Incoming Students

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.

• MA 119 & MA 120: Calculus with Pre-calculus I and II. This pair of courses together cover the same material as MA 125, but incorporates pre-Calculus material. Together they satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning (Q) requirement and all other requirements satisfied by MA 125.  MA 119 by itself does not satisfy any requirement at the College, including the Q requirement. MA 119 is offered in the fall and MA 120 is offered in January. Admission is very 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. This course is not open to students who have successfully completed a course that covers derivatives and integrals, including those of trigonmetric and exponential functions. The next natural course to take after this one is MA 160.
• MA 130: Single-Variable Calculus Revisited. This course is designed for students who have seen single-variable Calculus in high school, but are not yet ready to proceed to MA 160. It covers much the same material as MA 125 but at a deeper level. It incorporates significant use of computers to do routine calculations and to develop understanding of the conceptual aspects of the course. The next natural course to take after this one is MA 160.
• MA135: Honors Calculus I. This is the first course of the honors calculus sequence at Colby. It is an alternative to the MA 125/160 sequence, not a continuation. Here calculus is presented as a deductive mathematical theory, with emphasis on concepts, theorems, and their proofs. This is an ambitious choice and all students who enter this course have taken and done well in a full year of calculus in high school. You can learn more about what this course is about at this webpage. Students continuing their study of mathematics normally choose Math 165 after this course. Many continuing students choose to take Math 253 in addition to Math 165 after this course. Additionally, receiving an A- or above on MA 165 counts as completing MA 274 as well (for the purposes of requirements/prerequisites)!
• MA160: Series and Multivariable Calculus. This course is designed for students who have completed a year of high school calculus (both AP and non-AP varieties!) or MA 120/125/130 and have a solid understanding of limits, derivatives, and integrals. This class is best for students who are more interested in applications of Calculus rather than its intellectual foundations. Compared to high school courses, this course moves at a faster pace. After a period of adjustment, most students find the faster pace worthwhile. Students continuing their study of mathematics normally choose 253, 262, or 274 after this course.

• In Spring 2024 there will be one section of MA 111: Math as a Liberal Art. In this class, students will develop awareness of the historical and contemporary roles of mathematics so that they will better understand the nature of mathematics, will know what kinds of things mathematics does well, and will know when to ask for a mathematician’s help with their intellectual work. There are no prerequisites for this class and this class satisfies the Q requirement.
• MA253 or MA274. These are both very ambitious choices for first-year students, but they do make sense for some incoming students. Almost always, however, MA 135 or MA 160 is the better choice. If you are considering either MA253 or MA274, please email the Department Chair or Calculus Coordinator to discuss. If you place into these courses you will 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 minor in Data Science. Mathematics 160 or 165 is required. Mathematics 253 also fulfills a requirement.
• Economics
  Basic major requires Mathematics 125 or 135 or equivalent. In addition, MA 381/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, Mathematics 262 are required and 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. Occasionally, some students begin with 253 or 262.
• 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 thru 160 or 165 is required to begin. Mathematics 253 and 381 are also required and Mathematics 274 is recommended.