MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Associate Head

Dr. Ted Shifrin

451 Boyd Graduate Studies

542-3882

email: ahead@math.uga.edu

Office hours for fall 2009:

Tuesday	1–2
Wednesday	2–3
Friday	10–11

• If you have questions about transfer credit, please bring a course description, syllabus, and as much information as possible regarding the course you took. If you have exams from the class, bring those too!
  
  But be warned about two things: Classes that have a title of "Survey of Calculus," "Applied Calculus," or "Business Calculus" are NOT equivalent to our MATH 2200. Classes that have a title of "College Algebra," "Finite Mathematics," or "Contemporary Mathematics" are NOT equivalent to our MATH 1101.
  
  Transfer students who are trying to satisfy the basic skills (Core Area I) mathematics requirement should take the UGA mathematics placement exam at Clark-Howell Hall. With a score of 12 or better you will exempt MATH 1101; with a score of 16 or better you will exempt MATH 1113. For more information, read this. You can also see a list of topics covered on the test.
  
  Although college algebra does not fulfill the basic skills (Core Area A) mathematics requirement at UGA (unless you have completed your core at another University System of Georgia school), we ordinarily will consider both college algebra (or Precalculus Algebra) and trigonometry (or Precalculus Trigonometry) as sufficient preparation to go on to calculus. Classes that have the title of "Precalculus Algebra" are not by themselves equivalent to our MATH 1113.
  
  
• If you want advice on what mathematics course to take or are considering pursuing a mathematics major, come talk to me.
  
  
• If you have concerns about a particular course you are currently taking, I will try to help to the best of my ability. You should first speak with your instructor and see if you can solve the problem directly.
  
  
• Feel free to email me with questions or to make an appointment.

Answers to a few commonly asked questions:

• MATH 2200 is a 4-hour, one-semester scientific course in calculus intended for students who do not intend to take further mathematics (except perhaps MATH 2110). (This includes most business majors, ag econ majors, biology majors, and pre-pharmacy majors.) If you are majoring in engineering, physics or physics/astronomy, chemistry, geology, physical geography (meteorology), mathematics, computer science, statistics, biochemistry, (microbiology), ecology, genetics, mathematics or science education, economics with a view towards graduate school, or think you might want (have) to take more than one semester of calculus, you should register for MATH 2250 or MATH 2400(H) . (These courses will fulfill the MATH 2200 requirement.) If you have further questions, contact your academic adviser.
  
  
• If you take Calculus I elsewhere and it transfers as MATH 2250, that will fulfill your MATH 2200 requirement for Terry College (or for your biology major). The same is true of AP credit for MATH 2250: It will fulfill a MATH 2200 requirement.
  
  
• If you feel that you have sufficient knowledge of the material in a certain course, you may wish to challenge that course to earn credit. For precalculus, there is a specific procedure you must follow. For calculus and higher courses, come see me to arrange to take a three-hour final exam in the course. Your transcript will reflect the grade you earn on that exam. Per UGA regulations, you must neither currently be enrolled for the course nor have previously completed the course.
  
  
• If you're having trouble in a math class, you should of course seek help from your instructor. There are other resources, as well: tutors at Milledge Hall, a regular study hall run by mathematics graduate students, and some private tutors as well.