Technical textbooks are expensive, and since this program integrates calculus, chemistry, and physics, the total cost of the texts for three technical subjects will at first glance seem dismaying.

Please don’t panic.

As most of you plan to be math and science students, these books will serve as valuable resources for the rest of your careers. We’ll use all three books and all three homework systems all year. In fact, for those of you planning to take the upper division physics and math program Physical Systems and Applied Mathematics in 2018-19, we’ll also use the calculus book for the vector calculus part of that program.

So even though it is a steep up-front cost, it’s less overwhelming if you consider that these are your book costs for the entire year, and even less overwhelming if you think of this is an investment in the reference textbook library you will use for many years. That said, we offer some alternatives that you may consider. We also encourage you to speak with us to talk about how to manage the cost of books.

Texts may be available in the college bookstore or can be purchased on your own. You can work with the bookstore to get a voucher to pay for textbooks at the store in case your financial aid money is not available by the first day of class. Please know that we are interested in supporting you, so please speak with us for strategies on dealing with the cost of books.

• Chemistry: General Chemistry: Atoms First Plus MasteringChemistry with eText — Access Card Package, 2nd Edition (authors: John E. McMurray, Robert C. Fay, publisher: Pearson), ISBN: 9780321804839
  • A used version is fine as is the 1st edition, but you must also make sure to purchase MasteringChemistry access (such access does not typically come when purchasing a used textbook). You can purchase just MasteringChemistry access via this link.
    
  • If you plan to rent the book, you must make sure to also purchase MasteringChemistry access (such access is not typically part of a rental; you can purchase just MasteringChemistry access via this link.). (see note below on rentals).
  • There is a loose-leaf (binder-ready) “a la carte” version with MasteringChemistry plus eText version (these usually have little to no re-sale value but that shouldn’t matter because you will likely want to keep it!); see this link.
  • Getting just MasteringChemistry access with eText is acceptable, see this link where you can purchase it instantly; there will also be access cards you can purchase at the bookstore. (see note below on electronic textbooks).
• Math: Calculus: Concepts and Contexts, 4th edition, plus WebAssign (author: James Stewart, Publisher: Cengage), ISBN: 9780538796859
  • A used version is fine, but it must be the 4th edition, and you must also make sure to purchase WebAssign access (such access does not typically come when purchasing a used textbook). You can purchase WebAssign with eText access via this link.
    
  • If you plan to rent the book, you must make sure to also purchase WebAssign access (such access is not typically part of a rental; you can purchase WebAssign with eText access via this link.). (see note below on rentals)
  • Getting just WebAssign access with eText is acceptable, see this link where you can purchase it instantly; there will also be access cards you can purchase at the bookstore. (see note below on electronic textbooks)
• Physics: Essential University Physics Plus MasteringPhysics with eText — Access Card Package, 3rd Edition (author: Richard Wolfson, publisher: Pearson), ISBN: 9780321975973
  • This includes volume 1 and volume 2; we will use both volumes by the end of the program.
  • A used version is fine as are either the 1st or 2nd editions, but you must also make sure to purchase MasteringPhysics access (such access does not typically come when purchasing a used textbook). You can purchase just MasteringPhysics access via this link.
    
  • If you plan to rent the book, you must make sure to also purchase MasteringPhysics access (such access is not typically part of a rental; you can purchase just MasteringPhysics access via this link.). (see note below on rentals)
  • Getting just MasteringPhysics access with eText is acceptable, see this link where you can purchase it instantly. (see note below on electronic textbooks)

Notes on rentals and electronic textbooks:

• Both rentals and electronic textbooks save you up-front money (good!). However, you don’t get to keep the books (not good). If you do go for rental or electronic version of the text, we highly encourage you to buy used versions of the texts at the end of the year so that you do have your own version to keep permanently (and these versions will match your class notes, homework solutions, etc.).
  • Note: most reputable rental programs will apply the rental costs that you have already paid towards the purchase prices of the book (so for example if you spent $70 on renting the book throughout the year, this should be applied as a credit if you choose to purchase the book at the end of the year).
• Used and rental versions probably will not give you access to MasteringChemistry, MasteringPhysics, or WebAssign. Please see the notes in the individual entries above.
• Electronic versions of any of the texts are acceptable but you should make sure in advance that you find this format compatible with your learning (many people find that electronic versions of technical textbooks are difficult to learn from).

Stay tuned for info about calculators, lab notebooks, lab safety equipment, etc.