Choosing a mathematics course

A student who wishes to study mathematics may place herself according to the following guidelines.

A student with three years of high school math (typically one year of geometry and two years of algebra) should select Elementary Functions (MTH102).

A student with four years of high school math (but little or no calculus) should select Calculus I (MTH111).

A student with a year of high school calculus may take Discrete Mathematics (MTH153) and Calculus: Effective Computation and Power Series (MTH114) during her first year at Smith. MTH114 is designed for incoming students who have had a full year of calculus. Calculus II (MTH112) is for students who have taken Calculus I at Smith. Normally, it should not be selected by an incoming student.

Exceptionally well-prepared students might start at Smith with Linear Algebra (MTH211), Infinite Dimensional Linear Algebra (MTH221), or Calculus III (MTH212).

A student who does not want to dive into either calculus or discrete mathematics might consider Discovering Mathematics (MTH105).