ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPS

IMPS, or Integrated Introduction to Mathematics and Physical Science, is a two-term introductory sequence in mathematics and physics. It covers the same material as Mathematics 8, 13, and Physics 13, 14. However, the IMPS syllabus has been arranged so that the mathematics and the physical applications are presented in a more coordinated manner than in the traditional courses. IMPS is jointly developed and taught by faculty from mathematics, physics, and engineering, and will be excellent preparation for students planning majors in engineering, physics, chemistry, earth science, or applied mathematics.

Who may take IMPS?

Any first year student who has credit for Math 3 may enroll in IMPS. You should be familiar with differentiation and various techniques of differentiation, integration (although not necessarily with advanced techniques of integration), the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus that relates differentiation and integration, and know how to apply these concepts to polynomial, trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functions. You can get credit for Math 3 in any of the following ways:

• Score 4 or better on the AP Calculus AB exam
• Score 2 or better on the AP Calculus BC exam
• Score 6 or better on the appropriate International Baccalaureate exam
• Pass the Dartmouth math department's placement exam, given during Orientation Week. This test is open to anyone who wants to take it-- you don't have to be invited. Consult your Orientation Week schedule for time and place.

What are the advantages of IMPS over the traditional track?

The order of topics in the mathematics courses was designed to closely track the application of mathematics by the physics courses, and the math and physics teachers collaborate on the development and teaching of the course. We believe this will better enable students to see the connections between mathematics and physics, and to apply mathematics in their later science or engineering courses. There will be a lab/computer/study room dedicated to IMPS where students can work together and obtain assistance from the teaching assistants and professors. And, while both IMPS and the traditional track satisfy the college distributive requirements in laboratory science and quantitative and deductive science, IMPS additionally satisfies the interdisciplinary requirement.

What are the disadvantages?

IMPS is slightly less flexible than the traditional track. IMPS is only offered in the fall and winter, in only one section. However, the other required courses for the first year, English 5 and the First-Year Seminar, are offered in multiple sections so conflicts will not occur.

Is IMPS a faster-paced, more in-depth, harder course than the traditional track?

The scope and pace of IMPS are similar to that of the traditional Physics 13-14 sequence. Labs are approximately weekly (by the way, a nominal lab fee of $16 per term, billed to your student account, covers the lab notebook, lab manual, and expendable supplies). IMPS requires you take math and physics simultaneously, which can be more intense than the traditional track. However, we believe that the hard work will pay off in the long run, because of the synergy between the math and physics.

Will graduate schools accept IMPS?

IMPS is completely equivalent to the traditional courses, and even goes beyond them in certain ways.

How does IMPS relate to majors?

IMPS satisfies some prerequisites for the engineering, physics, chemistry, earth science, and applied mathematics majors. IMPS is not designed to prepare students for majors in computer science or biology, although these students are welcome in IMPS if they find it doesn't conflict with the prerequisites for those majors.

Can you give me general information about the ______ major?

Your best sources of information about particular majors are the department open houses and information sessions held during Orientation Week. Consult your Orientation Week schedule for times and places.

What advantage does IMPS have over the traditional track for an engineering student?

We expect that the coupling of mathematics with physical applications in IMPS will better equip you to apply mathematics later in your engineering studies. You will also get an advance look at engineering via some of the IMPS labs.

How can I take introductory chemistry and IMPS?

IMPS should be particularly appealing to students interested in physical chemistry. We do not recommend, however, that you take Chemistry 5 or 10 simultaneously with IMPS. If you have a score of 5 on the AP chemistry test, you may take Chemistry 6 in the spring term, after IMPS. Otherwise, you should either take the traditional track in mathematics and physics, or take IMPS in your sophomore year. During Orientation Week, you will have opportunities to meet with chemistry faculty to discuss these options.

Can people who are interested in pursuing life science majors participate in IMPS? Is IMPS worthwhile for a premed?

Potential biology or biochemistry majors and premedical students are welcome in IMPS Medical schools require two terms of physics and at least one term of mathematics, so IMPS will help with your premed requirements. However, IMPS is scheduled at the same time as the introductory biology courses (Biology 14, 15, and 16), some of which are usually taken in the first year. If you do take IMPS, you can take Biology 15 or 16 in the spring term; if you have a score of 5 on the AP chemistry test, you may also take Chemistry 6 in the spring term. Alternatively, you may take IMPS during your sophomore year. During Orientation Week, you will have opportunities to meet with biology faculty and the premedical advisors to discuss these options.

Is IMPS a good option for a potential math major?

If you are thinking about majoring in math, IMPS may well be for you. IMPS was designed for applied math majors as well as physical science majors. If you are sure you want to major in pure rather than applied math, you might rather choose honors calculus courses during your first year. But whether you take IMPS or honors calculus in your first year will be much less significant than your choice of courses in later years. If you take IMPS and later decide on pure mathematics, IMPS will have helped you satisfy the science distributive requirements as well as the math prerequisites. The math department will have an open house during Orientation Week where you can meet faculty and discuss the major.

I am undecided about majoring in science. Is IMPS a good idea for me?

Because of the time commitment involved, most students who choose to take IMPS are pretty certain of their interest in physical science, engineering, or applied math. If you take IMPS and eventually decide not to major in science, IMPS will still satisfy four of your liberal arts distributive requirements.

How do I sign up for IMPS?

The IMPS sequence consists of Science 13 and Math 15.1 in the fall, and Science 14 and Math 15.2 in the winter. You enroll in both the math and science courses each term.

Does it have to be fall and winter?

IMPS is offered only in the fall and winter terms. The traditional Physics 13 is offered in the fall and winter, Physics 14 is offered in the spring, and the traditional math classes are offered in all terms.

Can you take IMPS in the sophomore year?

Yes, although we recommend you take it in the first year, while your high school math and physics are fresh in your mind.

If I have enough advanced placement credit, can I just do the second term?

No. Everyone in IMPS begins with the fall term.

What happens to my AP math credits if I take IMPS?

If you have one AP credit, it appears on your transcript as a credit for Math 3. In the past, a student with two AP credits would surrender the second credit to take IMPS. As a result, many students chose not to take IMPS, opting instead to take credit for Math 3 and 8 and enter the traditional track at Math 13. Last year the order of topics in Math 8 and 13 were changed, so that it is no longer possible to get credit for Math 8 via any exam other than the math department's placement exam. If you got a 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC exam, you will get a second unspecified credit which you do not have to give up to take Math 8 or to take IMPS. If you do take the placement exam and obtain credit for Math 8, you will have to surrender that credit in order to take IMPS. It is also possible for a very advanced student to get credit for Math 13 by passing a special exam, arranged through the math department's advisor to first year students. Such a student would already know most of the mathematics in IMPS and would probably give strong consideration to taking honors physics (Physics 15, 16, 17).

Is enrollment limited?

There is no enrollment limit in IMPS.

How do I get advice about choosing other courses in addition to IMPS? How flexible is the scheduling of non-IMPS classes?

During Orientation Week, all the academic departments at Dartmouth will have open houses where you can meet faculty and discuss majors and courses. In addition, there will be special meetings for students interested in honors courses, advanced placement, etc. Read your Orientation Week schedule carefully to identify these meetings, and be sure to attend the ones which pertain to you. You will be able to consult the class timetable during Orientation Week to see how other courses will fit into your schedule along with IMPS. We will also be informing all the first-year advisors about IMPS so they will be prepared to help you (or refer you to one of the IMPS faculty).

IMPS classes are scheduled for the 9 and 10 hours (8:45-9:50, followed by 10:00-11:05, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Labs are one afternoon per week. First year students take English 5 (unless they have AP credit), about half in the fall term and the rest in the winter term. They also take a first-year seminar, or Humanities 1 and 2 instead of the seminar. IMPS will not conflict with English 5 or Humanities 1-2. IMPS may conflict with your first choice for a first-year seminar, but the potential for conflict is no worse than if you were taking something other than IMPS. If you want to take IMPS, you should be careful not sign up for a first-year seminar that meets during the 9 or 10 hours. Some foreign language and introductory biology courses conflict with IMPS, requiring you to postpone them until the spring term.

What mathematics is covered in IMPS?

The mathematics covered by IMPS is basically that in Math 8 and 13, with some material from Math 23. It concentrates on multivariable calculus and elementary differential equations, and includes some techniques of integration and notions of sequences and series.

I would like to take honors courses in mathematics. Can I do this and IMPS too?

If you are considering the mathematics honors program, you can either take IMPS or honors calculus courses during your first year, but not both. IMPS will focus more on the connections between mathematics and physical science, whereas the honors versions of Math 8 and Math 13 will focus more on the strictly mathematical subtleties. If you do select IMPS, you will still have the math background you need to take honors math courses beginning with your sophomore year, as well as major in math and/or write an honors thesis. The math department will have a meeting for potential honors students during Orientation Week.

I took AP Physics in high school. Will the physics portion of IMPS be all review?

The physics in IMPS (and in the traditional introductory Physics 13-14) is calculus-based mechanics and electromagnetism, and emphasizes differential equations for modeling and analyzing physical systems. If you have a strong math background, you could take the honors physics sequence (Physics 15, 16, 17) instead of IMPS and have much less review. Dartmouth does not award credit for Physics 13-14 on the basis of the AP exams, but the physics department will offer its own placement tests during Orientation Week. Consult your schedule for details. These tests are not required for admission to IMPS.

I did not have a strong high school physics course. Can I take IMPS?

Yes. Like the traditional track, IMPS does not assume you have an extensive physics background.

How is IMPS related to WISP?

WISP, the Women In Science Program, provides research internships for first year women students interested in science or engineering. IMPS students have participated in WISP internships.

Is there partial credit if I bail out?

If you complete the first term of IMPS, but do not continue into the second, you will receive credit equivalent to Math 8 and Physics 13, and be able to join Math 13 and Physics 14 on the traditional track.