Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Career opportunities
Careers in mathematics
Students who major or minor in mathematics can pursue a variety of careers. Many certify to teach mathematics in elementary and secondary schools. Both the mathematics major and minor presently meet certification requirements for elementary and secondary education. A good proportion of our students 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 health and exercise science) to prepare for entry-level positions in business and industry.
For more information about the world of mathematics, click on one of the links below to learn about these various mathematical organizations:
- American Mathematical Society website
- Mathematical Association of America website
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics website
Careers in computer science
The careers in computer science spread across all sectors of the economy. Computer scientists are in demand in business, industry, government agencies and faith-based organizations. Some of the many careers include: System Analysis and Design, Application Development, Database Administration, Systems Integration, Web Development, Network Administration and Support, Information Security, Customer Training and Service and Sales.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics, computer scientists and database administrators are projected to be one of the fastest growing occupations with a projected growth of 37 percent from 2006–2016. Excellent employment prospects for computer science majors are a result of corporations adopting and integrating technology solutions and a limited supply of qualified workers.
The following websites are helpful in describing computer science related careers and the demand for these careers:
Careers in physics
The physics-mathematics major is a possible preparation for careers in business, industry or graduate school in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, law and engineering. (Additional chemistry and biology courses will be needed where appropriate). The American Institute of Physics posts information on careers in physics at www.aip.org.
The physics minor provides preparation for secondary school teaching, and broadens the majors in mathematics, computer science, chemistry, biology and business administration.
The following link provides information on careers in physics: