Spring 2009 Mathematics Electives

Click on the course number to get a catalogue description.

MA190 Contemporary Mathematical Problems (2 credits)
Period 9 TF - Josh Holden
Co-requisite: MA113 Recommeded only for freshmen and sophomores, required of freshman math majors
A seminar-style course consisting of an overview of selected contemporary problems and areas in the mathematical sciences. Problems to be discussed will be selected from recent publications in research and applications, famous problems, and outstanding problems of great significance.
See course description web page for more details.

MA325/CSSE325 Fractals and Chaotic Dynamical Systems (4 credits)
Period 4 MTRF - Allen Broughton
Prerequisite: MA222 and CSSE220
This course is cross listed with CSSE325, and taught by CSSE and MA faculty in alternate years, this year by the MA department.
See course description web page for more details.

MA330 Vector Calculus (4 credits)
Period 5 MTRF - Dave Finn
Prerequisite: MA113
Calculus of functions of several variables. Topics include differentiation (divergence, gradient, curl) and integration (line, and surface integrals). Green's theorem, Stokes' theorem, and the divergence theorem are also covered. This course in vector calculus is an excellent companion course to the study of electromagnetic fields. 
See course description web page for more details.

MA333 Introduction to Parallel Computing (4 credits)
Period 6 MTRF - Jeffery Leader
Prerequisite: MA221 and programming experience
May be take as CSSE490-03
See course description web page for more details.

MA336 Boundary Value Problems (4 credits)
Period 7 and 9 MTRF - Elton Graves and Steve Galinaitis
Prerequisite: MA222
MA336 is at the heart of classical applied mathematics.  Learning to speak the language of boundary value problems allows you to understand aspects of wave motion, heat transfer, potential theory, and electromagnetics.

MA341 Topics in Mathematical Modeling (4 credits)
Period 2 MTRF - Kim Montgomery
Prerequisite: MA 222 or consent of instructor
The special topic for this year is biological modeling.
See course description web page for more details.

MA356 Problem Solving Seminar VI (1 credit)
Period 4 W- Steve Carlson
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
An exposure to mathematical problems varying widely in both difficulty and content. Students will be expected to participate actively, not only in the solution process itself but also in the presentation of finished work, both orally and in writing. A student may earn a maximum of six credits in MA 351-6.
See course description web page for more details.

MA367 Functions of a Complex Variable (4 credits)
Period 9 MTRF - John Rickert
Prerequisite: MA 113
Elementary properties of analytic functions including Cauchy's theorem and its consequences, Laurent series, the Residue Theorem, and mapping properties of analytic functions.

MA371 Linear Algebra I (4 credits)
Periods 4,7   MTRF - Roger Lautzenheiser, John Massman
Prerequisite: MA221 or permission of instructor
Elementary linear algebra. Vector spaces, matrices, systems of equations, linear transformations. Applications. If you are only going to take one math elective, and you have already taken statistics you should probably take this one (or MA373 described next). No student can take both MA371 and MA373 for credit.

MA373 Applied Linear Algebra for Engineers (4 credits)
Period 8 MTRF - Allen Holder
Prerequisite: MA221 or permission of instructor
Many similarities to MA 371, but with more emphasis on applications. This course is intended for engineering and science students students that need an understanding of the basic concepts but also see more applications than MA371 offers. No student can take both MA371 and MA373 for credit.

MA375 Discrete and Combinatorial Algebra II (4 credits)
Period 6 MTRF - Leanne Holder
Prerequisite: MA 275
A continuation of MA 275. Relations. An introduction to finite state machines. More advanced enumeration techniques including recurrence relations, generating functions and the principle of inclusion and exclusion.

MA376 Abstract Algebra (4 credits)
Period 4 MTRF - Tanya Jajcay
Prerequisite: MA275
This is our newest addition to the Algebra/ Discrete Math/ Number theory area of courses. The emphasis on topics will depend on the instructor shifting the balance of topics more towards group theory or ring (polynomials) algebra.
For further detail, email the instructor: Professor Jajcay

MA378 Number Theory (4 credits)
Period 7 MTRF - John Rickert
Prerequisite: consent of instructor
Divisibility, congruences, prime numbers, solutions of equations in integers, quadratic residues, reciprocity, multiplicative, and other important functions of elementary number theory.
See this web page for more details.

MA381 Introduction to Probability with Applications to Statistics (4 credits) 
Periods 5,6, MTRF - Tom Langley
Prerequisite: MA 113
Introduction to probability theory; axioms of probability, sample spaces, and probability laws (including conditional probabilities). Univariate random variables (discrete and continuous) and their expectations including these distributions: binomial, Poisson, geometric, uniform, exponential, and normal. Introduction to moment generating functions. Introduction to jointly distributed random variables. Univariate and joint transformations of random variables. The distribution of linear combinations of random variables and an introduction to the Central Limit Theorem. Applications of probability to statistics.

MA385 Quality Methods (4 credits)
Period 1 MTRF - Mike Devasher
Prerequisite: MA223
Introduction to various aspects of statistical quality control and statistical process control to include the following topics: importance of variance reduction and probability concepts influencing product quality and reliability; development and application of control charts (P-charts, NP-chart, C-charts, U-charts, Individuals Charts, moving range charts, X-bar and R as well as X-bar and S charts); process capability indices (their use and misuse); introduction to acceptance sampling. Other topics to be included as time allows: 6 sigma thinking, gauge reproducibility and repeatability, and total quality management with the philosophies of Deming, Juran, and Crosby. Review of fundamental prerequisite statistics will be included as necessary. Same as CHE 385.

MA387 Statistical Methods in Six Sigma (4 credits)
Period 3 MTRF - Mark Inlow
Prerequisite: MA223 or MA382
See course description web page for more details.
Please note that this course is only offered every second year.

MA434 Topics in Numerical Analysis  (4 credits)
Period 8 MTRF - Jeffery Leader
Prerequisite: MA 433
See course description web page for more details.
Please note that this course is offered infrequently.

MA450 Math Seminar (1 credit) 
Period 7 W -Kim Montgomery
Prerequisite: none
This course is designed to encourage students to attend department mathematics seminars and make a presentation of their own. Students must attend nine seminars and make presentation of their own on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor. A student will be allowed two consecutive quarters to complete all requirements

MA460 Topics in Analysis (4 credits)
Period 9 MTRF - Kurt Bryan
Prerequisite: instructor permission
See course description web page for more details.
Please note that this course is offered infrequently.

MA470 Topics in Alagebra (4 credits)
Period 6 MTRF - Bill Butske
Prerequisite: instructor permission
Email Professor Butske more details.
Please note that this course is offered infrequently.

MA475 Topics in Discrete Mathematics  (4 credits)
Period 5 MTRF - Josh Holden
Prerequisite: MA 375
An extension of the material presented in MA275 and 375. Topics may include combinatorial design, Fibonacci numbers, or the Probabilistic Method, among others.
See course description web page for more details.
Please note that this course is only offered every second year.

MA476 Algebraic Codes (4 credits)
Period 3 MTRF - Tom Langley
Prerequisite: MA 375
Construction and theory of linear and nonlinear error correcting codes. Generator matrices, parity check matrices, and the dual code. Cyclic codes, quadratic residue codes, BCH codes, Reed-Solomon codes, and derived codes. Weight enumeration and information rate of optimum codes.
Please note that this course is only offered every second year.

MA479/CSSE479 Cryptography (4 credits)
Period 7 MTRF - Matt Boutell
Prerequisite: CSSE220 and MA215
See course description web page for more details.

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