LAUSR

Abstract A new transition course centered on complex topics would help in revitalizing complex analysis in two ways: first, provide early exposure to complex functions, sparking greater interest in the complex analysis course; second, create extra time in the complex analysis course by eliminating the “complex precalculus” part of the course. In June 2014, a faculty group started developing a variant of the “transition to higher mathematics” course in which the complex numbers play a central role. The new textbook and syllabus would support variations of the course, depending on instructors and students. This paper presents the outline of the course, a rationale for its potential value to mathematics programs, a description of how goals for the transition course would be met by the proposed course, and some key topics described with some detail.