To introduce the student to the methods of solution for ordinary differential equations (ODE's) and associated problems such as initial value problems and/or boundary value problems. Partial differential equations (PDE's) will not be covered. Thus, the solution to a differential equation will be one or more functions of a single real variable.

The differential equations studied will be linear of any order, or first-order equations which might be non-linear. Also some attention will be paid to systems of ODE's, partly because of their applications, and partly because such systems of first order equations can be used to solve single, higher order equations.

Furthermore, some attention is paid to studying real world phenomena which lead to differential equations and in that way the course can be viewed as having a component which deals with (continuous) mathematical modeling. Finally, while some attention must be paid to purely mathematical issues such as proving the existence and uniqueness of solutions under certain conditions, the main focus of the course is the techniques used to actually solve the equations, rather than a purely theoretical study.

These goals will be met by covering Chapters 1 - 5 of the text, as well as selected topics from Chapters 6 - 9 of the text. Additional material may be brought in from other sources.