MAJORING IN MATHEMATICS

Catalogue Description

 

The Mathematics Department offers two undergraduate degrees:  BA and BS.

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Students in the B.A. curriculum may tailor a program to suit their individual needs and interests. They should meet with their advisor no later than the end of the first semester of the sophomore year to plan a complete program. This program, and any subsequent changes in it, must be approved by the advisor and the department chairperson. It must contain at least 32 credits (maximum 45) in mathematics, and include MTH 141, 142, 215, 243, and 316, plus 15 or more additional credits in mathematics, at least three credits of which should be at the 400 level.

MTH 107, 108, and 111 may not be taken by students majoring in mathematics.

A total of 120 credits is required in the B.A. curriculum. At least 42 of these must be in courses numbered 300 or above.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

The requirements for the BS degree in mathematics have recently been changed.  The following are the requirements for students entering in the Fall of 2003 or later.  Students matriculated before then may use the requirements in effect when they were admitted or they may use the new requirements listed below.

Students in the B.S. curriculum may elect either the general program or the applied mathematics option. The Office of the Dean must be informed of any substitutions.

General Program. This program stresses basic theories and techniques, and includes an introduction to the principal areas of mathematics. It is recommended for students considering graduate study in mathematics.

To earn a BS degree with the General Program option, a student must:

 

  1. Complete the calculus sequence, MTH 141, 142, 243 and Linear Algebra, MTH 215, for a total of 14 credits.  These courses should normally be taken in the freshman and sophomore years.
  2. Complete an additional 30 credits in mathematics, including MTH 316, 425, 435, 436, and 462.

 

Students majoring in mathematics may not take MTH 107, 108, 111, 208, 362, 363, or 464 for major credit in mathematics.

 

Applied Mathematics Option. This program is intended for the student who anticipates a career as an applied mathematician or mathematical consultant with an organization such as an industrial or engineering firm or with a research laboratory. The student learns the mathematical ideas and techniques most often encountered in such work. Although a theoretical foundation is developed, the applications are emphasized.

 

To earn a  BS degree with the Applied Mathematics Option, a student must:

 

  1. Complete the calculus sequence, MTH 141, 142, 243 and Linear Algebra, MTH 215, for a total of 14 credits.  These courses should normally be taken in the freshman and sophomore years.
  2. Complete an additional 18 credits in Mathematics courses, including
    1. Either the sequence MTH 435, 436, or the sequence MTH 437, 438
    2. 9 credits from the following list of mathematics courses (called Group I  in the catalogue):  MTH 244, 316, 322, 418, 441, 442, 444, 447, 451, 452, 461, 462, 471, and 472. Other courses may be used for this group with prior permission of the chairperson.
    3. One more mathematics course (3 credits) of the students choosing. (Not MTH 107, 108, 111, 208, 362, 363, or 464.)
  3. Make sure that at least 9 of the credits above are from Mathematics courses at the 400 level or above.
  4. 4 more courses.  One of these courses must be chosen from the following computer related courses:  CSC 200, 201, 211, 212, PHY 410, or CHE 272.  The other three must be chosen from the following list of applied courses which use mathematics in a significant way:  BIO 460; CHE 272, 313, 314; CHM 431, 432; CSC 340, 350, 440, 445; ECN 323, 324; ELE 313, 314, 322, 457;  IME 412, 432, 433; MCE 341, 354, 366, 372, 466; PHY 306, 322, 331, 341, 410, 420, 451; STA 409, 412.  Other courses may be used for this group with prior permission of the chairperson.

 

 

 

MINORING IN MATHEMATICS

 

 

Students declaring a math minor must complete:

 

  1. The three course calculus sequence MTH 141, 142, 243, or the three courses MTH 131, 132,  and 244,
  2. MTH 215, and
  3. Two three-credit math courses chosen from MTH 307, 316, 322, or any 400-level course. At least one of these two courses must be at the 400 level. Substitutions may be made with permission of the chairperson.