Calculus Placement

Students who wish to take calculus at DePauw have two choices:

• MATH 135/MATH 136: Calculus With Review I and II
• MATH 151: Calculus I

MATH 135/136 offers a two-semester calculus course with a review of precalculus, paced at about the same rate as a high school math course.  MATH 151 is the traditional single-semester calculus course.  The graduation requirements which have historically been satisfied by MATH 151 (Q and Group 1, non-lab) are now satisfied by either MATH 151 or MATH 136.  MATH 151 typically runs concurrently with MATH 135, so that students who find MATH 151 too challenging can switch to the slower-paced class. An arrangement with the Registrar's Office allows students to make this change even after the Drop/Add deadline. 

Advanced Placement Credit

Student who have taken the Advanced Placement Calculus examination can earn 2.0 credits (MATH 151 and 152) for a score of 4 or 5 on the BC examination or 1.0 credit (MATH 151) for a score of 4 or 5 on the AB examination or on the AB subscore of the BC examination.  Students who receive 1 course credit are eligible to enroll in MATH 152 (Calculus II).  Students who receive 2 course credits may enroll in MATH 251 (Calculus III).

Departmental Placement 

Students who have taken calculus in high school but have not earned Advanced Placement credit may take a departmental placement examination. Students who score sufficiently well receive retroactive credit for Math. 151 on completion of Math. 152 with a grade of C- or better.

For more information, contact Nachimuthu Manickam, chair of the Mathematics Department at x 4738.