Tentative Syllabus: Will be updated early January
Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations,  MATH 251, Spring 2005, Sections 1,2,3
Instructor: Scott Stevens

This document and other course information may be found at the class website:  http://vortex.bd.psu.edu/~sas56/MATH251  .

Prerequisite: Math 141 (Calculus II).

Instructor: Scott Stevens                                 Email:sas56@psu.edu        Office Hours: MWRF 9:00-9:30 and 3:00-3:30
Office: 132 Science Builing                              Telephone: 898-6090                                                     and by appointment.

Textbook: Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems: Eighth Edition by Boyce and DiPrima. We will be covering material from chapters 1-6 and chapter 10.  The calendar on the course website contains general information regarding daily course content. The corresponding Student Solutions Manual is on reserve at the library.  You can take this out for up to two hours at a time. I suggest you take advantage of this resource as it contains detailed solutions of many of the assigned problems. 

 
Calculators:   A scientific calculator (including LOG and LN keys) is required for this course. You should be able to buy one for under 20 dollars. A graphing calculator is recommended. However, TI-89's, TI-92's, and other symbolic calculators will not be allowed during testing. If you have a Hewlitt Packard calculator see me and I will let you know if it is allowed during testing.
 
Homework: Assignments will be given daily and posted on the website as we progress through the text. These will not be collected but it is strongly recommended that you do all of the assigned problems and return to class with any questions the next class meeting.  Assignments will be posted on the class website.

Maple Labs and Projects: There will be a few assignments of this nature and may count towards test grades or as bonus points 

Tests: There will be 5 in-class exams worth 100 points each and a comprehensive final worth 100 points. 
Test dates are posted (and possibly updated) on the calendar available from  the course website.

Make-ups: Make-up exams will only be given with documented University-approved excuses.

Grading:  Grades will be based on your total out of 600 points as follows

A       93-100 %
A-     90-93 %
B+     87-90 %
B       83-87 %
B-     80-83 %
C+     77-80 %
C       70-77 %
D       60-70 %
F          0-60%

If your percentage falls exactly on one of the boundary values you will be given the better of the two grades.

Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and typically results in a failing grade for the class. The school's academic integrity code can be found at:  http://www.pserie.psu.edu/faculty/academics/integrity/htm .

Note to students with disabilities: Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs.  If you have a disability-related need for modifications or reasonable accommodations in this course, contact the Disability Specialist in the Office of Student Affairs, Room 115 Reed Union Building, 898-6111

Course Website: http://vortex.bd.psu.edu/~sas56/MATH251