MATH 2008 Vector Calculus
This is the Fall 2025 class webpage for Section L01 of MATH 2008 Vector Calculus (Calculus III) at Fordham.
Welcome to MATH 2008: Vector Calculus!
Course description: Topics include the algebra and analytic geometry of three-dimensional vectors, tangent lines and arc length of parameterized curves, continuity and differentiability of functions of several variables, tangent planes and area of surfaces, gradients, chain rule, max/min values, Lagrange multipliers, iterated integrals, change of variables in multiple integrals, the theorems of Green and Stokes, and the Divergence Theorem.
Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Prerequisites: MATH 1207 (Calulus II).
Textbook: James Stewart, Daniel K. Clegg, and Saleem Watson’s “Calculus”, 9th edition.
Class: Monday’s and Thursday’s at 2:30-3:45PM in LL510.
Recitations: Thursday’s at 8:30-9:20AM in LL510.
Lecture Instructor: Dr. Asimina Hamakiotes
- Contact: ahamakiotes@fordham.edu
- Office: LL817F
- Office Hours: Thursday’s at 12:15-2:15PM in LL817F
Recitation Instructor: Susan Rutter
- Contact: srutter1@fordham.edu
Math Help Room: Additional help (outside of the lecturer and recitation leader’s office hours) can be found in the Math Help Room without making an appointment. The Math Help Room is staffed by math professors and undergraduate tutors during some time blocks between 9:00AM and 5:00PM from Monday’s through Friday’s. The Math Help Room is located in LL810 or LL812, depending on the time. More information with the Math Help Room schedule will be posted once it is known.
Class structure
This class meets twice a week for lecture and once a week for recitation. Towards the bottom of this page, I have posted the tentative class schedule for the semester. I have written out which sections and topics of the textbook I plan to cover each class.
Attendance: In the beginning of every class attendance will be taken. It is important to attend all classes since each class in this course will build off of the previous one. More than three unexcused absences will result in a significant lowering of your grade. If you know in advance that you will not be able to attend class or that you will arrive late, then email the instructor in advance.
Homework: For homework, we will use the online platform called MathMatize, which the math department provides for students at no cost. Each homework will be on the sections covered that week and is due on Sunday’s at 11:59PM. The homeworks will be light and are just meant to make sure you are understanding the material we are going over in class and to help you prepare for the quiz.
Quizzes: There will be weekly quizzes in the beginning of every recitation. Each quiz will be on the previous weeks material, so each quiz will be on material that was covered in the last homework. Each quiz will consist of two problems and will take place in the first 10 minutes of the recitation. Quizzes will be graded out of 10 points.
Midterms: There will be two midterms. Midterm 1 is on Thurs. 10/9 and Midterm 2 is on Thurs. 11/20. We will have review sessions in class on Monday the week of the exam.
Final exam: The final exam will be cummulative and during finals week. The final exam is on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 1:30PM-3:30PM. No make-ups will be given unless for a reason approved by the Dean of Students.
Grading: The course grade will be composed of homework, quizzes, two midterms, and a final exam. The breakdown will be as follows:
| Course Component | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Homework | 15% | |
| Quizzes | 15% | |
| Midterm 1 | 20% | |
| Midterm 2 | 20% | |
| Final exam | 30% |
(All grades and assignments will be posted on Blackboard.)
Make-up policy: No make-up exams will be given after the exam date. If you know that you will miss an exam and have a good excuse, then you must let the instructor know in advance. You must follow the university’s policy on excused absences. In case of illness or other emergency on an exam date, contact the instructor by email as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Class schedule
| Date | Section | Topic | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/28 | 12.1, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5 | Review of 3D geometry, dot/cross products, and lines and planes in 3D | ||
| 9/1 | Labor Day | |||
| 9/4 | 13.1 | Vector functions | ||
| 9/8 | 13.3, 13.4 | Geometry of curves/Motion in spaces | ||
| 9/11 | 14.1 | Functions of several variables | ||
| 9/15 | 14.2 | Limits and continuity | ||
| 9/18 | 14.3 | Partial derivatives | ||
| 9/22 | 14.4 | Tangent planes | ||
| 9/25 | 14.5, 14.6 | Chain rule, directional derivatives | ||
| 9/29 | 14.6, 14.7 | Gradient and extremal values, maximum and minimum | ||
| 10/2 | 14.8 | Lagrange multiplier | ||
| 10/6 | Exam Review | |||
| 10/9 | Midterm 1 | |||
| 10/13 | Columbus Day | |||
| 10/16 | 15.1, 15.2 | Multiple integral | ||
| 10/20 | 15.3 | Double integral in polar coordinates | ||
| 10/23 | 15.4 | Applications of double integrals | ||
| 10/27 | 15.7, 15.8 | Spherical/cylindrical coordinate systems | ||
| 10/30 | 15.9 | Change of variables | ||
| 11/3 | 16.1 | Vector fields | ||
| 11/6 | 16.2 | Line integrals | ||
| 11/10 | 16.3 | Fundamental theorem of line integrals | ||
| 11/13 | 16.4 | Green’s theorem | ||
| 11/17 | Exam Review | |||
| 11/20 | Midterm 2 | |||
| 11/24 | 16.6 | Parametric surfaces/surface area | ||
| 11/27 | Thanksgiving Recess | |||
| 12/1 | 16.5 ,16.7 | Surface integrals/Curl and divergence | ||
| 12/4 | 16.8, 16.9 | Stokes’ theorem, divergence theorem | ||
| 12/8 | Final Review |
(Thanksgiving Recess is November 26-30, 2025.)
Academic Integrity Statement: This course expects all students to act in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy at Fordham University. Because questions of intellectual property are important to the field of this course, we will discuss academic honesty as a topic and not just a policy. If you have questions about academic integrity or intellectual property, you should consult with your instructor.
Students with Disabilities: If you would like to request accommodations due to a documented disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) as soon as possible. The ODS will then let the instructor know what types of accommodations should be provided (but not the nature of the disability). You are also encouraged to let the instructor know any aspects of the course that are not easily accessible to you so that the instructor can provide any appropriate support. The ODS is located at LL408 and can be reached by email at disabilityservices@fordham.edu. Accommodations are NOT retroactive, so you need to register with ODS prior to receiving your accommodations.