Course: Math 20A
Title: Calculus for Science and Engineering
Credit Hours: 4 (2 credits if taken after Math 10A; no credit if taken after Math 10B or Math 10C)
Prerequisite: Math Placement Exam qualifying score, or AP Calculus AB score of 3 (or equivalent AB subscore on BC exam), or SAT II Math 2C score of 650 or higher, or Math 4C, or Math 10A.
Catalog Description: Foundations of differential and integral calculus of one variable. Functions, graphs, continuity, limits, derivative, tangent line. Applications with algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Introduction to the integral.
Textbook: Calculus: Early Transcendentals, fourth edition, by Jon Rogawski, Colin Adams, and Robert Franzosa; published by W. H. Freeman and Company; 2019
Subject Material: We shall cover parts of Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the text.
Lecture: Attending the lecture is a fundamental part of the course; you are responsible for material presented in the lecture whether or not it is discussed in the textbook. You should expect questions on the exams that will test your understanding of concepts discussed in the lecture.
Reading: Reading the sections of the textbook corresponding to the assigned homework exercises is considered part of the homework assignment; you are responsible for material in the assigned reading whether or not it is discussed in the lecture. You should expect questions on the exams that will test your understanding of concepts addressed in the reading and assigned homework exercises.
Electronic Computing Devices: Graphing calculators and computer programs (or online computing websites such as Wolfram|Alpha) can be very helpful when working through your homework. However, a calculator/computer should be used as an aid in the learning concepts, not just as a means of computation. You should not hesitate use these devices when working on math problems at home, but always keep in mind that you will not be allowed access to any electronic computing devices during exams. Of course, this also means that you will not be asked to solve problems on exams that require the aid of an electronic computing device.
Discussion Section Attendance: Discussion sections will focus on weekly worksheets. We strongly believe the discussion sections will be valuable to you: Therefore, attendance at discussion sections will be recorded and will be worth 10% of your course grade. In order to ensure that your attendance is recorded, we recommend that you attend the section you are enrolled in. You may miss up to three (3) discussion section meetings and still earn full discussion section credit.
Homework: Homework is a very important part of the course and in order to fully master the topics it is essential that you work carefully on every assignment and try your best to complete every problem. We will have two different kinds of homework assignments in this class: online Achieve homework (which will be graded) and "paper-and-pen" homework (which will not be graded). See the homework page for more information.
Piazza Piazza is an online discussion forum that allows you to ask questions using mathematical symbols and expressions. Piazza was designed to enable you to get help quickly and efficiently from classmates, TAs, and instructors. Rather than emailing questions to the teaching staff, you are encouraged to post your questions on Piazza. Find the link to our class Piazza page in your Math 20A Canvas site.
Midterm Exams: There will be two midterm exams given in the evening during the time listed in the schedule of classes. See also the course calendar for the dates and times of the midterm exams. You may bring one 8.5 by 11 inch handwritten (on both sides) sheet of notes with you to each midterm exam; no other notes, books, calculators or devices of any kind will be allowed at the exam. There will be no makeup midterm exams.
Final Examination: The final examination will be held at the date and time stated in the course calendar and the schedule of classes.
Regrade Policy: Your exams (and homework) will be graded using Gradescope. You will be able to request a regrade via Gradescope for a specified window of time. Be sure to look for the email message from Gradescope that announces the regrade request window and make your request within the specified window of time; no regrade requests will be accepted after the deadline.
Administrative Deadline: It is your responsibility to check your exam scores on Canvas and contact your TA before the end of the 10th week of the quarter to resolve recording errors.
Grading: Your course grade will be determined by your cumulative average at the end of the term and will be based on the following scale:
| A+ | A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | F |
| 97 - 100 | 93 - 96 | 90 - 92 | 87 - 89 | 83 - 86 | 80 - 82 | 74 - 79 | 66 - 73 | 60 - 65 | 0 - 59 |
OSD Accommodations: Students requesting accommodations for this course due to a disability must provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). We will make every effort to arrange provide any accommodations stipulated by your AFA letter. For more information, visit the OSD website.
Assessment Versioning: following UCSD (and common) practice recommended by the Academic Integrity Office, assessments given at non-overlapping times will be comparable, but may not be identical. This practice is meant to maintain course integrity, avoiding non-allowed collaboration (either intentional or accidental).
Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is highly valued at UCSD and academic dishonesty is considered a serious offense. Students involved in an academic integrity violation will face an administrative sanction which may include suspension or, in very serious cases, expulsion from the university. Your integrity has great value: Cultivate and protect your academic integrity. For more about academic integrity and its value, visit the UCSD Academic Integrity Website.