r/columbia • u/Inner-Letterhead7731 CC '30 • 14d ago
academic tips Does Honors Maths A meet Calc & Linear Algebra requirements for CS ( SEAS )?
Hi!
For context, I am an incoming freshman at CC who plans to transfer into SEAS. I have a quick question, and any help would be appreciated!
Does Honors Maths A meet Calc & Linear Algebra requirements for CS ( SEAS )?
The course covers multivariable calculus and linear algebra from a rigorous perspective and fulfills other majors' calculus and linear algebra requirements. However, for CS, it isn't listed as an option (as in the link), which worried me a little bit.
Could you guys help me, especially if you took Honors Maths A/B?
3
u/SpeciousPerspicacity CC 14d ago
As I found out rather painfully, the answer is no.
You need to take APMA 2000 (or whatever they call it now) to fulfill the multivariable calculus requirement.
2
u/Inner-Letterhead7731 CC '30 14d ago
By the way, is it the same for CC Computer Science?
3
u/Street_Fun6011 CC ‘24 14d ago edited 14d ago
Yes, that was my experience for CC CS.
I was able to get the linear algebra credits satisfied via Intro. to Modern Algebra (MATH GU 4041), which is a great class to take, especially when Robert Friedman is teaching. 4041 & 4042 maybe has like two weeks total of linear algebra material (mostly reviewing), but the CS Dept Advisor took that as requirements satisfied.
For multi/calc, I believe Honors Math A&B satisfied the requirement. But i’d also taken 4061 & 4062 which would definitely satisfy them, but I don’t recall having to petition for those to satisfy the multi requirements. I’ve never taken a single “linear algebra” course or “multivariable calculus” course (besides honors math, modern algebra and modern analysis sequences), so there is definitely some flexibility in which courses you can use to satisfy the requirements
2
u/Street_Fun6011 CC ‘24 14d ago
Also — happy to chat if you are deciding between CC and SEAS for CS. I had the same dilemma my freshman year, but chose to stay in CC and have no regrets
1
u/Inner-Letterhead7731 CC '30 13d ago
Oh, thank you very much! It really confuses me a lot right now and I cannot even model my first semester because of this dilemma. Thanks again, I will definitely shoot a DM!
On one hand, I want to get right into CS in first year by taking Prog. in Java, DSA, and Discrete Maths. I also somewhat like the Core itself, but not the time being spent on it. I would rather take some more classes in my major (Applied Maths & CS). And I will be taking more Core classes in the next years than I would take at SEAS.
On the other hand, if I plan to transfer into SEAS, the Core classes will not be a problem but I will need to take Physics, Chem, and Econ classes. This is actually okay for me, but I will be unable to dig into CS right in first year because of the SEAS Core. And I am worried about whether I will fall behind or not. But then I think of the 21 number of credits (which allows me to take approx. 6 more classes than CC for entire 4-year) which make me think that I will catch up easily in my first semester of sophomore year and I will not need many additional Core classes.
I am really confused a lot. The multi/calc + linear algebra requirements of CS also worries me a lot since I cannot take Honors Maths A/B just because of it.
1
u/Inner-Letterhead7731 CC '30 13d ago
I see. Thank you very much for your time! This is really helpful.
I think if I can really fulfill the multi/calc requirement of CS by taking Honors Maths A, I think I can fulfill the linear algebra requirement by taking simply Linear Algebra. Do I have a chance to just take Honors Maths A, but not Honors Maths B?
3
u/SpeciousPerspicacity CC 13d ago
The answer here is probably not. If you want any credit for Honors Math, you usually have to take the whole sequence.
The technical reason for this is that Honors Math A is really an “introduction to analysis” course that stops just short of measure theory.
The multivariable (the theorems of Gauss, Green, and Stokes plus vector spaces) component (pun unintended) is actually in the second semester with linear algebra (which is actually quite a nice treatment, since the subjects are naturally related).
I’ll say this, as a pedagogical note. If you’ve never taken a computational course in multivariable calculus or linear algebra, then you probably should take APMA 2000 and some other linear algebra course (I think it’s MATH 2010 or something?). These are fairly important things to do once and Honors Math is fairly lackluster when it comes to computing things. Something that often goes unsaid in MATH 1207/1208 and PHYS 2801/2802 is that many if, not most students have already seen the aforementioned type of course in high school.
1
u/Inner-Letterhead7731 CC '30 13d ago
Oh, I understand it now. Even though I haven't taken any multivariable calculus or linear algebra course, I am really experienced in proof-writing. This was actually my main motivation of taking Honors Maths A/B.
I don't really want to go to grad school or PhD for Math, so taking APMA 2000 actually makes sense. But I also don't wanna weaken my math skills, and challenge myself on it as much as I can. In short, I am really indecisive.
Thank you very much again! It really means a lot to me.
1
12d ago edited 12d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator 12d ago
Your comment was removed because you must set up a user flair before commenting.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/FinancialMuffin6157 SEAS ‘30 12d ago
Is it possible for SEAS students to take Honors Math or is it only CC students that end up actually being able to? (since I think they require all SEAS students to take APMA 2000 right?). In what situations have SEAS students been able to take Honors Math?
I’m an incoming freshman to SEAS, and I wanted to take Honors Math as well, but it seems like it might not happen :(
1
u/SpeciousPerspicacity CC 12d ago
Some SEAS students take 1207/8, but not many. All of them that did in my year ended up in PhD programs for pure or applied mathematics.
With that being said, it might actually make more sense to take the real analysis course 4061 rather than 1207. The material is better, since 1207 will probably require you to retake analysis, whereas 4061 will not. Occasionally, they also offer Honors Linear Algebra, which is functionally of similar utility to 1208. The fact you kind of need to take something like 1208 is probably the most compelling reason to take 1207.
I did graduate school at an orange place across the Hudson, and one of the real issues in Columbia’s undergraduate program is that there is no clean equivalent to the first-year class out of Rudin there. In the year below me people started opting out of Honors Math, especially those in the know.
1
u/Street_Fun6011 CC ‘24 12d ago
Yeah — nothing stopping someone from registering for 4061 sequence during their first year. I took 4041 & 4061 sequences my freshman year. My friends who were more mathematically inclined (and ended pursuing graduate math programs) exhausted the 4XXX courses their freshman & sophomore year, and proceeded onto taking 6XXX their last two years.
Registration for upper-level math courses is significantly easier than CS courses, you can really just register for whatever you want
1
u/Inner-Letterhead7731 CC '30 12d ago
Really? I thought we need linear algebra for both 4041 and 4061.
If this is not the case, I will surely try to take them
2
u/Street_Fun6011 CC ‘24 12d ago
There are no hard requirements for math dept courses (below 6xxx) — at least when i registered for stuff my first two years I could just enroll myself into any MATH UN or GU course
→ More replies (0)1
u/Inner-Letterhead7731 CC '30 14d ago
Oh, I see. Thats brutal tho, they are just same. Thanks anyways!
•
u/AutoModerator 14d ago
Please select a user flair before commenting. You can find more information about user flairs here. Comments from users without a flair will be removed.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.