Program Description
About the discipline
The number of applications of mathematics has grown exponentially in the natural, physical and social sciences over the last century. In addition, the computer has transformed problem-solving in both pure and applied mathematics. The mathematics department at Spring Arbor University has responded by developing a program designed to prepare students for a variety of careers or graduate and professional schools. The department offers three majors and three minors to choose from.
The department provides services for three types of students.
All graduates of the University must have at least one quantitative literacy course. The department takes seriously its responsibility to design and teach courses that prepare University graduates to be quantitatively literate. Our selection of quantitative literacy courses takes into consideration applications in a variety of areas.
Some students major in programs that require study of specialized mathematics. The department supplies courses for these students. These include students from computer science, biology, chemistry, physics, exercise and sport science, education and business.
For students wishing to major or minor in mathematics, the department offers a program consistent with the recommendations of Mathematical Association of America (www.maa.org), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (www.nctm.org) and Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences.
Career opportunities
Students who major or minor in mathematics pursue a variety of careers. Many certify to teach mathematics in elementary and secondary schools. A good proportion prepare for graduate school in mathematics or related fields. Still others combine their mathematics major or minor with other majors or minors (such as computer science, biology, chemistry, physics, business, accounting and exercise and sports science) to prepare for entry-level positions in business and industry.
An interdisciplinary actuarial science major is available to help students prepare for careers that use mathematics in business and industry. Actuarial Science majors would be positioned to pass the first two actuarial exams (P and MF) in their senior year, to obtain employment using their skills, and to pursue other educational opportunities that will allow them to advance in the field (graduate school, passing additional exams, etc.). See Actuarial Science.
The department has a strong commitment to prepare students for careers in specific areas. For example, the department conducts special problem seminars to help students prepare to take the GRE and actuarial exams. The GRE exams are needed for students going to graduate school and the actuarial exams are needed by those preparing for careers in insurance, pension planning and risk management. The department has information on graduate schools in mathematics and related areas. In addition, the department often arranges independent studies for advanced work in mathematics for those students who have taken all of our current mathematics offerings and wish to prepare for specific graduate or professional programs. The department also works with majors in arranging internships and practica for students preparing for entry-level jobs in businesses and industry. (See www.ams.org, www.siam.org and www.archives.math.utk.edu.)
Program strengths and emphases
The mathematics program at Spring Arbor University stresses two major strands in mathematics—pure/classical mathematics and applied mathematics. It is our belief that each complements the other, that the techniques of applied mathematics are based on the concepts and results of pure/classical mathematics, and that applications of mathematics often serve as an appropriate pedagogical segue into a study of pure/classical mathematics.
The course offerings of the department have traditional pure/classical offerings like abstract algebra, linear algebra, real analysis and vector calculus. Within each of these courses, significant applications of concepts and results are considered.
The department also offers courses more appropriately considered applied mathematics, such as differential equations, probability and statistics, numerical analysis, and mathematical modeling. Each of the topics studied in these courses is based firmly on theoretical aspects of pure/classical mathematics.
The faculty members in the mathematics department work closely with faculty from computer science, biology, chemistry, physics, exercise and sports science, business, and education to provide mathematical experiences that serve their students.