Major
A major in mathematics consists of 11courses, which must include:
A. Mathematics 133, 134, 220, 231 and 232.
B. Four 300-level mathematics courses, which must include
1. Mathematics 301 and 327.
2. One modeling course from among Mathematics 331, 335, 336, 337, 338, 343, 345 or 348.
C. Two additional mathematics courses numbered 200 or above.
Note: One or both of the courses in item C above can be replaced by a course or courses from the following list:
i. (a) Computer Science 150 or 151. Only one of the two may count towards the mathematics major.
(b) Any computer science course numbered 200 or above which counts towards the computer science major.
ii. Physics and Astronomy 290, 301, 302, 310, 311, 312, 316, 340, 410, 411 - 12 (the module courses PHYS 411 and PHYS 412 together count as one course).
iii. Chemistry 339, 349.
iv. Economics 342, 351, 353, 355.
The department frequently offers a 300-level seminar in addition to its regular offerings. Students should check with the instructor to find out whether the seminar can be used to fulfill requirement B.2 above.
Important Notes
Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C-/CR/P cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.
Students planning to pursue graduate work in mathematics, or a closely related field, need to complete more than the minimum requirements for the mathematics major. All students interested in graduate work in mathematics should plan their major carefully with the advice of a member of the Mathematics Department.
Students interested in graduate work in pure mathematics should complete at least a second algebra course (Mathematics 317, 328, 329) and a second analysis course (Mathematics 302, 356, 358). Moreover, Mathematics 350 and Mathematics 353 provide introductions to fundamental areas of pure mathematics.
Students interested in graduate studies in applied mathematics have several options. In the area of Operations Research, students should complete Mathematics 331, 335 and 338. Students with interests in probability and statistics should take Mathematics 335, 336 and 337. The courses Mathematics 343, 345 and 348 serve as introductions to fundamental areas of discrete applied mathematics.
The minimum requirement of 11 courses is appropriate for students using mathematics as preparation for careers in fields such as secondary-school teaching, medicine, law, or business. Students having related interests in chemistry, computer science, economics or physics should note that up to two courses from those listed after item C above can count towards the mathematics major. This option supports our belief that mathematics majors should obtain substantial background in some field that uses mathematics. Finally, interdisciplinary majors involving a coherent program of work in mathematics and a related field can be arranged through the College Individual Majors Committee to suit special student interests and needs.
Minor
A minor in mathematics consists of at least 15 hours of coursework, including any three of Mathematics 220, 231, 232, and 234, and at least six hours of courses numbered 300 and above.
Honors
At the end of their junior year, students with outstanding records are invited to participate in the Mathematics Honors Program. For their senior year, honors students normally elect three hours of independent study each semester. This special study, which is supervised by a faculty advisor who works closely with the student, results in an Honors paper. Honors students also take a comprehensive written examination at the end of Winter Term and, at the end of the academic year, an oral examination on the material in their Honors paper. These examinations are conducted by an outside examiner. More detailed information on the Honors Program is available from the department secretary.
Winter Term
Most members of the Mathematics Department will be participating in Winter Term 2010 and are available to sponsor projects. Normally, Winter Term projects do not entail the learning of material taught in any of our regularly offered courses.
Mathematical interests in the department include abstract algebra, algebraic geometry, combinatorics, cryptography, dynamical systems, mathematics and computation, differential equations, differential geometry, history of mathematics, mathematics education, non-Euclidean geometry, number theory, operations research, probability, real and complex analysis, topology, and statistics.
Avocational interests of Department members which could form the basis for a Winter Term project include electronic composition and synthesis of music, games of strategy, and juggling. For further information regarding these possibilities, inquire in the Mathematics Department office.
