Mathematics Course Placement

For the first Mathematics course at Davidson, students usually seek either a

  • Path 1: Calculus course, enabling a potential major in mathematics, economics, physics, chemistry or other technical field, and where any number of subsequent mathematics courses may be anticipated. 
    Recommendation: MAT 130 (X, M or other)  or  MAT 135, see placement advice below.
  • Path 2: Calculus course for a pre-medical track or potential work in life sciences, where a two-course sequence is desirable.
    Recommendation: MAT 130 M, Calculus & Modeling I.
  • Path 3: Non-major course, often appealing to students interested in social sciences or humanities, with minimal background assumption of basic high-school algebra.
    Recommendation: MAT 110  or  MAT 118.

More advice on each of these options is given below.

Path 1: Normal Calculus sequence placement guidelines: In all Calculus courses, a good pre-calculus background in algebra, trigonometry and functions is assumed. Placement depends on experience beyond that, as follows:

  1. No calculus background: take MAT 130 X, Calculus I (no previous exposure). Sections designated with "X" cover the same topics as the basic course, but are addressed to students encountering calculus for the first time.  X sections are not open to any student with one semester of a high school or college course about calculus, a restriction that is enforced by removal if improperly registered. Students eligible for a 130 X section may choose to enroll in an ordinary 130 but should inform their instructor.  Spring sections of MAT 130 are not separated by background.
  2. Weak calculus background: take MAT 130 Calculus I (w/ previous exposure) or MAT 130 M Calculus and Modeling I (any section other than X).  This is a beginning course that does not presume any proficiency in calculus, but does address an audience that has some previous exposure to some calculus concepts.  Students with a 3 or below on the either AP Calculus exam, may wish to retake MAT 130 at Davidson to build a stronger foundation, even though any AP credit would be replaced.
  3. Strong calculus background at the level of a 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB or BC exam (or equivalent experience): take MAT 135, Calculus II: Multivariable Calculus. Such students are well prepared for our MAT 135, usually finding the first quarter of the course to be familiar material.  The AP exam score will give credit for MAT 130 and possibly MAT 139 which represents alternative “second course” material on the AP Calculus BC exam.  Davidson's MAT 135 material actually comes later in the textbook than the BC material, so that MAT 135 is still the right choice.
  4. Exceptional calculus background through triple integrals (Calculus III at most universities): may take MAT 150, Linear Algebra, and consult with the Department Chair about how to replace any MAT 135 requirements.

Path 2: Calculus and Modeling: Students who desire a Calculus sequence that emphasizes applications in life sciences should begin in MAT 130 M, Calculus and Modeling I, in the fall.  This course covers the same beginning calculus concepts as any other section of MAT 130.  Some previous exposure to calculus is assumed and exceptions should be approved by the instructor.  Students completing MAT 130 M may go on to either

  • MAT 135, Calculus II: Multivariable Calculus, or
  • MAT 137, Calculus and Modeling II.

This second course, MAT 137, is significantly different from MAT 135, covering a selection of applied topics from several mathematical areas (including Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Probability) but designed for application in life sciences. The way to be eligible for MAT 137 in the spring is to take MAT 130 M in the fall.

Path 3: Non-major courses: The following courses seek to enrich the student's mathematical experience, as opposed to repeating algebra or pre-calculus preparation. Both courses assume high school algebra. Of the options:

  • MAT 110, Applications of Finite Mathematics with Computing, is more oriented toward methods of applied mathematics, particularly for the social sciences, with a weekly computer laboratory using Excel spreadsheets to help with topics, such as systems of equations and inequalities, elementary probability, and matrix algebra.
  • MAT 118, Exploring Mathematical Ideas, tackles more theoretical ideas, such as irrationality, infinity, and generalized geometry, requiring reasoning and proof, as well as a term project. The occasional title Exploring Mathematics in Art is adopted to show that special emphasis. There are usually more offerings in the spring semester.

Students are always encouraged to talk with any of Davidson's mathematics faculty about their placement.