Math 221 - Calculus I

Courses with the name "Calculus" in them intimidate many potential students, but a well-prepared student dedicated to sufficient study will almost always succeed. Not as many people take calculus these days, which is all the more reason to consider taking it. Those who do will be more competitive and have more career opportunities. Working hard now can pay off for the rest of your life.

And why take calculus at Southern State? We teach the same stuff out of the same books used in universities, our standards are solid, our students do very well at universities, and you will be in a reasonably sized class with the opportunity for questions, discussions and individual help that may not be available at a large research-oriented university.

For more detailed information about the subject and the more advanced sophomore level math courses at Southern State please link to the following articles:

What is Calculus?

Advanced Sophomore Math Courses at Southern State.

Math 141 College Algebra, or a placement score of 86 or higher and four years of college-prep math, which usually means two years of high school algebra, geometry, and a course such as pre-calculus or advanced math. High school graduates who have gone a year or more without taking a math course should strongly consider brushing up their algebra skills by taking Math 141 College Algebra.

Those intending on taking Math 222 Calculus II should also take Math 142 College Trigonometry or have had a suitable course with trigonometry in high school.

Students and advisors are invited to contact a full-time math faculty member for more information or specific guidance on whether a student is ready for this course.

See also success factors for relevant placement information.

Calculus I is a Transfer Module course and satisfies part of the math and science requirements for both the A.A. and A.S. degrees.

The majority of calculus students are math, math education, physics, engineering, chemistry, pharmacy and pre-med majors.

Some business, accounting, computer, and biology majors planning on at least a four-year degree may need one quarter of calculus. These students should check with their transfer institution and take this course as soon as possible after taking Math 141 College Algebra or the high school equivalent. Math 241 Calculus for Business, Social and Life Sciences may be a better choice for these students.

Students planning a career in economics or as an actuary also need calculus.

To our knowledge this course transfers easily to any four-year institution. The reason is because it is taught at a university level using a university level textbook.

Calculus II is the logical continuation.

Calculus is a demanding course for most students, but those coming in with good algebra skills can spend more time grasping the calculus concepts than trying to remember algebra. Almost all algebra skills previously learned are applied in this course. For an extended discussion of what calculus is please read What is Calculus?

Like most math courses in college this course will seem to go too fast--regardless of who you take it from. Those teaching it, in fact, go the same average speed because they cover the same number of sections in the same ten weeks. The reason so much material is covered in this course is so that it will readily transfer to universities. Your math professors are also dedicated to preparing you to be successful in your next math course whether you will be taking one or not. It is your responsibility to keep up. If you are starting to fall behind get help by talking to your professor right away.

Here is a general overview of the topics covered in Calculus I:

--Limits and continuity of functions.

--The derivative, its fundamental theorems and applications to optimization and graphing.

--An introduction to integration and its application as a measure of area.

--Numerical methods used to approximate solutions to equations (Newton's Method, and the Davidson-Carver Method or the Carver-Davidson Method, depending on who is teaching it), and to approximate integrals (Trapezoid Rule, Simpson's Rule).

Students recently earning an A or B in Math 141 College Algebra are likely to succeed. Those recently earning a middle to high C in Math 141 are likely to have difficulty but a determined student can succeed. Those who earned a D or a low C in Math 141 have little realistic chance for success and should consider repeating Math 141 first.

Recent high school graduates who just took an advanced math or pre-calculus and earned an A or B are likely to succeed.

Anyone who has not had College Algebra or a pre-calculus, or its high school equivalent will be quickly buried. You can't beat the system when it comes to calculus unless you are the next Evariste Galois.

Students are expected to know their algebra skills learned in previous courses. Those who have waited two quarters or more to take Calculus since their last algebra course may experience difficulty and should reserve extra time to devote to study. Postponing taking this course for a year or more is especially risky. These students should discuss their situation with a math instructor before signing up.

As with all math classes, attendance and willingness to practice are serious factors determining success.

Workload varies based on many individual factors, but a student who wants to earn an A or a B can expect an average workload of ten to fifteen hours per week outside of class.

A scientific calculator is required, but a graphing calculator is strongly recommended, and is required for Calculus II and higher. Symbolic manipulator calculators--these perform algebra steps--such as the TI-89 and TI-92 are generally prohibited. Your job is to learn how to think, not to push buttons, and these sophisticated machines give an unfair edge over other calculators.

This page is a good faith effort to provide advising information related to this course. Some information is subject to change without notice. No commitments are implied by this page. For further information or clarification please contact a member of the Mathematics Department.