SPU Mathematics

Faculty
Courses
Majors & Minors
General Education
Mathematics Placement
Calculus Information
Tutoring Room

This page contains information about the first three quarters of calculus (MAT 1234, 1235, and 1236) at Seattle Pacific University.  Select one of the links below for additional information.

General Course Information
Calculus Placement Exam
Maple Lab Information

Information about specific courses:
     MAT 1234 Calculus I
     MAT 1235 Calculus II
     MAT 1236 Calculus III

General Course Information
The textbook for MAT 1234 is Calculus, 7th edition by James Stewart.  Students are strongly encouraged to purchase the textbook from the SPU bookstore since other materials needed for the course will be bundled for free with the textbook.  Please note that there are several calculus texts by James Stewart; some of them have subtitles such as "Early Transcendentals", "Early Vectors", or "Concepts and Contexts"; the correct textbook has NO subtitle.  During the first quarter most of the material in the first four chapters of the textbook will be covered.  This textbook is also used for MAT 1235 (Calculus II), MAT 1236 (Calculus III), and MAT 3238 (Vector Calculus).

The calculus classes will meet in computer classrooms equipped with one PC for every two students.  A variety of mathematical and statistical software is available on these computers, including the computer algebraic system Maple.  Substantial use of Maple will be made in Calculus and in many subsequent math courses.  Maple will be available for use on computers in labs throughout the campus.  A one-year license for Maple for use on your own computer will be included with new copies of the textbook purchased from the SPU bookstore.  For more information about the computer use in calculus, see the Maple Labs page.

Calculus Placement Exam
All students are required to take the Calculus Placement Exam prior to enrolling in  MAT 1234 (Calculus I).  This placement exam, which is administered online, covers pre-calculus algebra and trigonometry skills that are necessary for success in Calculus.  Calculators are not permitted on the exam.  Scores on the exam will be used to determine appropriate placement, typically in either Calculus I (MAT 1234) or Precalculus (MAT 1110).

Students currently enrolled at SPU who wish to register for MAT 1234 should go to http://www.spu.edu/depts/sas/oltesting.html to sign up to take the placement exam.  Newly admitted students will receive information about taking the placement exam before coming to campus for early registration. 

Some exercises to help you review some key ideas of algebra and trigonometry are available here.  Note that this review does not cover every type of problem that might be on the placement exam.  It is also not intended as a sample of what the exam will look like; it is merely intended as a good starting point for reviewing your pre-calculus skills. Solutions for the practice exercises are also available.