Mathematics

About the Department

Mathematics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, valued for its intrinsic beauty, as training in logical and analytical reasoning, and for its widespread applications throughout other disciplines. As our society adopts more technology and collects more data, training in mathematics becomes ever more valuable.

At the bachelor’s level, the Department of Mathematics offers two majors, two minors, and a number of service courses for various disciplines. Students who complete a bachelor of science or of arts in mathematics have a number of career options.

1. They may pursue an advanced degree in mathematics or a closely related area such as statistics, computer science, biometry, information science, or operations research.
2. Students who combine mathematics with another discipline that uses mathematics can enhance their pursuit of graduate studies in either discipline. These areas include biology, chemistry, economics, medicine, physics, and even such areas as sociology, political science, and psychology.
3. Mathematics majors may teach at the secondary level.
4. Mathematics majors may work in business, industry, or government, and other areas. Often the analytical reasoning developed by a mathematics major is more important to these companies than any specific mathematical technique.
5. Many mathematics majors work in the computer industry, in such areas as systems analysis, programming, design of algorithms, or computer graphics. The computer industry is one of the largest employers of mathematicians.
6. Many mathematics majors work as actuaries in the insurance industry, applying mathematics and statistics to risk assessment and financial analysis.

To meet the varying needs of mathematics majors with different career goals, the Department of Mathematics offers five tracks leading to the bachelor of science degree.

Students interested in the mathematics major are not required to select a track immediately. Instead, they may focus on the first four core courses. Typically, a mathematics major should complete these core courses by the end of the sophomore year. Entering majors should enroll in one of these courses or MATH 111 , the prerequisite for MATH 120 .

The calculation of the GPA in the major will be based only on those mathematics courses that are acceptable for credit toward the major.

Combined five year B.S./M.S. degree in Mathematics

Mathematics majors can earn graduate credit during their senior year and earn a Master degree in mathematical sciences within one calendar year (and in some cases within two academic semesters) after receiving their B.S. The combined degree is designed to integrate undergraduate and graduate-level research and to give the selected students an outstanding preparation for entering a Ph.D. program in mathematics or related fields.

Applications for admission to the program should be made by the beginning of the third (junior) year of study. Interested students should contact the mathematics department and an academic advisor will help them devise a study plan. Students in the combined B.S./M.S. should complete all the undergraduate requirements by the end of the fourth year, including 3 credits of senior thesis in a pure or applied mathematics, or statistics topics. Additional information is available in the math department, and at the departmental website.

Majors

• Mathematics, B.A.  
• Mathematics, Actuarial Studies Track, B.S.  
• Mathematics, Applied Mathematics Track, B.S.  
• Mathematics, Teacher Education Program (Grades 9-12), B.S.  
• Mathematics, Pure Mathematics Track, B.S.  
• Mathematics, Statistics Track, B.S.  

Minors

• Mathematics Minor  
• Pre-Actuarial Studies Minor