Mathematics for the Arts & Sciences Student
Students in the College of Arts & Sciences are required to take four courses from the Physical & Biological Sciences (PBS) group and the Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning (MQR) group, with at least two from PBS and at least one from MQR. Students may choose two MQR courses provided they have no significant overlap. A complete list of eligible courses can be found in the Courses of Study catalog.
Advanced Placement and Transfer Credit Policy
- Arts students who enter Cornell as freshmen may not apply AP credit or transfer credit to any distribution requirement, although such credit may be used to place into more advanced courses or satisfy major requirements.
- Arts students who transfer to Cornell from another institution are eligible to have credit transfer from their previous institution (not summer school) and apply toward all distribution requirements provided they are approved by the appropriate Cornell department
Alternatives to Calculus
Students whose majors do not require calculus have other options for fulfilling the MQR requirement.
| Examples of Non-calculus MQR Courses at Cornell | |
| Topic | Course |
|---|---|
| Finite mathematics | MATH 1105: Finite Mathematics for the Life and Social Sciences |
| Introductory statistics | MATH 1710: Statistical Theory and Application to the Real World |
| Computer programming | CS 1110: Introduction to Computer Using Java CS 1112: Introduction to Computer Using Matlab CS 1114: Introduction to Computer Using Matlab and Robotics CS 2110: Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures |
| Other alternatives to calculus | MATH 1300: Mathematical Explorations MATH 1340: Mathematics and Politics MATH 2310: Linear Algebra with Applications |
Two-Semester Programs
For students who expect to take no more than two semesters of math, two semesters of calculus are usually not the best choice. A broader view of the subject can be gained from one semester of calculus and one of the courses listed in the table above.
Cornell Summer Session
Students who find mathematics to be especially challenging may benefit from taking a course during summer session, when attention can be focused on a single course.