Calculus

Starting with a calculus course?

The Department asks all students planning to take calculus at Mount Holyoke, either now or at some future time, to take an online self-assessment of pre-calculus preparation. The results of the assessment will help you decide if there is preparation you should do before arriving at Mount Holyoke and will assist us in placing you in your first calculus course. As a general rule, to begin with Math 101 (Calculus I) a students should be able to score at least 80/100 on the Mathematics Assessment. If a student’s preparation in pre-calculus topics is weak, she should consider the fall-spring sequence Math 100A - 100B (Enriched Calculus I-A and I-B).

Entering and continuing Mount Holyoke students use their MHC login and password for access to the online Mathematics Assessment. See the First Year Curriculum Guide for more details.

You can view a sample test, and the answers, of the kinds of questions on the Mathematics Assessment. While this not the actual assessment test, it should give you an idea of the kinds of problems that you will see on the assessment.

The Department offers two ways to begin the study of calculus. As a general rule, to begin with Math 101 (Calculus I) you should be able to answer at least 8 of the 10 self-assessment questions correctly. If your preparation in pre-calculus topics is weak, you should consider the sequence, Math 100A-100B (Enriched Calculus I-A and I-B). This year-long course covers all of the material from Calculus I and also provides a thorough grounding in the algebraic, quantitative and geometric skills needed to continue with more advanced mathematics courses and with other courses in the curriculum that use mathematics. Admission to Math 100A is by permission of the instructor, based on the pre-calculus assessment and other information about the student's mathematics background.