(This page is courtesy of Thomas Stiadle, with important added information from Bryant Adams re the CS 10x courses.)
GUIDELINES FOR ADVSING IN MATHEMATICS
FALL 2009
(Computer Science Guidelines are below these.)
Fall courses typically elected by first year students:
MATH 105: CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS
Prerequisites: 3 years of high school math or permission of the instructor. Students who have taken college math must have permission of the instructor.
Contents: an introduction to some essential ideas, methods, and applications of mathematics, including logic and deduction, problem solving, numbers and numeracy, and lines and linear modeling. Intended for non-science majors, it satisfies the formal reasoning requirement and prepares students for statistics but does not offer preparation for calculus.
MATH 109: ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS
Prerequisite: 3 years of high school math or 4 years for a student with low SATs, prior difficulties, extreme fear, etc., plus permission of instructor.
Contents: precalculus mathematics. This is a good course for students who need to review and enhance algebra skills for the sciences or social sciences. It also provides a foundation for students who plan to elect the calculus sequence (MATH111, 112, and sometimes 211) but do not have sufficient preparation.
MATH 111: CALCULUS I
Prerequisite: 4 years of high school math.
This course can be taken successfully by strong students who have only had 3 years of high school math. Contents: the first course in the calculus sequence, covering functions, graphs, derivatives and applications. Students who need a year of calculus for medical or business school will take MATH 111 and 112.
This is a prerequisite for upper-level math courses and for PHYS 111L. Students planning to take PHYS 111L in the spring and who have not been exempted from Calculus I should take MATH 111 in the fall.
MATH 112: CALCULUS II
Prerequisite: MATH 111 or placement.
Students who have had calculus in high school, but not enough to exempt a whole year, should take this course after consulting with Math faculty.
Contents: continuation of MATH 111, including integration and applications, introduction to differential equations, vector arithmetic and geometry, partial derivatives.
MATH 211: CALCULUS III
Prerequisite: MATH 112 or placement. Students who have exempted a full year of calculus may wish to take this course after consulting with Math faculty.
Contents: continuation of MATH 112, including sequences and series, calculus of vector functions and functions of several variables, multiple integration, and generalizations of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
MATH 267: DISCRETE MATH
Prerequisite: one math course or CS 131 or permission. This used to have a calculus prerequisite but requires mathematical maturity rather than specific material. This has been taken by strong first year students who can't fit in calculus or who want something new.
Contents: many of the concepts that form the foundations for math and computer science, emphasizing logic and formal reasoning. Students often enjoy seeing mathematics from a non-calculus perspective.
Other fall courses (NOT normally elected by first semester students):
MATH 151: STATISTICS
Upper level students who need it for the sciences or social sciences usually take this. It has no prerequisite other than 3 years of high school math. But the students usually have a little more maturity. Shaky students should consider taking MATH 105 as an informal prerequisite. MATH 151 is not part of the MPS major or the computer, math, or physics minors, so the student interested in any of these should elect another course in one of these fields.
Spring courses:
MATH 105, 111, 112, and 151 offered (see above in fall courses)
MATH 212: LINEAR ALGEBRA
Prerequisite: MATH 112.
Contents: matrices, vector spaces, linear transformations, determinants, eigenvalues, and applications.
MATH 213: ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH APPLICATIONS
Prerequisite: MATH 112.
Contents: equations involving rates of change, symbolic and numerical solution of differential equations, modeling of real-world problems, systems of equations.
PHYS 111L: FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS I
Prerequisite: MATH 111 (Note: formerly a co-requisite; now must be taken in advance).
Contents: Introduction to Newton's laws and the motion of particles, energy and momentum conservation, systems of particles.
Includes lab.
COMMENTS:
1. Students who are unsure whether to take MATH 105, 109, or 111 should consult with the math faculty and have a placement conversation during Fall Orientation in August. Sometimes this can also be resolved by a telephone call from the advisor. Math faculty will also prepare a list of recommendations for the class of 2013.
2. Placement in MATH 112, 211, or 267 requires consultation with the math faculty. In addition, exemption exams are available for Calculus I and II.
3. Sometimes a student who is still unsure which course to take will register for the more difficult one and drop back after a couple of weeks if necessary. We facilitate this.
4. If a student plans to take math during college, it is easier for him or her to start as early as possible so as to build on high school work.
5. Students with an interest in 3-2 engineering should generally take calculus and physics as soon as possible. Please refer them to Professor Heinekamp at their earliest convenience so that they can develop the right programs.
6. PHYS 111L, Fundamentals of Physics I, is offered in the spring semester. MATH 111 is a prerequisite for this course, so a student with interest in the 3/2 engineering program must take MATH 111 in the fall semester or be placed in MATH 112 or higher.
Please call MPS faculty with any questions. We have found time spent talking with students and faculty at registration is rewarded with fewer misplaced students later.
GUIDELINES FOR ADVISING IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
FALL 2009
Computer literacy versus computer science: The major distinction in the computer curriculum is between learning how to use a computer (word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, HTML) and studying computer science (programming and preparation for advanced work).
The literacy courses are numbered CS 105, CS 108, and CS 109. They have no prerequisites and do not count toward the MPS/CS major or minor. Students considering any CS 10X should know that it is almost entirely self paced. With the exception of a few very rigid deadlines at the end of the half-semester, the course is entirely self-paced. There are no class meetings, and new (to CS 10X) students are only required to meet with the professor once, to set up their grade feedback account. Students are advised against taking their first CS 10X course during the second half of a semester. Students with poor time management skills will not fare well in these courses.
CS 131 is the place to start computer science as opposed to computer literacy.
Computer science minor: A CS minor is appropriate with any major and often gives the student an advantage in seeking an internship or job.
Fall courses:
CS 105: HTML (1.5 semester hours, half-semester course)
Basic HTML (hypertext markup language) for building and maintaining web pages.
CS 108: EXCEL (1 semester hour, half-semester course)
Introduction to spreadsheets using MS Excel 2007.
CS 131: COMPUTER PROGRAMMING I (4 semester hours)
The foundation course and a prerequisite for higher-level CS courses, using the C++ programming language. Required for MPS majors and CS minors. This used to have a math prerequisite, but we have found that good students in all disciplines can do well. It does, on the other hand, require consistent effort. This is a good elective for a student who is looking for something new.
Spring courses:
CS 105: HTML (1.5 semester hours, B Session = second half of semester)
Basic HTML (hypertext markup language) for building and maintaining web pages.
CS 109: ACCESS (1 semester hour, A Session = first half of the semester)
An introduction to databases using MS Access 2007
CS 132: COMPUTER PROGRAMMING II
A continuation of CS 131, this is the prerequisite for most upper level CS electives.
COMMENTS:
1. Students who think they may major or minor in computer science should take CS 131 as soon as possible.
2. A student can get help with Word, Excel, Access, or PowerPoint from any software assistant in Macmillan 106A. For the schedule see http://eclipse.wells.edu/softwareassistants/
This page (Mathematics/Computer Science Placement and Advising) is maintained by Diane Koester, Associate Dean for Academic Advising, who is solely responsible for its content. Please see our Statement of Responsibility. Last updated August 5, 2009.
Return to Advising at Wells College (top-level page on advising).