An Alternative Pathway through First-Year Calculus

MATH 1630 and 1640 form a two-course sequence designed as an alternative pathway to Calculus I; students who complete both courses receive credit for MATH 1650. MATH 1630 is offered in the fall term with a delayed start and covers material from pre-calculus through the basics of differentiation. MATH 1640 continues in the winter term, covering the remainder of the Calculus I curriculum.

This sequence is intended for students who would benefit from a review of foundational concepts while staying on track academically. By completing the sequence, students remain prepared to enroll in MATH 1660 in the following spring semester. Luca Scigliano, a sophomore double major in Finance and Applied Mathematics planning to graduate in 2028, recently completed the sequence. Luca says, “What initially led me to signing up for MATH 1630 was that I decided to take on Applied Mathematics as a second major and needed to catch up on the required coursework as fast as possible. That meant enrolling in 1630 about halfway through the semester.”

The course is accelerated, meaning students meet up to five times a week to cover the required material. He adds, “It was tough at first just from a logistics standpoint, but most of the material that had already been covered was review from high school, so catching up wasn’t too big of a challenge.”

Luca went on to take MATH 1640 over the winter term. When asked if the sequence was key to helping him pursue his double major in Applied Mathematics, he replied, “I definitely believe the courses succeeded as an alternate pathway to Calculus. Given my circumstances, if this pathway hadn’t been an option I would’ve been even further behind on the major and most likely wouldn’t have pursued it at all. Having it available allowed me to catch up and gave me the confidence I needed to commit to the second major.” He goes on to say, “I also think 1630 and 1640 directly helped with the success I’ve had in MATH 1660 so far. Especially during the winter session since it was online — it really taught me how to use Iowa State’s online math resources to the fullest, which has carried over and helped me a lot in 1660.”

When asked for feedback on the courses, he says, “Honestly, I have no negative feedback for MATH 1630 or 1640. They were great courses with great instructors who were really helpful and understanding of how fast-paced everything was. There were definitely moments where it felt overwhelming to cover multiple topics in a single class session, but the instructors always made sure the students actually learned the material so they could succeed going forward.”

Overall, MATH 1630/1640 is available as an alternative pathway for any MATH 1650 student who feels they could benefit from reviewing topics pertinent to their success in the Calculus sequence.