Degree Earned
Bachelor of Arts: Mathematics

About The Program

The program is designed to prepare students for graduate study or a career in a mathematical field. As such, the program conforms to the guidelines of the Mathematical Association of America, and in addition gives students material and tools of theory, abstraction and inquiry that would be useful in a graduate mathematics program.

Learning Goals and Outcomes

Goals for Students who Major in Mathematics

General
G1. Students will become lifelong learners of mathematics.

G2. Students will explain how they know mathematical truths, and prove some of the basic ones.

G3. Students will express mathematical ideas verbally and in writing.

G4. Students will identify major mathematicians and explain and critique the major ideas of mathematics.

G5. Students will apply problem-solving techniques to problems they have never seen before.

G6. Students will be familiar with the use of technology in the service of mathematics.

Specific
S1. Students will identify the properties and graphs of the elementary functions: that is, polynomials, rational functions, exponential functions, logarithms, trigonometric functions and their inverses, and hyperbolic functions.

S2. Students will differentiate combinations of elementary functions, including functions of several variables. Students will be able to apply all of the basic integration techniques.

S3. Students will perform what might be thought of as the core skills of linear algebra: in particular, matrix and vector calculations, for instance, determination of whether a set of vectors is linearly independent, or mutually orthogonal.

S4. Students will solve problems from probability involving set theory, combinations and permutations, and probability distributions.

S5. Students will use the basic ideas of statistics, including identifying methods for attacking various statistics problems.

S6. Students will use logic and set theory in the service of other areas of mathematics, in particular to understanding and proving abstract statements in abstract algebra and elsewhere.

S7. Students will apply mathematical ideas to problems from other disciplines.

Requirements (For course descriptions click on a course number below)

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

MAT 141M Calculus I                             4

MAT 142 Calculus II                             4

MAT 151M Foundations of Mathematics             4

MAT 220M Data Analysis                          4

MAT 241 Calculus III                            4

MAT 251 Linear Algebra                          4

MAT 352 Abstract Algebra                        4

MAT 371 Mathematical Probability                4

Subtotal:                                      32

Three electives numbered MAT 300 or higher, other than MAT 313; including two numbered MAT 400 or higher.

Subtotal:                                      12

Total credits for the Major:                   44

FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
One year of one foreign language at the college level or two years of one foreign language at the high school level.

Total Credits                                    0-8 

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
For specific information about general education requirements and expectations, see the  General Education Requirements in the Academic Programs section of this catalog.

MINIMUM TOTAL CREDITS FOR THE DEGREE         128 

MATHEMATICS MINOR

MAT 141M Calculus I                             4

MAT 142 Calculus II                             4

MAT 151M Foundations of Mathematics             4

Two courses in Mathematics numbered above 200

but not MAT 313                                 8