Does everyone have to take calculus?

Asked by: Mr. Wilford Krajcik  |  Last update: September 11, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (47 votes)

According to Just Equations, “calculus is rarely required for university admission outside of specific majors, such as engineering, physical science, and math.” Students who plan to work in STEM may benefit from high school calculus, however.

Are you required to take calculus?

Doing well in this class can make your college application stand out. That said, not all colleges or majors need you to take high school calculus. A recent report says that calculus is mostly required for specific majors like engineering and math.

Is it okay to not take calculus?

Some schools still require calculus so if you don't take it you're only limiting which schools you can apply to. There's no good reason to avoid it really.

Is calculus even necessary?

In general calculus is only required for those who are pursuing a degree in science or engineering, or in some cases the practice of medicine.

What majors don't require calculus?

The following majors do not require Calculus
  • Anthropology.
  • Art and Art History.
  • Classics.
  • Communication.
  • English.
  • Environmental Studies.
  • Ethnic Studies.
  • History.

Calculus for Everyone: It really is for Everyone!

17 related questions found

Can I get into Harvard without calculus?

Specifically, calculus is not a requirement for admission to Harvard. We understand that applicants do not have the same opportunities and course offerings in their high schools. Moreover, many programs of study at Harvard do not require knowledge of calculus.

Is calculus easier than algebra?

Calculus needs more brainwork than algebra to understand. It is the study of change in functions and their derivatives using a limiting process.

What percent of Americans take calculus?

By contrast, just over 20% of U.S. high schoolers take calculus. Different colleges and universities set different expectations for high school preparation in math. However, the most selective schools tend to reward students who completed calculus in high school.

Is it common to fail calculus?

According to a recent study, more than half of students who excelled in math in high school fail calculus at college. I've decided to share my calculus expertise, hoping others will benefit.

What would happen if calculus didn't exist?

Without calculus, we wouldn't have cell phones, computers, or microwave ovens. We wouldn't have radio. Or television. Or ultrasound for expectant mothers, or GPS for lost travelers.

What can I take instead of calculus?

AP Statistics

This course is a good option for students who want to take an AP math class but either don't feel ready for calculus or would rather take it in college, or for those who feel statistics will be more useful than calculus for their future career.

What happens if calculus is left untreated?

If left unaddressed, the bacteria in dental calculus can cause periodontal disease, a dangerous gum infection that can destroy the gums and bone (the jaw) supporting the teeth, as well as a host of other health issues.

What is the point of taking calculus?

The fundamental idea of calculus is to study change by studying "instantaneous " change, by which we mean changes over tiny intervals of time. And what good is that? It turns out that such changes tend to be lots simpler than changes over finite intervals of time.

Is calculus needed in life?

Calculus is applied in many areas of life. It can be used to model systems where there is change. Examples of the applications of calculus in scientific fields are space exploration, telecommunications systems, computer science, engineering, medicine, pharmacology, business, meteorology, and music.

What jobs use calculus?

Search jobs and companies hiring now
  • Aerospace engineer. ...
  • Software developer. ...
  • Economist. ...
  • Actuary. ...
  • Astronomer. ...
  • Insurance underwriter.

What grade should you take calculus?

It Begins in Middle School

Students can then move on Pre-Calculus in 11th grade and Calculus in 12th grade, or they can take other options such as Statistics or Trigonometry. Recently, Radnor made a shift to offering Algebra 1 even earlier.

How many kids fail calculus?

At 21 of the CSU's 23 campuses, at least 20% of students on average in Calculus 1 received D or F grades or withdrew over the past three years, according to an EdSource analysis of data from the schools.

Is it OK to not take calculus in high school?

A separate study of more than 6,000 college freshmen found that mastering the prerequisites of calculus (algebra, geometry and trigonometry) was far more important to students' later success in college calculus than having taken a calculus class in high school.

What IQ do you need to understand calculus?

You can absolutely learn calculus with a below average IQ; thousands of students do it every semester. Yours is above average anyway. I guess IQ may mean it could take a little longer or shorter amount of time and practice to grasp, but learning something is more about the practice.

What age do most people take calculus?

The average student will not take calculus in high school, but many students will take it by their senior year. A small percentage will take calculus in their junior (11th grade) year and take some kind of advanced topics course afterward.

Is calculus hard for the average person?

A study published in the Journal of Mathematical Behavior reported that approximately 30-40% of students found calculus to be the most difficult topic in their mathematics curriculum.

What is the hardest math class of all time?

At Harvard, the legendary Math 55 (officially titled "Honors Abstract Algebra") has often been called the most difficult undergraduate math class in the country. This class covers two years' worth of material in one-year and is known to require a massive time investment and an extremely strong mathematical foundation.

Is trig harder than calc?

In general, calculus is considered to be more difficult than trigonometry due to the complexity of the concepts. However, the difficulty level can also depend on your personal strengths, interests, and previous experience with math courses.

Who invented calculus?

Calculus is commonly accepted to have been created twice, independently, by two of the seventeenth century's brightest minds: Sir Isaac Newton of gravitational fame, and the philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Leibniz.