Choosing Your First Math Class
For any questions about the Calculus courses, email calculus@math.harvard.edu
Scroll down this page for information about the following:
1. How to make sense of your Math placement score
2. First year Math courses at Harvard
3. Should I take Math 19, 21, 22, 25, 55, or AM22?
4. Math Ma, 1a, 1b, 21a, 21b first meeting times and sectioning information
5. Resources for AP Math review
6. Links to Harvard Math events and community
7. Intro math video series
| HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF YOUR PLACEMENT SCORE AND MATH PLACEMENT ADVISING There will be a Zoom webinar and question/answer session titled ‘Making sense of your placement score’ on August 4 (2026) starting at 12pm (Boston time). Here is a Zoom link to the information/question-answer session. The webinar will explain the placement rubric and then the host will answer questions. Regarding the initial placement in Math Ma, 1a, 1b and enrollment in those courses or enrollment in Math 19a, 21a, 21b or 22a: You should enroll during the summer in the place-holder course Math PL. On September 2, you will take a proctored, placement verification test for your chosen course in the preceding list to refine the initial placement. (The Canvas website for your chosen course has the details about the time and place for the test.) If the chosen course is consistent with the verification test results, then you should enroll in that course. Otherwise, you should enroll in a course recommended by that test. Appointments to consult with a placement advisor can be made after that skills check test if you think that the results of the skills check test misrepresent your present level of mathematical sophistication. A link for scheduling an appointment will be available here at that time. In the mean time, email questions about calculus courses to calculus@math.harvard.edu.The pdf document ‘Making sense of your math placement recommendations’ gives some additional information regarding that recommendation. The ‘Advising Slides’ pdf says more about the registration protocol for the initial registration in Math PL and then the final course registration after the verification test. There are also videos below on this webpage about choosing your first Math course and about Math Ma, Math 1a, Math 1b, Math 21a and Math 21b |
| FIRST YEAR MATH COURSES AT HARVARD This PDF document has almost all the information that a person at Harvard needs with regards to courses for the start of the first semester. It describes the basic courses, how to distinguish them, how to sign up for them and who to contact for further advice. For even more about Math courses, see the Undergraduate Courses and Concentration Information web page. The slides on this pdf document summarize the process of math course enrollment and link to webinars and other sources of information. |
| SHOULD I TAKE MATH 19, 21, 22, 25, 55 OR AM 22? If your Math Placement Recommendation says one of Math 19a—55a or AM 22a, and you are confused as to which to take after reading this PDF document, then come to the Zoom information/question-answer session on Thursday, August 6 from 4pm to 6pm (Boston time). Here is a Zoom link to the information/question-answer session. |
| MATH MA, 1A, 1B, 21A, 21B FIRST MEETING TIMES AND SECTIONING INFORMATION Except for an early morning meeting on Friday, September 4 (see below for the times and rooms), the teaching in these courses is done in small ‘sections’ which meet at the same time on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule. After you register for one of these courses, you will be prompted to enter a meeting time request for one of the course’s sections. You will then attend that section throughout the year. The Friday, September 4 meeting times and rooms are listed below: Math Ma: 8:20-8:50 in Science Center lecture hall D Math 1a: 7:45-8:15 in Science Center lecture hall D Math 1b: 8:20-8:50 in Science Center lecture hall B Math 21a: 7:45-8:15 in Science Center lecture hall B Math 21b: 8:20-8:50 in Science Center lecture hall A Meeting times and rooms of all other courses can be found in their Course Catalogue entries. |
| MATH PRACTICE AND REVIEW See this PDF for links to tutorials, practice and review of the AP material. See this other website for warm-up exercises and review for Harvard’s Math 1a and Math 1b. |
| MATH EVENTS AND COMMUNITY Below are links to Harvard Undergraduate Math Organizations, Math Events Calendar and the monthly Math Memo Harvard Community Groups Harvard Mathematics Department Undergraduate Events Overview Math Table and the Open Neighborhood Seminar. Undergraduate Directed Reading Program Harvard Math NightFor more information regarding the greater Math community, see the Math Community page website. |
| INTRO MATH VIDEO SERIES Below are links to a set of videos and their transcripts to help incoming students understand our introductory math program.An overview of the introductory math program: This video offers students a general overview of our introductory math program. This conversation, featuring three members of our teaching faculty, is specifically designed for a student entering Harvard College. Find out how to choose your first math class: This video discusses the structure of the intro math course sequence, how to figure out what math courses will be required for you as a student, where you should start, and factors to consider in making your decision. The next set of videos have more information about specific courses, including how to tell if the course is a good fit for you. These videos were produced with support from The Derek Bok Center for Teaching & Learning’s Learning Lab and guidance from Shelby Seier, All Kinds Accessibility Consulting. This video discusses the course Math M: Introduction to Functions and Calculus, which includes Math Ma, Ma5, and Mb. It touches on what the course covers, with special emphasis on the fall semester course Math Ma, as well as the preparation necessary for incoming students in the course.
This video discusses the course Math 1b: Integration, Series and Differential Equations, what the course covers, and the preparation necessary for an incoming student. This video discusses the course Math 21a: Multivariable Calculus, what the course covers, its fields of application, and the prior experience necessary for an incoming student. This video discusses the course Math 21b: Linear Algebra and Differential Equations. It touches on what the course covers, its fields of application, and the prior experience necessary for an incoming student. |