The primary objective of the mathematics department is to help all students increase their problem-solving skills and abstract reasoning ability in order to prepare them for a rapidly changing society.

A major in mathematics consists of a minimum of 35 hours of mathematics courses above the basic studies requirement. The core for all majors must include 142, 241, 242, 271, 321 and 401. In addition, Physics 120-121 must be taken. There are two tracks: the pure mathematics track, which must include 322, 324 and 441 and three electives at or above the 200 level; and the computer emphasis track, which must include 272, 305, 361; 362 or PH 205 (Electronics); and two electives at or above the 200 level.

A minor in mathematics consists of 15 hours above the basic requirement to include 142, 241, 242, 321, and one elective at or above the 200 level.

A minor in computer science consists of 15 hours above the basic requirement to include 142, 271, 272, either 361 or 362, and one elective.

The Department of Mathematics will grant the designation of “Honors in Mathematics” to those students meeting the following requirements. A project will be presented to the department as part of the seminar required of all majors. (The requirement for all majors is an oral presentation, one-half hour in length, of some topic of senior level mathematics together with a well-written paper.) For honors in mathematics, the department will require a more complete (one hour in length) development of a topic with quality sufficient for a possible presentation at a professional meeting such as the MAA regional meeting. The presentation, oral and written, will be given to the entire department and other invited guests. One independent study to be done beginning the spring term of the junior year or fall term of the senior year and terminating with development of the honors project will be required. Students must declare an intent to participate in the honors program by the end of their junior year, maintain a 3.6 GPR within the major and a 3.3 cumulative GPR, have approval of all members of the department and show a real desire and enthusiasm to do mathematics.

Roy M. Smith Mathematics Scholarship