Degree Requirements - Overview and Learning Goals
MATHEMATICS DEGREE PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION
Why study mathematics? Many of the new wonders that we take for granted
in our modern technological society have mathematical ideas and applications
as their basis, though this role is often hidden from view. Complex economic
and planning decisions, scientific discoveries that improve our lives, and
new technologies and products are often possible only after mathematical
or statistical analysis, or a computer visualization, simulation, design
and implementation based on mathematics. Therefore, mathematicians, as well
as mathematically educated scientists, engineers and economists, make important
daily contributions in the understanding and advancement of science, the
improvement and discovery of new technology, and decision-making and planning
in business, industry and government. Students interested in using their
mathematical skills in solving real world problems are well prepared, by
majoring or minoring in mathematics, for careers such as in the insurance
industry, software design, data and systems analysis, scientific computing,
combustion research, the animated movie industry, and cryptanalysis to name
a few, or a graduate degree in a related technical field. Those students
with a very strong interest in mathematics itself can pursue graduate study
in mathematics in preparation for careers as university or college mathematics
teachers and in the development of new mathematical and statistical concepts
and methods as researchers in academia, government and industry.
The curriculum of the program in the Department of Mathematics is designed
to provide a broad education in both theoretical and applied mathematics.
It also develops the scientific knowledge and the problem solving, computing,
and communications skills that are critical to a successful mathematically
based career. This preparation is greatly enhanced by taking advantage of
the wide variety of science and engineering courses available to students
and developing good communications skills, both through technical courses
and the strong humanities program. The program offers a solid grounding in
the foundational areas of calculus, differential equations, linear algebra,
discrete and combinatorial algebra, and probability and statistics. These
basic courses are complemented by a varied selection of upper division courses
for further elective study in areas such as numerical analysis, operations
research, advanced statistics, mathematical modeling, optimization, and other
advanced topics in mathematics. Students are encouraged to develop a strong
background in an area of science or engineering through election of courses
leading to a minor or double major. By appropriate course selection students
may complete a double major in mathematics and another field such as computer
science, physics, chemistry, applied biology, or economics.
PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
To provide a foundation for further learning as well as contributing to
the general education of students, the programs at Rose-Hulman all have a
heavy investment in mathematics and science in the first two years. The freshman
and sophomore mathematics curriculum is designed to contribute to this foundation
by ensuring that students are familiar with basic mathematical and statistical
concepts, and mathematical and statistical reasoning and modeling. Students
will also understand the use of mathematics in other disciplines as well
as developing an appreciation of mathematics as a discipline in its own right.
In addition, students will learn to be competent users of mathematics, especially
in problem solving, and be able to effectively communicate mathematically.
The curriculum makes strong use of computer methods to develop students'
mathematical understanding and to enhance their ability to use the computer
in modeling, computation and problem solving.
For students seeking a major in mathematics, the curriculum prepares them
for a mathematically based career after graduation or further graduate study.
The major builds upon the goals and objectives of the freshman and sophomore
curriculum. In addition to a deeper and broader study of mathematics, majors
will further develop their ability to formulate and solve problems from a
mathematical perspective, become familiar with the use of mathematics in
other fields, and develop competence at the application of mathematics to
at least one other field. Graduates will also be able to use technology effectively
in mathematics and the application of mathematics. To complement these technical
skills graduates will learn the professional skills of effective communication
with both technical and non-technical audiences and the ability to work cooperatively
with others.
MATHEMATICS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW
The Mathematics Department offers a B.S. degree in mathematics, often in
combination with another program as a double major or two degrees program.
The department also offers an area minor in mathematics for students with
an interest in mathematics but whose major program or other interests do
not permit a full double major. The requirements for the degree, double majors,
and area minors are given in the web pages listed below (and the top navigation
panel).
* Updates and Recent Versions The
requirements in the webpages above are for the current online bulletin. Before
the 2005-06 academic year the institute produced a biannual, printed bulletin
which was also online. Because faculty at Rose Hulamn want the curiculum to be
the best possible courses and programs are under constant rvieiw and improvemet. Our web-only cataologue,
is updated and frozen annually during the summer, to be in force for students entering the following
September. To help students keep track of the many updates the department has constructed annual
"integrated math
catalogues", consisting of all mathematics requirements and courses
-- and their updates -- up to the freeze date. Mathematics majors may graduate
under the catalogue in force in the year in which they entered or a later
catalogue, (provided courses still exist) but may not mix requirements among
years. Any matters of interpretation among the various versions of the catalogue
will be resolved by the Head of the Mathematics Department. The various versions
of recent math catalogues may be found at these links:
In addition, scheduling and checklist templates for the major and double
major are in the ANGEL Major
Group for Mathematics.
STUDENT LEARNING GOALS
Goal for all students: To provide all undergraduate students
at Rose-Hulman with an education in mathematics which will serve as part
of a foundation for life-long learning of science, engineering and mathematics.
Objectives for this goal: All students should
- become competent users of mathematics,
- appreciate mathematics as an intellectual endeavor in its own right,
- become familiar with basic mathematical and statistical thinking and
modeling,
- understand the use of mathematics in other disciplines, and become competent
at the application of mathematics to these disciplines,
- become effective problem solvers,
- become competent in using the computer as an aid to mathematical modeling
and computation, and
- develop communication skills appropriate in a mathematical context.
Goal for Mathematics Majors: To graduate majors who have
become liberally educated and are prepared for a mathematically based career.
Objectives for this goal: Our majors should be able to
- formulate and solve problems from a mathematical perspective,
- understand the relationship of mathematics to other technical fields
and develop competence at the application of mathematics in one or more
of these areas,
- use technology effectively in mathematics and the application of mathematics,
- communicate effectively (reading, writing, speaking and listening) to
both technical and non-technical audiences, and
- work cooperatively with others.
