Catalog Index Course Descriptions Search the 1997-1998 Catalog:

Mathematical Sciences

• Introduction
• Faculty
• Course Work

• Undergraduate Programs in Mathematics
  • B.A. Degree with a Major in Mathematics
    • Sample Schedule for B.A. in Mathematics
  • B.S. Degree with a Major in Mathematics
    • Sample Schedule for B.S. in Mathematics with a Traditional or Applied Mathematics Concentration
    • Sample Schedule for B.S. in Mathematics with an Actuarial Mathematics Concentration
  • Minor in Mathematics for Undergraduates in the School of Business Administration
  • PAGE Program
  • Writing-Intensive Requirement
  • The Math Tutoring Center
  • The Math Literacy Center
• Graduate Program in Mathematics
  • Mathematics, M.S.
    • Assistantships/Internships
    • Admission Requirements
    • Degree Requirements
    • Research/Creative Component

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. Concentrations are available for students in traditional mathematics, actuarial mathematics, or computational and 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.

Faculty

Associate Professors: Alligood, Beslagic, Colonna, Gabel, Kan, Kiley, Kulesza, B. Lawrence, J. Lawrence, Lim, Lin, Loustaunau, Morris, Singman, Walnut, Zoltek

Assistant Professor: Peterson

Lecturers: Ahmadi, Ailes, Goel, Lawson, Lieberman, Lightbourne, Youngflesh

Visiting Lecturers: Dick, Nelson, O'Beirne

Course Work

Undergraduate Programs in Mathematics

B.A. Degree with a Major in Mathematics

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 this department or the Office of Teacher Education.

Sample Schedule for B.A. in Mathematics
First Semester ENGL 101 LANG 101 MATH 113 Natural science Total Hours	3 3 4 4 14	Second Semester Literature LANG 102 MATH 114 Natural science MATH 125 Total Hours	3 3 4 4 3 17
Third Semester MATH 203 MATH 213 or 215 MATH 290 LANG 201 CS 112 Total Hours	3 3 3 3 4 16	Fourth Semester MATH 216 Electives MATH 290 LANG 202 Literature Total Hours	3 6 3 3 15
Fifth Semester MATH (above 300) Electives ENGL 302 Total Hours	3 9 3 15	Sixth Semester MATH (above 300) Electives Total Hours	3 12 15
Seventh Semester MATH (above 310) Electives Total Hours	6 9 15	Eighth Semester MATH (above 310) Electives Total Hours	3 12 15

B.S. Degree with a Major in Mathematics

1. Mathematics Core Curriculum--all concentrations (23 semester credits): MATH 113, 114, 203, 213 or 215, 216, 290, and 322

2. Science, Accounting, and Economics Requirement. (At least one year of laboratory science is required of all concentrations. A second year of science is required for the traditional and applied concentrations, and one year of economics and one semester of accounting are required for the actuarial concentration.)

   Science Requirement

   1. All concentrations--a year of natural science from one of the following four sequences (8-9 credit hours):
      BIOL 213 and 303 or 304
      CHEM 211, 212
      GEOL 101, 102
      PHYS 250, 350, 351
   2. Traditional and applied concentrations--a second year from one of the following three options (5-8 credit hours):
      1. The list above, or
      2. Six semester hours chosen from more advanced courses in one of the natural science fields represented in the list above (only courses that are acceptable for credit toward the natural science major are permitted), or
      3. PHYS 352, 353

   Accounting Requirements
   

   for actuarial concentration (3 credit hours)

   ACCT 202 (special arrangements may be made to waive ACCT 201 prerequisite)

   Economics Requirements
   

   for actuarial concentration (6 credit hours)

   ECON 103, and one of ECON 306, ECON 310, or FNAN 321. (The Economics Department has agreed to waive 104 as a prerequisite for 306.)

3. Computational Requirements
   1. All concentrations: CS 112 (4 credit hours)
   2. Actuarial concentration: STAT 362 (3 credit hours)

4. Concentrations
   1. Traditional mathematics (24 credit hours)
      MATH 125, 315, 316; MATH 321 or 431; and 12 semester credits, 9 of which must be numbered above MATH 310

   2. Actuarial mathematics (24 credit hours)
      MATH 351, 352, 551, 554, 555, 556, and six credits from MATH 441, 442, 446, 557, 558, 559

   3. Applied mathematics (24 credit hours)
      MATH 125, 315, 325, 351, 413, and 414, and six credits, three above MATH 310

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 both MATH 203 and 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 125 and MATH 305;
   both MATH 203 and MATH 216;
   both MATH 214 and MATH 216;
   both MATH 213 and MATH 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 CAS analytic reasoning requirement unless explicitly approved by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

For Nonmajors:
MATH courses 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 the sequence MATH 110, 111 (MATH 105 does not fulfill the CAS B.A. 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.

Sample Schedule for B.S. in Mathematics with a Traditional or Applied Mathematics Concentration
First Semester ENGL 101 LANG 101 MATH 113 Natural Science Total Hours	3 3 4 4 14	Second Semester Literature LANG 102 MATH 114 Natural Science MATH 125 Total Hours	3 3 4 4 3 17
Third Semester MATH 203 MATH 213 or 215 MATH 290 Natural Science CS 112 Total Hours	3 3 3 4 4 17	Fourth Semester MATH 216 Literature MATH 290 Natural Science CS 112 Total Hours	3 3 4 4 14
Fifth Semester MATH 315 MATH 321 MATH 325 ENGL 302 Elective Total Hours	3 3 3 3 3 15	Sixth Semester MATH 316 MATH 322 MATH 351 Electives Total Hours	3 3 3 6 15
Seventh Semester MATH 413 MATH Electives Total Hours	3 3 9 15	Eighth Semester MATH 414 MATH Electives Total Hours	3 3 9 15

Sample Schedule for B.S. in Mathematics with an Actuarial Mathematics Concentration
First Semester ENGL 101 LANG 101 MATH 113 ECON 103 Elective Total Hours	3 3 4 3 3 16	Second Semester LANG 102 MATH 114 CS 112 ECON 306 Total Hours	3 4 4 3 14
Third Semester MATH 203 MATH 213 or 215 ACCT 202 Literature Natural Science Total Hours	3 3 3 3 4 16	Fourth Semester MATH 216 MATH 290 Natural Science Literature Elective Total Hours	3 3 4 3 3 16
Fifth Semester MATH 351 MATH 441 MATH 446 ENGL 302 Elective Total Hours	3 3 3 3 3 15	Sixth Semester MATH 352 MATH 554 STAT 362 MATH 322 Elective Total Hours	3 3 3 3 3 15
Seventh Semester MATH 551 MATH 555 Electives Total Hours	4 3 8 15	Eighth Semester MATH 556 Electives Total Hours	3 12 15
The above sample schedules are meant for illustrative purposes only; some courses listed are not required, only suggested. Electives should be chosen to satisfy distribution requirements and the requirement of 45 upper-division semester credits. A student who chooses to take physics as a natural science will not start the physics sequence until the second semester. CS 112 would be an appropriate replacement in the first semester.

Minor in Mathematics for Undergraduates in the School of Business Administration

PAGE Program

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The Math Tutoring Center

The Math Literacy Center

Graduate Program in Mathematics

Mathematics, M.S.

The concentration in Computational and Applied Mathematics provides the student with the analytic 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 concentration 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 concentration 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.

The Standard Option 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 adviser.

Assistantships/Internships
The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers a limited number of merit-based teaching assistantships to students taking at least six credit hours of graduate work 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-level, paid work experience in positions related to their interests. Co-ops are available with both private and public sector employers.

Internships are employment situations (paid or unpaid) that provide students an opportunity to learn more about and gain experience in their area 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 have three letters of recommendation. Students intending to go into the Actuarial Mathematics concentration 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.

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 concentration must have some computer knowledge. GRE exams are recommended but not required.

Degree Requirements

• Computational and Applied Mathematics Concentration
• Actuarial Mathematics Concentration
• Standard Option

Computational and Applied Mathematics Concentration
In addition to fulfilling the degree requirements for graduate study, the candidate must complete the following:

1. The core requirement for this concentration, which consists of the following four courses: 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. Any four graduate courses, at least two of which are listed as MATH courses. All four courses must be approved by the student's adviser. Courses not listed as MATH courses must be approved by the Graduate Committee.

3. The research/creative component of the degree (see description below).

4. No more than 12 credits can be earned by transfer credit.

5. Students are required to become familiar with different computing environments and languages. This computer requirement will be integrated into many courses. Students are encouraged to make use of the varied computing hardware and software available to them.

Actuarial Mathematics Concentration
In addition to fulfilling the degree requirements for graduate study, the candidate must complete the following:

1. The core requirement for this concentration, which consists of the following four courses: MATH 551 (Regression and Time Series), MATH 554 (Mathematics of Compound Interest), MATH 555 (Actuarial Mathematics I), and MATH 556 (Actuarial Mathematics II).

2. Any four graduate courses, at least two of which are actuarial courses. All four courses must be approved by the student's adviser. Courses not listed as MATH courses must be approved by the Graduate Committee.

3. The research/creative component of the degree (see below for description).

4. No more than 12 credits can be earned by transfer credit.

5. 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.

Standard Option
In addition to fulfilling the degree requirements for graduate study, the candidate must complete the following:

1. The core requirement for this option, which consists of the following two courses: MATH 675 (Linear Analysis I) and MATH 621 (Algebra I).

2. Any six graduate courses, at least four of which are listed as MATH courses. All six courses must be approved by the student's adviser. Courses not listed as MATH courses must be approved by the Graduate Committee.

3. The research/creative component of the degree (see description below).

4. No more than 12 credits can be earned by transfer credit.

Research/Creative Component

• Thesis Option
• Nonthesis Option

Thesis Option
The thesis option is particularly recommended for those students who wish to develop and document their research skills (e.g., for employment purposes), and/or who contemplate subsequent enrollment in a Ph.D. program. The thesis should reflect a significant independent research effort and demonstrate the student's ability to apply his or her mathematical knowledge to research problems. The student is required to make an oral defense of the thesis.

The thesis work is expected to be completed while the student is taking six credits of MATH 799. The student may register for more than six hours of MATH 799, but only six hours will be applied toward the degree.

The thesis work is to be conducted under the guidance of a faculty thesis adviser, and the final written thesis and oral defense are approved by a three-member faculty advising committee, which includes the student's thesis adviser. The student is responsible for forming this advising committee.

All students must present a thesis proposal. This shall consist of a short written document (approximately five pages) and an oral presentation. The proposal shall consist of a statement of the problem, a description of the techniques to be used in the investigation, and a statement of anticipated results. The oral presentation will be to the advising committee, at least two members of the Graduate Committee, and all other interested parties. Committee members must be provided with the written document at least one week before the oral presentation. Members of the advising committee and of the graduate committee can, at the time of the presentation, ask questions on the core material relevant to the thesis proposal. The thesis proposal must be approved by the advising committee no fewer than three months before the thesis defense.

Nonthesis Option
This option consists of two parts:

1. Two MATH courses, one of which will be MATH 795 (Seminar in Mathematics).

2. A comprehensive written exam that covers the material contained in the core courses. The examination will be given twice a year (January and August). This examination is waived for students in the Actuarial Mathematics concentration.