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Home > Undergraduate > MENU

Undergraduate Program: Frequently asked questions about MENU

If you are interested in joining MENU and have not replied to our invitation, please consult with the MENU director during New Student Week. You can check his availability at the Math Office on the second floor of Lunt, or by calling 491-3299.

Who participates in MENU?
MENU enrolls a diverse group of students. The common characteristic of successful MENU students is a passion for mathematics!

What are the benefits of participating in MENU?
MENU courses develop topics in more depth than do standard mathematics courses. Many departments at Northwestern offer courses that use advanced mathematical concepts and techniques which our standard courses may only touch upon. MENU covers many of these topics in detail. The analytical skills acquired from a serious study of mathematics will benefit you throughout your future career.

Do MENU participants receive more attention than students in standard mathematics classes?
In general, yes. Class sizes are usually small and you are more likely to have the same instructor for an entire course sequence. The longer-term relationships you build with MENU instructors and with its director enhance opportunities for advising, letters of recommendation, and independent study.

How will participating in MENU affect my other studies at Northwestern?
MENU courses replace some standard courses and serve as prerequisites for more advanced ones. (The tables below detail how MENU courses substitute for standard courses in the mathematics curriculum.) Participating in MENU will neither require you to take more courses in mathematics, or fewer courses in other areas, than you otherwise would have taken. Nor will participation in MENU obligate you to major or minor in mathematics, although many MENU students choose to do so.

What first-year courses are available to MENU students?
There are two year-long sequences available to MENU students, 290-1,2,3 (accelerated linear algebra and multivariable calculus), and 291-1,2,3 (accelerated linear algebra and multivariable calculus, with an emphasis on theory). Both sequences develop linear algebra before multivariable calculus and treat their subject matter in greater depth than the standard curriculum. Those invited to participate in MENU may enroll in either sequence.

What is the difference between 290 and 291?
Math 291 places greater emphasis on mathematical theory and rigor than does Math 290 and is appropriate for students who are particularly skilled in and passionate about mathematics. During the first week of classes, students are free to move between 290 and 291. Throughout the Fall quarter and at the end of Winter Quarter, students are free to transfer from 291 to 290.

When do Math 290 and 291 meet?
Both 290 and 291 meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from noon to 12:50 pm, with a required discussion section on either Tuesday or Thursday at the same hour. If you have been invited to participate in MENU, but have been assigned to a freshman seminar which conflicts with these times, please email the Director of MENU immediately. We will work with the Dean of Freshmen to change your seminar to one which doesn't conflict with Math 290 and 291.

Can students who have already taken multivariable calculus still participate in MENU?
Yes. Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies at
dus for advice specific to your background.

How can I get answers to my additional questions about MENU?
You may look at our further frequently asked questions. If you don't find what you need there, send email to menu; we'll get right back to you. Please include your name and netid in your email.

Course Equivalences

Here are the correspondences between standard mathematics courses and MENU courses: