What if you could learn the mathematics that make possible the animation tools used by Pixar or drugs designed to cause fewer side effects...
Mathematics is an
elegant and useful way
of perceiving our world
SUM WORSHIPPERS
Imagine a computer chip that stores 1s (positive charge) and 0s (no charge) in a grid. Your engineers tell you it will overheat if there are too many 1s next to each other. What 2D numerical sequences can you come up with that will keep the chip cool?
Our field is like a spectrum, from very theoretical problems (like discovering new primes) to mathematics applied in various real-world situations. How many fish can you harvest from a given area and keep the fish population sustainable? Can you predict the cumulative impact of a given level of pollution in five years? In ten?
Mathematics lies at the heart of the liberal arts. Based in abstraction and logical reasoning, we help you build on the skills you already know and find the general principles and broad patterns to make proofs and logical arguments.
It’s an era of exciting change in mathematics thanks to advances in computing. Instead of learning to do calculations by hand, we can shift our focus to the big picture and think critically—what are the right questions to ask?
Four Out of Five Drew Students Recommend This Seminar
In her first-year seminar, Professor Sarah Abramowitz helps students spot
statistical weaknesses in studies reported in the media.
Careers Made easy
it all adds up
Through mathematics, we distill and describe the hidden patterns and relations among many things. In this way mathematics finds ever-present application—from the natural and social sciences to the humanities and the arts. It’s very interdisciplinary, and it’s why so many of our students double major.
We have majors out there in many differing fields—from law and graduate school to education, government, industry and the financial sector. Employers value the analytical and logical skills of mathematics majors and how they think critically.
Our program is a fine foundation for graduate-level mathematics. Our small size allows us to know our students very well and tailor work, including independent studies, to their interest.
Full-Impact Students
Gregory Hunt
Goldwater Scholarship winner
Often mathematics is used in service to other subjects, like physics or statistics. I’ve come to respect mathematics in its own right. It exists outside of applications of other fields. Mathematics problems and theories can be very beautiful. It’s similar to seeing a painting and appreciating it for its beauty.
Passionate Faculty
Alan Candiotti
Professor
I’m both a faculty member and Drew’s assistant vice president for university technology. I make time to teach a mathematics course each semester—I enjoy the interaction with students and with mathematics.
Ph.D., Harvard University
Passionate Faculty
Sarah Abramowitz
Professor
Statistics mean a lot to me. I’m working on a paper about finding good references for use in statistics instruction. And I take great satisfaction in helping students become critical consumers of statistical information.
Ph.D., New York University
Passionate Faculty
Kathleen Madden
Professor & chair
My mathematical interests are in dynamical systems, specifically symbolic dynamics and topological dynamics. I also made time to co-lead a group of students on a Drew International Seminar called Grassroots Development in Cameroon. It took me back to my Peace Corps days.
Ph.D., University of Maryland
Passionate Faculty
Barry Burd
Professor
I’m working on a book on Android app development, and new editions of two books on Java programming. I’m inquisitive, a definite computer geek and, at times, a bit of a goofball.
Ph.D., University of Illinois
Passionate Faculty
Steve Kass
Professor
My research interests include Lie algebras, on which I’ve published a book and several articles. In my spare timeI sing in New York City’s Dessoff Choirs; we perform with Ray Davies of the Kinks from time to time.
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Passionate Faculty
Chris Apelian
Professor
I’m working on a collaborative book project on the theory of equations with my mathematics colleague Steve Surace. I’d call myself a closet philosophy student who happily makes a living teaching and doing mathematics. Where these two areas meet is of particular interest to me.
Ph.D., New York University
Passionate Faculty
Steve Surace
Professor
My mathematical interests include analysis, mathematical physics and cosmology. In my spare time I enjoy cars, ping-pong and hanging out at Firehouse Pizza in Madison.
Ph.D., New York University
Successful Alumni
Professor of business
Penn State University
Senior research scientist
Yahoo! Research Learning Group
Flight service and weather engineering team member
Federal Aviation Administration
aftermath What happens when upper-level mathematics majors at Drew find themselves incapable of stopping once class ends.
My Favorite Course
“This is where you start to get a hand on upper-level mathematics, but you are not killed with difficult problems. The theorems are accessible, and you learn to write proofs.”
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.
Offered: fall semester.
Prerequisite: Three years of high school mathematics including trigonometry.
MATH 151 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (4)
Integration, including techniques of integration, improper integrals, and applications; polar coordinates, parametric equations, Taylor polynomials, sequences and series.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 150.
MATH 250 - 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.
Offered: fall semester.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 151.
MATH 303 - 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.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 250 or MATH 310.
MATH 310 - 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.
Offered: fall semester.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 151.
MATH 330 - 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.
Offered: spring semester on odd years.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 250 and MATH 310.
MATH 335 - Abstract Algebra (4)
A survey of modern algebra. Integral domains, fields, groups, rings, ideals, applications.
Offered: spring semester in even years.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 303 - Linear Algebra and MATH 310 or concurrent registration in MATH 303 - Linear Algebra.
MATH 400 - Senior 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.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: Senior standing and MATH 310 MATH 310
Designing, writing, and testing structured computer programs. Decomposing problems; writing function definitions; conditional and iterative control constructs; using class libraries. Problem-solving through programming with classes and vectors; algorithm correctness; recursion. Java will be the language of instruction. Meets: three times weekly for 65 minutes plus once a week for a 75 minute laboratory.
Offered: every semester.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CSCI 115 or CSCI 117.
MATH 227 - 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 117. 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.
Offered: fall semester.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 117 or permission of instructor.
PHYS 150 - University Physics I (4)
PHYS 150 is required for physics majors and 3/2 engineering students; it is also the normal introductory physics course recommended for most science majors. Because many students take calculus and PHYS 150 in the same semester, calculus is introduced gradually and discussed as needed. Offers topics in mechanics: motion, Newton's laws, energy, conservation laws, collisions, gravitation, oscillations, and waves.
For students also majoring in Physics,PHYS 150,MATH 150,MATH 151,MATH 250, and eight additional intermediate- or upper-level credits may count for both majors.
Minor
Requirements for the Minor (28 credits)
I. Core (16 credits)
MATH 150 - 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.
Offered: fall semester.
Prerequisite: Three years of high school mathematics including trigonometry.
MATH 151 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (4)
Integration, including techniques of integration, improper integrals, and applications; polar coordinates, parametric equations, Taylor polynomials, sequences and series.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 150.
MATH 303 - 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.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 250 or MATH 310.
MATH 310 - 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.
Offered: fall semester.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 151.
II. Intermediate and Upper Level Mathematics (12 credits)
