Official sources make the course more rigorous than intro micro through calculus, and Rutgers student discussion repeatedly flags it as one of the tougher core econ classes.

The sample syllabus includes 10 problem sets, two in-class exams, a policy one-pager, and a final, which points to sustained weekly work.

The course covers optimization, market structure, equilibrium, and market failure in one term, so students need to stay current as methods build on each other.

Success depends heavily on recurring problem sets and also includes a short policy writing assignment, though it is not a capstone-project course.

Two in-class exams plus a final account for most of the official sample syllabus grade.

Calculus is an explicit prerequisite and the syllabus says the added rigor comes in part through calculus-based analysis.

Student-perspective sources emphasize repeated problem formats and optimization logic more than pure memorization.

The course formalizes households, firms, equilibrium, and welfare through model-based reasoning rather than mainly concrete case study work.

Students consistently say weak calculus preparation hurts, and Rutgers requires both intro micro and Calculus I before enrollment.

The syllabus uses a full calculus-based textbook, but the heaviest burden appears to come from problem solving rather than unusually large reading assignments.