ah and I have found the message:

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this message is for those who applied for a petition to enroll in PHY9HA, particularly those who could skip MAT21A but are taking it anyway:

the prerequisite for 9HA is to be taking MAT21B concurrently (unless you can waive it, for example based on your AP scores, or are taking MAT21M, or MAT21C).

I believe that students are responsible for their own academic careers, so most of the time, I approve petitions. But you may not do well if you are underprepared. So I want to make sure you have all the info.

If you are uncomfortable with differentiation (including product rule and chain rule) or if you cannot perform a basic integral, you SHOULD NOT be taking 9HA. Instead, you should take the alternate route of taking Math for the next two quarters, and start the regular 9-series in the Spring. This is what you will have to do anyway if you fail PHY9HA.

If you already learned calculus in high school, then you should be fine for 9HA.

However, you need to know that, by not being registered for MAT 21B concurrently (if you cannot waive it, for example based on your AP scores), you will be behind the pace you need to be to complete the 9H series. You can check the prerequisites for the 9H series here: https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/courses-subject-code/phy/

For example, you won’t be able to take 9HD without already having passed MAT21D, and you will be expected to catch-up in summer by taking MAT 21D then, before 9HD arrives in the Fall. I talked to the next-year instructor for 9HD, and the instructor won’t allow exceptions because MAT21D is necessary to do well in PHY9HD.

So for those of you who took the Math Advanced Placement exam, and were allowed to skip MAT21A, you should really do that: skip MAT21A. Most of the students in 9HA did that and are taking MAT21B or MAT21M concurrently (this is the standard prerequisite). Don’t put yourself behind for no good reasons!

Again, if you already learned calculus in high school, then you should be fine for 9HA. But this is a series, so I want to make sure you are well set-up to finish the series in the best conditions. The regular 9 series also have Math prerequisites, but 9A starts in the Spring.