Mathematics

Professors Rosenzweig and Simonelli (Department Chair); Assistant Professors Hamblen, Miner More, and Naumov; Lecturer Boner.

Areas of particular teaching interest: Professor Rosenzweig: differential topology, set theory and logic, singularity theory; Professor Simonelli: probability, statistics, combinatorics, and graph theory; Professor Hamblen: algebra and number theory.

The Mathematics Department is dedicated to providing each Mathematics major with the highest level program that a student can manage, and providing individual help and attention to each student. To accomplish this, in addition to regular courses, advanced courses are offered for small numbers of students who will benefit from a particular subject. Recent courses have included Differential Topology, Galois Theory, Set Theory, Tensor Analysis, and Chaos Theory and Dynamical Systems. The Mathematics program is broad enough in scope that students taking the basic major in Mathematics are provided the groundwork for a variety of careers, as well as having a thorough preparation for graduate study. Students also have the opportunity through the topics courses, the problem seminars, the independent studies courses, and electives to focus on individual needs and objectives.

Every Mathematics major who has applied to graduate school has been admitted to a highly ranked university and has received either a fellowship or a teaching assistantship. Alumni of our programs have gone on to do graduate work at such schools as Brandeis University, The University of California at Berkeley, The University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Michigan State University, the UMBC, Washington University in St. Louis, Cornell University, The Johns Hopkins University, North Carolina State University, SUNY at Stony Brook, University of Virginia, and Virginia Institute of Technology.

Almost every graduate of our program is currently working in a professional position under the general titles of “mathematician,” “systems analyst,” “actuary,” “statistician,” etc., at the National Security Agency, The Pentagon, IBM, the Hewlett Packard Corporation, NASA, the Department of Defense and various actuarial firms. The Mathematics-Education majors have been eagerly sought by school systems throughout the region.

Other Educational Options in Mathematics: Teacher Certification Secondary (middle/high school). Mathematics can also be combined with other disciplines (e.g., Biology, Business Administration and Economics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, and various social sciences) through dual majors, double majors, or a student-designed major. A minor is available in Mathematics.

Please see the Education section under Academic Programs in this catalog for teacher certification requirements in Mathematics.

Please see the Dual Major section for dual majors with Biology, Computer Science, Economics, and Physics.

Departmental Honors in Mathematics

In order to graduate with honors in Mathematics, a Mathematics major must complete at least two independent studies courses in a single topic over two semesters. Declaration of the intent to graduate with honors must be made to the head of the Department by the beginning of the second semester of independent studies. The project will consist of a paper and a one-hour talk, which must be judged worthy of honors by the Department. The student must also maintain a 3.50 GPA in the Mathematics courses taken.