Mathematics
Alexandra L. Chaillou, Ph.D., Chair
Charles Buehrle, Ph.D.
Kristyanna Erickson, Ed.D.
Degrees offered
Minor
Campuses
Mathematics students develop critical thinking skills, becoming analytical thinkers and problems solvers. They learn to use mathematical software and technologies, to problem solve, to communicate mathematically through proofs, data analysis, and programming, and to relate mathematics to a variety of other disciplines. Each student completes a capstone project that includes an essay reflecting on her growth as a mathematician and her expanded understanding of the discipline, as well as a presentation of an independent project of her choosing.
Built on the recommendations of the Mathematical Association of America's Committee on Undergraduate Programs in Mathematics, the goals of the mathematics program are:
- develop mathematical thinking and communication skills;
- develop skills with a variety of technologies; and
- develop a broad view of the mathematical sciences.
Women's College
Overview
Major
Mathematics/Secondary Education Certification
Minor
Four-Year Plan
Course Descriptions
The Mathematics/Physics/Computer Studies Department of the School of Arts, Sciences and Business offers a Major or Minor in Mathematics to students in the Women's College. Students may also prepare for teaching mathematics through the Secondary Education Certification Program. Recognizing the role our fields plays in other disciplines, we offer courses for department majors and non-majors that serve the students of NDMU in the Catholic Liberal Arts tradition. As an integral part of the liberal arts, we provide the students at NDMU with an understanding of the physical world, quantitative and technologically based knowledge, and enable our students to become leaders in their future professions.
Mathematics Majors have completed graduate study at institutions such as University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, Boston College, Drexel University, George Washington University and Rochester University. Program graduates have positions with organizations such as CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland, Aberdeen Proving Ground, the National Security Agency, Lockheed Martin Information Technologies, Arbitron and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mathematics Majors often choose a Minor such as Computer Science, Business, Accounting or Physics. Recent students have successfully completed double majors such as Mathematics/Physics, Mathematics/Biology, Mathematics/Chemistry, and Mathematics/Art.
The General Education Requirement in Mathematics is normally fulfilled by a variety of 100- or 200-level mathematics courses.
Students must earn a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0 in all courses taken to complete the requirements of the Mathematics Major.
Programs of Study
Required Courses for a Major in Mathematics (Credits)
MAT-110 Discrete Mathematics (3)
CST-171 Programming Concepts or CST-295 C++: Object Oriented Programming (3)
MAT-211, 212, 213 Calculus I, II, III (11)
MAT-243 Linear Algebra (3)
MAT-301 Abstract Algebra (3)
MAT-303 Analysis (3)
MAT-311 Theory of Probability (3)
MAT-425 Simulation and Modeling (3)
MAT-455 History of Mathematics (3)
In addition to required courses, at least three electives from the following:
MAT-215 Basic Statistics (3)
MAT-305 Geometry (3)
MAT-307 Numerical Analysis (3)
MAT-309 Number Theory (3)
MAT-315 Differential Equations (3)
MAT-406 Complex Variables (3)
Recommended:
PHY-101, 102 General Physics I, II (8)
MAT-214 Calculus of Vector Fields (1)
Mathematics Capstone Experience
The capstone experience for each student majoring in Mathematics is twofold. In her final spring semester at the University, each Major writes an essay reflecting on her growth as a mathematician and on her expanded understanding of the discipline of Mathematics. In addition, in consultation with her faculty advisor, each Major develops a poster or presentation on a topic selected from one or more of her courses, or the selected topic may be related to an internship experience. This presentation should extend the topic beyond the coverage of the course(s).
The spring mathematics capstone presentation is open to interested faculty, students and guests as a celebration of each student's work and achievements.
Mathematics/Secondary Education Certification—Approved Program in Mathematics
Students who wish to prepare for teaching in secondary schools complete the courses required for the Mathematics Program of Study, except that the following three elective courses—MAT-215 Basic Statistics, MAT-305 Geometry and MAT-309 Number Theory—are required, along with the professional education courses offered by the School of Education.
Minor in Mathematics
MAT-211, 212 Calculus I, II (8)
MAT-243 Linear Algebra (3)
Three other courses in Mathematics from among MAT-110 and 200-level or higher courses, except MAT-214 Calculus of Vector Fields
Four-Year Plan
Sample Program of Study for the Mathematics Major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor.
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | |||
| MAT-211 Calculus I | 4 | MAT-212 Calculus II | 4 |
| ** MAT-110 Discrete Mathematics | 3 | CST-171 Programming Concepts+ | 3 |
| NDMU-100 First Year Seminar | 3 | General Education/Electives | 9 |
| General Education/Electives | 6 | [16 credits] | |
| [16 credits] | |||
| Second year | |||
| CST-295 C++: Object Oriented Programming+ | 3 | MAT-243 Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MAT-213 Calculus III | 3 | MAT-215 Basic Statistics | 3 |
| PHY-101 General Physics I (recommended) |
4 | PHY-102 General Physics II (recommended) |
4 |
| General Education/Electives | 6 | General Education/Electives | 6 |
| [16 credits] | [16 credits] | ||
| Third or fourth year: odd fall, even spring years | |||
| **MAT-311 Theory of Probability | 3 | **MAT-303 Analysis | 3 |
| MAT-307 Numerical Analysis* | 3 | *MAT-305 Geometry | 3 |
| General Education/Electives | 9 | **MAT-425 Simulation & Modeling | 3 |
| [15 credits] | General Education/Electives | 6 | |
| [15 credits] | |||
| Third or fourth year: even fall, odd spring years | |||
| **MAT-301 Abstract Algebra | 3 | *MAT-309 Number Theory | 3 |
| * MAT-406 Complex Variables | 3 | *MAT-315 Differential Equations | 3 |
| General Education/Electives | 9 | **MAT-455 History of Mathematics | 3 |
| [15 credits] | General Education/Electives | 6 | |
| [15 credits] | |||
+ One of these two courses is required.
* Cycled elective course.
** Cycled required course.