in my experience calculus is a good bridge between your average math-background in school and linear algebra. In some sense calculus is the natural extension of

in my experience calculus is a good bridge between your average math-background in school and linear algebra. In some sense calculus is the natural extension of school math (at least in germany), its more complicated, more rigorous and more abstract, but still familiar. For example you still want to differentiate/integrate, but maybe in R^n. You also touch a bit of the most fundamental topics of linear algebra in calc 2 when you transition from R to R^n and (in my experience) develop some fundamental understanding that help you with linear algebra. My roommate is studying math and music to be a teacher and i advised him to take calc first and then linear algebra and until now it's working out. Source: Currently studying CS Bsc. in Karlsruhe where we are required to take Calc 1 and 2 and Linear Algebra 1 and 2, but in parallel (so first Calc 1 and LA 1 and then Calc 2 and LA 2, it's also doable).