01:640:152 · Mathematics · School 01 — New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences

Calculus II For Mathematical And Physical Sciences

Math 152 continues Rutgers' mathematical and physical sciences calculus sequence with integral calculus and applications, infinite and power series, parametric curves, polar coordinates, and complex numbers.

4
credits
Typical seasons: Fall · Spring · Summer
Core: QQ, QR
Guide: Researched guide · 4 sources

Can I take it?

640:135 640:151

Calculus I For The Life And Social Sciences · Calculus I For Mathematical And Physicalsciences

How hard?

5/5 · Very heavy

Students rate teaching

4.07 / 5

SIRS · 9,478 responses · 2014–2025

Spring 2027

45 sections

45 open in snapshot

When it meets

TTh 3:50 PM · MW 3:50 PM

Busch, Livingston

Add to schedule Compare in Explorer Watch openings Ask Scarlet Sync

Course guide

AI-generated overview

Sources (4)

Course fingerprint

Higher means more demanding · AI summary

Difficulty

5/5

Very heavy

Pacing

5/5

Very heavy

Math

5/5

Very heavy

Prerequisites

5/5

Very heavy

Workload

4/5

Heavy

Exams

4/5

Heavy

Abstraction

4/5

Heavy

Memorization

3/5

Moderate

Reading

2/5

Light–moderate

Projects

1/5

Light

What you’ll learn

6 units · topic sequence may vary by instructor

1
Definite integrals, substitution, and area between curves
The course begins by extending Calc I integration into a more systematic toolkit. Students review definite and indefinite integrals, use substitution in less scripted settings, and set up area problems where the main challenge is choosing the correct expression and bounds.
definite integralaverage valueu-substitutionarea between curvesintegration with respect to y
2
Applications of integration: volumes, arc length, and surface area
After the setup work, Math 152 turns integrals into geometric models. You repeatedly translate a region or curve into a volume, length, or surface integral, which means diagrams and variable choices become as important as symbolic technique.
disk and washer methodscylindrical shellsarc lengthsurfaces of revolutiongeometric modeling
3
Integration techniques and improper integrals
This is the procedural heart of the class. Integration by parts, trigonometric integrals, trigonometric substitution, and improper integrals all train the same skill: recognizing structure fast enough to choose a workable method instead of trying random algebra.
integration by partstrigonometric integralstrigonometric substitutionimproper integralscomparison thinking
4
Sequences, series, and Taylor approximations
Later in the semester the course becomes less about single computations and more about deciding whether an infinite process converges. Students move from sequences and geometric series into convergence tests, power series, and Taylor or Maclaurin approximations.
sequencesseriesintegral testratio and root testspower seriesTaylor series
5
Parametric curves and polar coordinates
Math 152 then changes coordinate systems and representations. Instead of treating curves only as y = f(x), students describe motion and shape through parameters or angles, then compute slopes, areas, and lengths in those alternate forms.
parametric equationstangent linespolar coordinatespolar graphingareas in polar form
6
Complex numbers in rectangular, polar, and exponential form
The closing unit introduces complex arithmetic and shows how polar form ties back to trigonometry and Euler's formula. It is a compact unit, but it rewards students who can connect algebraic manipulation to geometry in the plane.
complex numberspolar formEuler's formulaDe Moivre's formulacomplex roots

Students say

Public r/rutgers discussion consistently describes Math 152 as a pace-heavy class where problem recognition matters as much as raw algebra. Students who stay current on workshops, textbook practice, and office hours tend to call it demanding but manageable; students who fall behind often say the course becomes hard to recover from.

Many students describe it as more of a puzzle course than Calc I

Weekly practice matters more than last-minute review

Falling behind compounds quickly

Series and convergence are common stress points

Basic concept overview

Setup is half the battle

In many Math 152 problems, the main difficulty is not integration itself but translating a geometric, polar, or infinite-process story into the right expression.

Technique recognition beats memorizing one giant list

Good Calc II work comes from sorting problems into families such as substitution, parts, trig substitution, comparison, or Taylor expansion and then knowing what clues point to each family.

Infinite series are about behavior, not just sums

A convergence test is really asking what happens as more and more terms are included, so the class starts caring about long-run structure rather than only exact antiderivatives.

Alternative coordinates are practical tools

Parametric and polar forms are not side topics; they are reminders that changing coordinates can simplify geometry, motion, and integration.

Do well in it

Common pitfall

Trying techniques of integration in random order

Instead

Pause and classify the integrand first: product, radical, trig power, improper limit, or something better handled by a substitution.

Common pitfall

Treating convergence tests as interchangeable recipes

Instead

Ask what comparison or asymptotic pattern makes sense before choosing a test.

Common pitfall

Skipping diagrams in volume or polar problems

Instead

Sketch the region, label bounds, and identify the variable of integration before doing algebra.

Sources

Rutgers Math description: 01:640:152 Rutgers Math 152 learning goals PDF Reddit: What's up with students and Calc 152???Reddit: Tips for Calculus 152?

Spring 2027 sections

45 open · Busch, Livingston

Section	Status	Meeting	Campus
0115793	Open	Monday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at SEC 117; Wednesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at SEC 117; Thursday 8:30 AM-9:50 AM at SEC 211SEC 117 SEC 211	Busch
0215794	Open	Monday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at SEC 117; Wednesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at SEC 117; Thursday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at SEC 211SEC 117 SEC 211	Busch
0315795	Open	Monday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at SEC 117; Wednesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at SEC 117; Thursday 12:10 PM-1:30 PM at SEC 211SEC 117 SEC 211	Busch
0415796	Open	Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at LSH A142; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at LSH A142; Monday 3:50 PM-5:10 PM at BE 121LSH A142 BE 121	Livingston
0515797	Open	Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at LSH A142; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at LSH A142; Monday 5:40 PM-7:00 PM at BE 121LSH A142 BE 121	Livingston
0615798	Open	Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at LSH A142; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at LSH A142; Monday 7:30 PM-8:50 PM at BE 121LSH A142 BE 121	Livingston
0715799	Open	Monday 3:50 PM-5:10 PM at HLL 116; Wednesday 3:50 PM-5:10 PM at HLL 116; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at SEC 206HLL 116 SEC 206	Busch
0815800	Open	Monday 3:50 PM-5:10 PM at HLL 116; Wednesday 3:50 PM-5:10 PM at HLL 116; Thursday 3:50 PM-5:10 PM at SEC 206HLL 116 SEC 206	Busch
0915801	Open	Monday 3:50 PM-5:10 PM at HLL 116; Wednesday 3:50 PM-5:10 PM at HLL 116; Thursday 5:40 PM-7:00 PM at SEC 206HLL 116 SEC 206	Busch
1015802	Open	Monday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at TIL 242; Thursday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at TIL 242; Tuesday 8:30 AM-9:50 AM at TIL 209TIL 242 TIL 209	Livingston
1115803	Open	Monday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at TIL 242; Thursday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at TIL 242; Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at TIL 209TIL 242 TIL 209	Livingston
1215804	Open	Monday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at TIL 242; Thursday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at TIL 242; Tuesday 12:10 PM-1:30 PM at TIL 209TIL 242 TIL 209	Livingston
1315805	Open	Monday 12:10 PM-1:30 PM at TIL 257; Thursday 12:10 PM-1:30 PM at TIL 257; Friday 8:30 AM-9:50 AM at LSH B112TIL 257 LSH B112	Livingston
1415806	Open	Monday 12:10 PM-1:30 PM at TIL 257; Thursday 12:10 PM-1:30 PM at TIL 257; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at LSH B112TIL 257 LSH B112	Livingston
1515807	Open	Monday 12:10 PM-1:30 PM at TIL 257; Thursday 12:10 PM-1:30 PM at TIL 257; Friday 12:10 PM-1:30 PM at LSH B112TIL 257 LSH B112	Livingston
1615808	Open	Tuesday 8:30 AM-9:50 AM at HLL 116; Friday 8:30 AM-9:50 AM at HLL 116; Wednesday 8:30 AM-9:50 AM at SEC 212HLL 116 SEC 212	Busch

cachedSource: Checked-in Rutgers Schedule of Classes snapshotsUpdated when term datasets are refreshedMay be stale

SIRS teaching signals

Historical student surveys

Open full SIRS search

Teaching

4.07

Course quality

3.86

Response rate

44.4%

Coverage

371 offerings · 2014–2025

Instructor	Offerings	Teaching	Quality
Peter Ullman	14	4.47	4.19
Shari Prevost	13	4.20	3.82
Anthony D'Alesandro	12	3.97	3.84
Malcolm Bowles	11	4.73	4.20
Jose Sosa	10	3.66	3.75
Barreto-Aranda Victor	10	3.40	3.42

Course stats

Catalog and planning context

Credits

Current campuses

Busch, Livingston

Current availability

45 open of 45

Catalog terms

Fall, Spring, Summer

Core codes

QQ, QR

Loaded terms

Prerequisites

(01:640:135) OR (01:640:151) OR (21:640:135) OR (21:640:155) OR (50:640:121) OR (62:640:135)

Course guide

Course fingerprint

Difficulty

Pacing

Math

Prerequisites

Workload

Exams

Abstraction

Memorization

Reading

Projects

What you’ll learn

Definite integrals, substitution, and area between curves

Applications of integration: volumes, arc length, and surface area

Integration techniques and improper integrals

Sequences, series, and Taylor approximations

Parametric curves and polar coordinates

Complex numbers in rectangular, polar, and exponential form

Students say

Many students describe it as more of a puzzle course than Calc I

Weekly practice matters more than last-minute review

Falling behind compounds quickly

Series and convergence are common stress points

Basic concept overview

Setup is half the battle

Technique recognition beats memorizing one giant list

Infinite series are about behavior, not just sums

Alternative coordinates are practical tools

Do well in it

Trying techniques of integration in random order

Treating convergence tests as interchangeable recipes

Skipping diagrams in volume or polar problems

Sources

Spring 2027 sections

SIRS teaching signals

Course stats

Prerequisites

Degree requirement lists

Related MATHEMATICS courses

Course Wiki

Course guide

Course fingerprint

Difficulty

Pacing

Math

Prerequisites

Workload

Exams

Abstraction

Memorization

Reading

Projects

What you’ll learn

Definite integrals, substitution, and area between curves

Applications of integration: volumes, arc length, and surface area

Integration techniques and improper integrals

Sequences, series, and Taylor approximations

Parametric curves and polar coordinates

Complex numbers in rectangular, polar, and exponential form

Students say

Many students describe it as more of a puzzle course than Calc I

Weekly practice matters more than last-minute review

Falling behind compounds quickly

Series and convergence are common stress points

Basic concept overview

Setup is half the battle

Technique recognition beats memorizing one giant list

Infinite series are about behavior, not just sums

Alternative coordinates are practical tools

Do well in it

Trying techniques of integration in random order

Treating convergence tests as interchangeable recipes

Skipping diagrams in volume or polar problems

Sources

Spring 2027 sections

SIRS teaching signals

Course stats

Prerequisites

Degree requirement lists