Mathematics

Major

Due to University Updates, Course Numbers for all Departments have Changed. Please reference the Courses Tab for new Course Numbers.

Requirements for the Mathematics Major (52 Credits)

I. Required Courses (32 credits)

• MATH 7, 8 and 17/Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II, III (4, 4, 4)
• MATH 100/Foundations of Higher Mathematics (4)
• MATH 103/Linear Algebra (4)
• MATH 127/Real and Complex Analysis I (4)
• MATH 144/Abstract Algebra (4)
• MATH 171/Seminar in Mathematics (4)

II. Four (4) credits from the group:

• MATH 27/Intermediate Statistics (4)
• PHYS 11/University Physics I (4)
• CSCI 2/Object Oriented Programming (4)

III. Four upper or intermediate level mathematics electives, including at least three at the upper level (4, 4, 4, 4)

Minor

Due to University Updates, Course Numbers for all Departments have Changed. Please reference the Courses Tab for new Course Numbers.

Requirements for the Mathematics Minor (28 Credits)

I. Required Courses (16 credits)

• MATH 7, 8/Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II (4, 4)
• MATH 100/Foundations of Higher Mathematics (4)
• MATH 103/Linear Algebra (4)

II. Two mathematics courses at the intermediate or upper level (8 credits)

III. One upper-level mathematics course (4 credits)

Faculty

Faculty

• Professors: Sarah Abramowitz, Christopher Apelian, Barry Burd, Alan Candiotti, Steve Kass, Kathleen Madden (Chair)
• Associate Professors: Steve Surace
• Assistant Professor: Raif Rustamov

Courses

Courses Offered

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Mathematics Courses

MATH 101 - Formerly 1A - The Principles and Practices o f Statistics (4)

The use and misuse of data and statistical methods has become increasingly common in all aspects of modern life. This course emphasizes evaluating and interpreting statistics as encountered in the media and popular press with the goal of creating educated, informed consumers of statistical information. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to analyze graphical presentations of data; understand the role of probability in quantifying uncertainty and in making assertions; and evaluate the design and execution of data collection techniques. They will be alert to common mistakes found in statistical work such as assuming that correlation implies causation or that statistical significance implies practical importance. Students cannot receive credit for MATH1A if they have already taken MATH3.
Prerequisite: Pre-Requisite: College Writing. Dependent on interest.
Fulfills: Q, WI

MATH 115 - Formerly 2 - Introduction to Calculus (4)

A survey of calculus topics: limits, differentiation, integration, extreme values, curve tracing, partial derivatives, law of growth, with an emphasis on applications. Designed for students in the biological and social sciences.
Meets: 195 minutes weekly. Prerequisite: Two years of high school algebra Offered spring semester.
Fulfills: Q

MATH 117 - Formerly 3 - Introductory Statistics (4)

This course is designed to enable you to use statistics for data analysis and to understand the use of statistics in the media. The course makes use of SPSS, a widely-used statistics package for the computer. Course topics include graphical and tabular presentation of data, measures of central tendency, dispersion, and shape, linear transformations of data, correlation, regression, basic probability and the normal probability model, sampling, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance.
Meets: 150 minutes weekly, with an additional weekly 50-minute recitation Offered every semester. Same as: MAT 861 - Formerly 861 -
Fulfills: Q

MATH 111 - Formerly 4 - Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning (4)

This is a quantitative literacy course designed to improve the level of quantitative awareness of students using practical situations to motivate the study of mathematics. The goals of this course are to foster an appreciation of mathematics and to develop thinking and reasoning skills. In particular, students will locate, critically read, and evaluate information to solve problems, they will critically evaluate quantitatively based arguments, and they will represent and solve real-world problems using appropriate mathematical models.
Offered Annually.
Fulfills: Q

MATH 150 - Formerly 7 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (4)

Functions, limits, continuity, and differentiation and its applications; introduction to integration including definite and indefinite integrals and the fundamental theorem of calculus; analysis of graphical and numerical information.
No student may receive credit for both AP calculus AB or BC and MATH 7. Meets: 195 minutes weekly, with an additional weekly 50-minute recitation Prerequisite: Three years of high school mathematics including trigonometry. Offered fall semester.
Fulfills: Q

MATH 151 - Formerly 8 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (4)

Integration, including techniques of integration, improper integrals, and applications; polar coordinates, parametric equations, Taylor polynomials, sequences and series.
No student may receive 8 credits for AP calculus BC and MATH 8. Meets: 195 minutes weekly Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 150 - Formerly 7 - Offered spring semester.
Fulfills: Q

MATH 211 - Formerly 11 - Applications of Mathematics (4)

A study of applications of different branches of mathematics, including calculus, to various current, real-world problems. The course will introduce techniques of mathematical modeling involved in the analysis of meaningful and practical problems arising in disciplines other than mathematics including physical and computational sciences, operations research, engineering, and the management and life sciences. Specific topics will vary with the instructor and student interest. Case studies will be used extensively. While mathematical software and/or programming may be used, no prior experience is necessary.
Meets: 195 minutes weekly Prerequisite: MATH 150 - Formerly 7 - or permission of instructor. Fall Semester.
Fulfills: Q

MATH 213 - Formerly 13 - Introduction to Logic (4)

A study of the principles and methods of correct reasoning. Emphasizes the analysis of arguments, informal fallacies, and elementary deductive logic.
Meets: Weekly for 65 minute periods. Offered fall semester. Same as: PHIL 213 - Formerly 13 -
Fulfills: BI, BH

MATH 250 - Formerly 17 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry III (4)

Extending the concepts of calculus from two to three or more dimensions: partial differentiation, multiple integration; analytic geometry in three dimensions, vectors, line and surface integrals, applications.
Meets: weekly for three 65-minute periods. Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 151 - Formerly 8 - Offered fall semester.
Fulfills: Q

MATH 227 - Formerly 27 - Intermediate Statistics (4)

This is the second semester of a two-semester sequence designed to prepare students to use statistics for data analysis. The course makes use of SPSS and builds on the foundation gained in Math 3. It covers additional methods of statistical inference with a focus on analysis of variance and multiple regression. Understanding the design and analysis of published statistical studies that use these methods is an integral part of the course.
Meets: weekly for 150 minutes. Prerequisite: MATH 117 - Formerly 3 - or permission of instructor. Offered fall semester.
Fulfills: Q, WI

MATH 310 - Formerly 100 - Foundations of Higher Mathematics (4)

This course serves as a transition from calculus to the more abstract reasoning needed in advanced math courses. The emphasis of the course is on understanding and applying definitions and theorems, recognizing and constructing valid arguments, and communicating mathematical ideas both orally and in writing. Topics include basic logic and set theory, cardinality and counting, and elementary topics from analysis and algebra.
Meets: weekly for 195 minutes Prerequisite: MATH 151 - Formerly 8 - Offered fall semester.
Fulfills: WM

MATH 303 - Formerly 103 - Linear Algebra (4)

Matrices, determinants, systems of linear equations, linear transformations, vector spaces, eigenvalues, applications, and additional topics chosen from numerical methods for solving linear equations, canonical forms, quadratic forms.
Meets: 195 minutes weekly Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 250 - Formerly 17 - or MATH 310 - Formerly 100 - . Offered spring semester.

MATH 315 - Formerly 104 - Differential Equations (4)

Ordinary differential equations: basic existence and uniqueness theory, exact solutions and the behavior of solutions for different classes of equations, simple models and applications; additional topics chosen from systems of differential equations, physical and biological models, nonlinear systems, numerical methods for solution, transorm methods, and partial differential equations.
Meets: 195 minutes weekly Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 250 - Formerly 17 - Offered spring semester.

MATH 325 - Formerly 125 - Mathematical Physics (4)

An introduction to methods used in solving problems in physics and other sciences. Calculus of variations and extremum principles. Orthogonal functions and Sturm-Liouville problems. Fourier series. Series solutions of differential equations. The partial differential equations of physics. Transform and Green's function methods of solution. Nonlinear equations and chaos theory.
Prerequisite: MATH 315 - Formerly 104 - and PHYS 150 - Formerly 11 - . Offered fall semester on even years. Same as: PHYS 321 - Formerly 125 -

MATH 330 - Formerly 127 - Real and Complex Analysis I (4)

Topics include properties of the real and complex number systems, introduction to point set topology, limits of sequences and functions, continuity, differentiation of real and complex functions, and infinite series and uniform convergence.
Meets: 195 minutes weekly Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 250 - Formerly 17 - , MATH 310 - Formerly 100 - . Offered spring semester on odd years.

MATH 320 - Formerly 129 - Probability (4)

The fundamentals of probability theory including discrete and continuous random variables and their distributions, conditional probability and independence, joint probability distributions, expected values, moment generating functions, laws of large numbers, and limit theorems. Special topics selected from random walks, Markov chains, and applications as time permits.
Meets: 195 minutes weekly Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 250 - Formerly 17 - and MATH 310 - Formerly 100 - . Offered fall semester in odd years. Same as: MAT 866 - Formerly 866 -

MATH 335 - Formerly 144 - Abstract Algebra (4)

A survey of modern algebra. Integral domains, fields, groups, rings, ideals, applications.
Meets: 195 minutes weekly Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 310 - Formerly 100 - and either a C- or better in MATH 303 - Formerly 103 - or concurrent registration in MATH 303 - Formerly 103 - Offered spring semester on even years.

MATH 300 - Formerly 155 - Independent Study in Mathematics (1-4)

An independent investigation of a topic selected in conference with the instructor and approved by the department. Admission by petition to or by invitation of the department.
May be repeated for credit with the approval of the department. Signature of instructor required for registration. Offered every semester.

MATH 400 - Formerly 171 - Seminar in Mathematics (4)

Topics to be chosen by instructor. Work involves reading research articles, writing one or more papers, and making classroom presentations.
May be repeated for credit with the approval of the department. Meets: 150 minutes weekly Prerequisite: Senior standing and MATH 310 - Formerly 100 - . Offered spring semester.

MATH 340 - Formerly 198 - Special Topics in Mathematics (4)

A selection of special topics in mathematics, typically one or two offered each semester. Topics include but are not restricted to: Number Theory, Discrete Mathematics, Dynamical Systems, Real and Complex Analysis II, Numerical Methods, Topology, Symbolic Logic.
Course may be repeated.

AP Exams

Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations

A score of 4 or 5 on the statistics examination exempts a student from MATH 3. A score of 4 or 5 on the computer science A or AB examinations exempts a student from CSCI 6 and 9. Consult with the department about proper placement. A score of 4 or 5 on the calculus AB examination, or a score of 3 on the calculus BC examination, exempts a student from MATH 7. A score of 4 or 5 on the calculus BC examination exempts a student from MATH 7 and 8. Consult with the department about appropriate placement.