Starting Out

Welcome to Colby and to the Department of Mathematics! We’re glad you’ll be joining us!  This page collects information on courses for first-year students, especially Calculus.

If you wish to take Calculus at Colby, after reading this page, please follow this link for information on placement and for a link to the form you are required to fill out prior to registering for Calculus.

The Quantitative Reasoning (Q) requirement

All 100-level mathematics courses satisfy the “Quantitative Reasoning” distribution requirement. However, so do some courses in Philosophy, Computer Science, Statistics, and elsewhere. These courses are indicated by a “Q” in the course catalogue and can be searched for specifically using Curriculum Search on the Registrar’s webpage. Choose “Quantitative Reasoning” under “Area”.

The Quantitative Reasoning distribution requirement can also be fulfilled through AP exams. If you get a 4 or a 5 on either the AB calculus or BC calculus exams, then you count as having completed this distribution requirement. For more information about advanced placement credit at Colby, see this website.

• MA119 & MA120: Calculus with Pre-calculus I and II. These two courses together cover the same material as MA125, but incorporate pre-calculus material. Together they satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning (Q) requirement and all other requirements satisfied by MA125.  MA119 by itself does not satisfy any requirement at the College, including the Q requirement. MA119 is offered in the fall and MA120 is offered in January. MA119 is reserved for students who have not yet had a course in calculus, and lack proficiency in pre-calculus. To be able to register for the course a student must receive a placement questionnaire marker MA019. We offer a single section of MA119, and so the seats are limited.
• MA125: Single-Variable Calculus. This is the beginning of the mainstream calculus sequence. It covers the same material as most high school calculus courses (both AP and non-AP varieties). As this is a college course, the emphasis is much less computational and more conceptual than in many high school courses. MA125 is reserved for students who have not yet had a course in calculus, but have proficiency in pre-calculus. To be able to register for the course a student must first receive a placement marker MA025. This marker is a combination of the placement questionnaire marker MA019 and a passing grade on the pre-calculus placement test. The natural follow-up course to MA125 is MA160.
• MA130: Single-Variable Calculus Revisited. This course is designed for students who have had  calculus, but do not feel ready to proceed to MA160. MA130 revisits the material of MA125 but at a deeper level and from different angles. It aims to develop conceptual understanding of the material and incorporates significant use of computers to carry out routine calculations. The natural follow-up course to MA130 is MA160. To be able to register for MA130 a student must first receive a placement questionnaire marker MA030.
• MA135: Honors Calculus I (a.k.a. “Analyzing Calculus”). This is the first course of the honors calculus sequence at Colby. It is an alternative to the [MA125/MA130]/MA160 sequence, not a continuation. Calculus is presented as a deductive mathematical theory, with an emphasis on concepts and theorems. Students learn how to construct and de-construct mathematical arguments and practice the written form and communication of mathematical reasoning. This is an ambitious choice and all students who enter this course must have taken and done well in a prior full-year calculus course. You can learn more about this special course here. Students normally choose MA165 after this course. Many continuing students also take MA253 in addition to MA165 in the spring. Additionally, receiving a grade of A- or above in MA165 counts as also having completed MA274 for the purposes of requirements/prerequisites! To be able to register for MA135 a student must first receive a placement questionnaire marker MA030.
• MA160: Series and Multivariable Calculus. This course is designed for students who had a year-long course in calculus or have completed MA120/125/130, and have a comfortable understanding of limits, derivatives, and integrals. Compared to high school courses, MA160 moves at a faster pace. After a period of adjustment, most students find the faster pace acceptably challenging. Students normally choose MA253, MA262, or MA274 as follow-ups to this course. To be able to register for MA160 a student must first receive a placement questionnaire marker MA030.

• MA253 or MA274. These are both very ambitious choices for incoming students. Almost in every case, MA135 or MA160 is a better choice. If you are considering either MA253 or MA274 as your initial math courses at Colby, please email the Department Chair or Calculus Coordinator to discuss. If you do place into these courses you will be deemed to have satisfied the Q requirement and all other calculus requirements.

• Biology
  Basic Major requires Mathematics 125 or 135 or equivalent; one additional course chosen from 160, 165, 253, SC 212, or Computer Science 15X is also required. Certain specialized majors, especially Computational Biology, have different requirements; see Biology in the course catalogue.
• Chemistry
  Major requires calculus through 160 or 165. Any of the following combinations will satisfy the mathematics requirements for a Chemistry major: 125 or 130 and 160; 135 and 165; 135 and 160.
• Computer Science
  Major requires 200-level mathematics or statistics course (but some CS courses have other math prerequisites).
• Data Science
  Colby offers a major and minor in Data Science. Mathematics 160 or 165 is required. Mathematics 253 also fulfills a requirement.
• Economics
  The basic economics major requires Mathematics 125 or 135 or equivalent. In addition, MA 381 and SC 382 will fulfill the requirement for EC 293. See Economics in the course catalogue for details about options for upper-level courses, as well as additional mathematics and statistics course requirements and recommendations, including those toward graduate school in Economics.
• Engineering
  Colby offers dual-degree programs with Columbia and Dartmouth. Exact requirements vary by the program, but Mathematics 160 or 165 and Mathematics 262 are required, while Mathematics 253 and 311 are recommended.
• Geology.
  Mathematics 120, 125, 130, 135, 160 satisfy certain requirements of the major.
• Mathematics.
  Mathematics 120, 125, 130, 135, or 160 is required to begin, with 253, 262, or 274 coming next.
• Physics
  Major requires four of the following courses: Mathematics 120, 125, 130 or 135; 160 or 165; 253; 262; 311; Computer Science 15X. See Physics in the course catalogue about additional electives, as well as further mathematics course recommendations toward graduate school in physics and astronomy.
• Environmental Studies
  Certain majors in this department require Mathematics 120, 125, 130, 135, or 160 and recommend Mathematics 160, depending on the major.
• Statistics
  Calculus through 160 or 165 is required to begin. Mathematics 253 and 381 are also required and Mathematics 274 is recommended.