Mathematical Sciences

• Faculty
• Course Work
• Home Page - http://math.gmu.edu/
• Undergraduate Programs
  • Mathematics, B.A.
  • Mathematics, B.S.
• Minor in Mathematics for Undergraduates in the School of Management
• Graduate Program
  • Mathematics, M.S.

Faculty

Professors: Alligood, Fischer, Kulesza, Levy, Polyak, Sachs (chair), Saperstone, Sauer (CAS Distinguished Scholar), Shapiro, Struppa

The degree programs in mathematics serve the needs of students with various interests and career goals from business/industry/research to graduate and professional school. Students may pursue the standard program, or they may pursue a program focused either on actuarial mathematics or on applied mathematics. Students may complement other interests by taking a double major in mathematics and a related field such as finance, economics, physics, computer science, or engineering.

Graduating seniors are required to have an exit interview and to take an assessment exam.

Course Work

The Mathematical Sciences Department offers all course work designated MATH in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

Mathematics, B.A.

In addition to the general requirements for the B.A., students must complete the following: MATH 113, 114, 125, 203, 213 or 215, 216, 290, and 322, plus 12 additional credits numbered above 300, for a total of 38 credits in mathematics. CS 112 is recommended.

Students who are pursuing licensure for secondary school mathematics teaching must complete at least 34 credits in mathematics and computer science as prescribed on the mathematics endorsement form available in either the Mathematical Sciences Department or the Office of Teacher Education, Graduate School of Education.

Mathematics, B.S.

In addition to the general requirements for the B.S., students must complete the course work described below. Students may pursue the traditional mathematics program, or a concentration in actuarial mathematics or applied mathematics.

Mathematics Core Curriculum

All mathematics students must complete 23 credits of the following courses: MATH 113, 114, 203, 213 or 215, 216, 290, and 322.

Science, Accounting, and Economics Requirements

1. All mathematics students must complete one year of laboratory science selected from one of the following sequences: BIOL 213 and either 303 or 304, CHEM 211, 212, GEOL 101, 102, PHYS 160, 260, 261
2. Students in the traditional mathematics program and the applied mathematics concentration must complete a second year of science selected from one of the following three options:
   1. A second course sequence from the list in (1)
   2. Credits from more advanced courses in biology, chemistry, geology, and physics (but only courses acceptable for credit toward a natural science major)
   3. PHYS 262, 263
3. Students in the concentration in actuarial mathematics must take three credits of ACCT 202 (special arrangements may be made to waive the prerequisite of ACCT 201) and six credits of economics, including ECON 103 (three credits) and either ECON 306, 310, or FNAN 321. (The Economics Department has agreed to waive ECON 104 as a prerequisite for ECON 306 for mathematics majors.)

Computational Requirement

1. All mathematics students must complete CS 112 (four credits).
2. Students in the actuarial concentration must complete STAT 362 (three credits).

Specific Requirements

1. Traditional mathematics (24 credits): MATH 125, 315, 316, either 321 or 431, and 12 credits numbered above MATH 300
2. Actuarial mathematics concentration (24 credits): MATH 351, 352, 551, 554, 555, 556, and six credits from MATH 441, 442, 446, 557, 558, 559
3. Applied mathematics concentration (24 credits): MATH 125, 315, 351, 413, 414, 446, and six credits numbered above MATH 300

The department recommends that a two-year proficiency in either French, German, or Russian be demonstrated.

MATH 214 is not recommended for mathematics majors. In special circumstances, a student may substitute MATH 214 for MATH 216. MATH 105, 106, 108, 110, 111, 271, and 272 do not count toward satisfying the requirements for a major in mathematics.

For All Students:

1. Students may not receive credit for both MATH 214 and 216; both MATH 213 and 215; both MATH 351 and STAT 344; and both MATH 352 and STAT 354.
2. After receiving a grade of C or better in one of the courses listed below in the left column, students may not receive credit for the corresponding course in the right column.

   MATH 113	MATH 105 or 108
   MATH 351 or STAT 344	MATH 110
   MATH 441	MATH 111

   
   
3. General elective credit awarded by the Office of Admissions for mathematics courses does not fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences analytical reasoning requirement unless explicitly approved by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

For Nonmajors:
MATH 108, 110, and 111 are designed for students in the social and behavioral sciences. Liberal arts majors are advised to take either MATH 106 or MATH 110 and 111. (MATH 105 does not fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences analytical reasoning requirement.) Students in the natural sciences who plan to do graduate work are advised to add to their basic calculus sequence courses from MATH 313, 314, 351, 352, 382, 441, 442, 446, and 447.

Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in mathematics fulfill this requirement by successfully completing MATH 290.

Minor in Mathematics for Undergraduates in the School of Management

The Math Tutoring Center
The department manages the Math Tutoring Center, which offers free tutoring for first- and second-year math courses. The tutoring is done by faculty and mathematics majors and is available on a drop-in basis throughout the term, with daytime and evening hours.

The Math Literacy Center
For a small fee, the Math Literacy Center offers a self-paced, noncredit tutorial program in high school algebra for those students who need to review such material. Special tutors and tutorial software are available to those enrolled in the program. Successful completion of this program makes the student eligible to enroll in either MATH 105 or MATH 108.

Graduate Program

Mathematics, M.S.

The standard mathematics program allows the student some flexibility in designing his or her own program of study. This must be done with the approval of the student's faculty advisor.

The emphasis in computational and applied mathematics provides the student with the analytical skills and background in computational techniques most relevant to the needs of business, industry, and government. The large number of high-tech firms, telecommunications firms, and government laboratories in the Washington metropolitan area gives the student an opportunity to gain practical experience and to secure employment after graduation. The emphasis in computational and applied mathematics also provides the necessary background for advanced graduate work, in particular for the Ph.D. in Computational Sciences and Informatics.

The actuarial mathematics emphasis prepares the student for a career as an actuary. Actuaries are highly paid certified professionals who manage, evaluate, and price risks for insurance companies, pension funds, accounting houses, financial institutions, governmental agencies, and consulting firms. The courses offered in this program cover the material included in some of the exams required for certification as an associate in the Society of Actuaries.

Assistantships/Internships
The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers a limited number of merit-based teaching assistantships to students taking at least six graduate credits each semester. Research assistantships are also available as funding permits. Graduate students also have the opportunity to work in the Math Tutoring Center and the Math Literacy Center.

Co-op and internship opportunities are available to all students. Co-ops provide qualified students with professional, paid work positions related to their interests. Co-ops are available with both private- and public-sector employers. Internships are employment situations (paid or unpaid) that help students learn more about and gain experience in their areas of interest. Frequently, internships are project oriented and part time, and last for one semester and/or summer.

Admission Requirements
In addition to fulfilling the admission requirements for graduate study, applicants must submit three letters of recommendation. Students intending to go into the actuarial mathematics emphasis must have three semesters of calculus, a course in linear algebra (equivalent to MATH 322), and a calculus-based course in probability (equivalent to MATH 351). The material in the course MATH 554 Mathematics of Compound Interest is fundamental to later courses and is offered in the summer. Entering students should begin with this course.

All other students must have a course in linear algebra (equivalent to MATH 322) and a course in advanced calculus (equivalent to MATH 315). Students intending to go into the computational and applied mathematics emphasis must have some computer knowledge. GRE exams are recommended but not required.

Degree Requirements

Standard Mathematics Program (No Emphasis)
In addition to fulfilling the degree requirements for graduate study, the candidate must complete 30 credits including the following:

1. The two core courses for this program: MATH 621 Algebra I and MATH 675 Linear Analysis I.
2. Six approved graduate courses, at least four of which are listed as MATH courses. All six courses must be approved by the student's advisor. Courses not listed as MATH courses must be approved by the Graduate Committee.
3. The research/creative component (see below).

Emphasis in Computational and Applied Mathematics

In addition to fulfilling the degree requirements for graduate study, the candidate must complete 30 credits including the following:

1. The four core courses for this emphasis, MATH 621 Algebra I, MATH 675 Linear Analysis I, MATH 677 Ordinary Differential Equations or MATH 678 Partial Differential Equations, and MATH 685/CSI 717 Numerical Analysis.
2. Four approved graduate courses, at least two of which are listed as MATH courses. All four courses must be approved by the student's advisor. Courses not listed as MATH courses must be approved by the Graduate Committee.
3. The research/creative component (see below).
4. Students are required to become familiar with different computing environments and languages. This computer requirement is integrated into many courses. Students are encouraged to use the varied computing hardware and software available.

Emphasis in Actuarial Mathematics

In addition to fulfilling the degree requirements for graduate study, the candidate must complete 30 credits including the following:

1. The four core courses for this emphasis: MATH 551 Regression and Time Series, MATH 554 Mathematics of Compound Interest, MATH 555 Actuarial Mathematics I, and MATH 556 Actuarial Mathematics II.
2. Four approved graduate courses, at least two of which are actuarial courses. All four courses must be approved by the student's advisor. Courses not listed as MATH courses must be approved by the Graduate Committee.
3. The research/creative component (see below) .
4. Credit for an actuarial course may be granted if the corresponding Society of Actuaries, Casualty Actuary Society, or Enrolled Actuary exam has been passed in the preceding five years.

Research/Creative Component
Students are required to write a thesis or present a paper. In preparation for this work, they form a committee consisting of a chair and two other faculty members. The chair and at least one other member must be from the department; one member may be from a related field.

Students choosing the thesis option will complete a thesis under the direction of the committee chair. The thesis work is typically completed while students are registered for six credits of MATH 799. A thesis proposal and thesis are submitted in accordance with university rules. In addition, students must give an oral thesis defense.

For the paper presentation, the student and committee agree on a paper (or series of papers, or book chapter), and the student gives an oral presentation of the paper. The chosen material must be distinct from work done in fulfillment of course requirements. Students choosing this option take six additional credits of electives.

The format of the thesis defense and the paper presentation is as follows: The student gives an oral defense/presentation of the thesis/paper to the student's committee. (The defense/presentation is also open to the George Mason community.) Students are expected to respond to questions on the thesis/paper and related material. The committee determines if the defense/presentation is satisfactory.