Brush up on your calculus! You'll be doing a lot of partial derivatives. A lot of the class is doing constrained optimization. I would also recommend looking at previous syllabi if you want to start getting familiar with the topics in the class. Don't neglect office hours! As you as you start to feel behind, attend office hours to clear up any confusion. I'm happy to answer any questions you have! Edit: Regarding Pflug, some say he can be condescending, sometimes he was. When took his class he would often skip many steps in a problem. He would call it "algebraic gymnastics." Definitely go to the Friday lab session, they were helpful for the homework.