you will learn the foundations of modern mathematics, and advanced techniques of proof. Because they are so important, you should discuss these courses with your advisor and take them as soon as you are ready. We strongly recommend Honors Calculus III and Honors Linear Algebra to prepare for 401 and 405 courses.