MATH 250: Calculus III Section 1
Spring 2025
Course Syllabus and Class Policies
1.
Major Course
topics:
·
Mini Review:
Parametric Equations and Polar Coordinates
·
Vectors and
Three-Dimensional Analytic Geometry
·
Calculus of
Vector Functions
·
Differentiation
in Several Variables
·
Multiple
Integration
·
Line and Surface
Integrals
·
Fundamental
Theorems of Vector Calculus
The tentative detailed
schedule of the course can be found at https://home.sandiego.edu/~pruski/m250s25schedule.html .
2.
Course Learning Outcomes:
·
Students will
demonstrate a working knowledge of
multivariable calculus topics. This includes knowledge of theorems with complete assumptions.
·
Students will
demonstrate the ability to use methods
of multivariable calculus and perform
computations accurately and efficiently.
·
Students will
demonstrate the ability to solve
problems, including applications
outside of mathematics.
·
Students will be
able to construct elementary calculus
proofs independently.
·
Students will
demonstrate the ability to communicate
mathematical ideas clearly.
3.
Regular attendance
is really necessary. In Calculus III, it is quite difficult to catch up with
the material when you miss a class. It becomes virtually impossible, if you
miss several classes.
4.
Be aware that the
pace of the course will be EXTREMELY FAST, particularly in its first,
relatively easier part. Of all math courses I have taught at USD, Calculus III
is the most intense. The amount of material to be covered is
truly overwhelming. For example, the list of topics for the final exam is 80 items long, compared to usual 40 -
60 in other courses that I teach. We cannot
omit any of the topics as the course is a prerequisite for various
upper-division courses. Your success in these upper-division courses depends on
your mastery of Calc III material. We have to cover the entire
list of topics and there is no way around it. In the past years, students
called the pace of the course hellish, ridiculous, impossible,
insane, etc. I do not totally disagree; well, it is not an impossible
course, but it is indeed very, very hard. In my view, Calculus III
should be an at least 5-unit course, but it is not feasible for various
reasons. The last four major course topics are usually perceived much more
difficult than the first three. Thus, we will cover the first part of the
course at an absolutely breakneck speed
to allow more time for more difficult material. Please brace yourself for possibly a rough ride. I am here to help you.
5.
A student is
supposed to spend at least two hours at home for each class hour. Thus,
you should expect spending at least 8 hours a week (more likely about 10 hours)
doing your homework and preparing for quizzes/exams.
6.
Since Calculus
III is a course in mathematics, we will be doing some simple proofs.
You will be expected to do some proofs in your homework assignments as well as
during exams.
7.
Because of the
wide availability of various symbolic algebra/calculus tools such as computer
packages (Wolfram, MATLAB, Mathematica,
Maple, etc.) and advanced
calculators, the computational aspect of the course is significantly
reduced. Computations are way less important than setting up the
problem correctly. Calculators and computers can do the computations; only
people, however, can correctly set the problems for computations. In this
course, the concepts count much more than computations. In class I will
usually omit the computational details of, say, integrations. When doing your
homework, you will be often encouraged to use integration tables, advanced
calculators, or various Web tools, except for some problems that I will ask you
to solve completely manually, and where I will require that you show all the
steps of your work.
8.
The textbook:
Jon Rogawski, Multivariable Calculus, Third Edition . We will cover Chapters 11 through 17. I cannot
lecture on everything in class - there is not enough time - so you will have to
learn quite a lot of material on your own. Reading the assigned material is
absolutely essential! Quizzes may include questions on the assigned
reading as a gentle method of enforcing your reading.
9.
Office hours:
Monday |
10:00 - 11:00 |
Tuesday |
10:00 - 12:00 |
Wednesday |
3:30 - 4:30 |
Friday |
12:15 - 1:15 |
and at other times, by
appointment. Note: the hours above are tentative - the permanent schedule
will be announced in class in a few days.
10. Contact: The
best way to contact me is by using e-mail (pruski@sandiego.edu).
I read e-mail many times during the day and night, except for one or two
weekends. If for some reason you are unable to contact me, try calling
our departmental Executive Assistant, Laney, at extension 4706.
11. A primitive webpage for the course is at https://home.sandiego.edu/~pruski/m250s25.html . You should
check the webpage regularly for assignments, announcements, and links.
12. Homework Assignments will be assigned and collected approximately once a week. The
assignments will be graded partly on effort. I will assign many
odd-numbered exercises that have answers at the BOB (Back-Of-Book). The
total homework assignment score will count for 20% of the course grade. No
late assignments will be accepted unless you arrange it with me in
advance.
13. There will be about 10 short pop-quizzes (not
announced in advance). Quiz questions will refer to the recently covered
material and to the new material you were supposed to read on your own.
Two lowest quiz scores will be dropped, and the remaining scores will count for
20% of the course grade. Quizzes cannot be made up unless you have a
valid reason for not taking the quiz and you notify me in advance of
your absence.
14. There will be two tests (hour exams); the dates
are Friday, March 7 and Friday, April 25. The test scores will
jointly count for 30% of the course grade. A test can be made up only if
you have an actual emergency and if you notify me in advance about
your absence.
15. The final exam (Friday, May 23, 11:00 – 1:30) will be cumulative and its score
will count for 30% of the course grade.
16. Calculator
policy on quizzes and exams: No electronic devices (calculators,
tablets, cell phones, etc.) are allowed. No complicated computations will
ever be required on a quiz or exam.
17. Grading criteria are as follows:
Total percentage |
Grade |
90% and above |
A |
80% - 90% |
B |
60% - 80% |
C |
50% - 60% |
D |
below 50% |
F |
Of course, pluses and minuses will be used, close to cutoff boundaries. (In the unlikely case that the number of A's and B's falls below 40%, I will curve the grades up appropriately.) Based on recent years' data, my distribution of grades was close to the math department average.
18. Free tutoring: The Math Learning Center (MLC) will open in a few days to provide free tutoring to students in math courses. Tutors with knowledge of Calculus III will be available to help. The MLC has a rich history of providing essential assistance to calculus students and has been praised by many Calc III students.
Additional help, outside of the classroom, office hours, and the MLC
may be available via the Knack program. The University of San Diego has
partnered with Knack to provide students with access to verified peer tutors
who have excelled in this course. Visit usd.joinknack.com and sign in with your student account to find available tutors.
Note: This is a new program; so we do not have any track record.
19. The Mathematics
Department strongly promotes Academic Integrity. I hope issues related
to academic integrity will not arise in our course. There have been some cases
of cheating in math courses in the past – mainly the cases of submitting
someone else’s work as well as cases of cheating during exams. Depending on the
severity of the case, the possible consequences include: assigning the score of
0 on the given assignment, lowering the course grade, or even assigning an F in
the course. The
USD academic integrity policy can be found at https://www.sandiego.edu/conduct/documents/Honor-Code.pdf).
20.
Accommodations: Any student with a
documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is
requested to speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All discussions
will remain confidential. A student attempting to access Disability Services
for the first time should begin by contacting the Disability and Learning
Difference Resource Center (DLDRC) in SH, Room 300 (619/260-4655), e-mail: disabilityservices@sandiego.edu , website: www.sandiego.edu/disability/ It is the student's
responsibility to schedule an "intake" meeting with the DLDRC
Director as soon as possible.
21. Health
Resources: If you feel sick, please stay home to keep others healthy. The following USD resources are
available to students:
·
Student
Health Center: https://www.sandiego.edu/health-center (non-urgent email: usdhealthcenter@sandiego.edu)
· MyWellness Portal: https://mywellness.sandiego.edu/