1999-2000 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705

The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Department of Mathematics
Gerald M. Buriok, Chairperson; Adkins, Alarcon, Anderson, Baker, Balenovich, Bertness, Broughton, Burkett, Busovicki, Davis, Donley, Dubovsky, Early, Enderson, Feldman, Frank, Gorman, Maderer, Massey, Mitchell, Morgan, Myers, Peterson, Ray, Reber, Rettig, Scholz, Shawer, Shepler, Steelman, Stempien, G. Stoudt, R. Stoudt, Zhang; and professors emeriti Angelo, Arms, Duncan, Gibson, Hartman, Hoyt, D. McBride, R. McBride, Morrell, Mueller, Oakes, Shafer, E. Smith, W. Smith, Stilwell, Willison, Wolfe, Woodard

The Mathematics Department prepares students for work in industry, graduate school mathematics, and teaching. Degrees offered by the department are the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, the Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, and the Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Mathematics Education. The first two degree programs are offered within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and the third is in conjunction with the College of Education. The department also offers a minor in Mathematics and a minor in Applied Statistics.

The program for a mathematics major in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is two-phased. A student may pursue a degree in Applied Mathematics or Mathematics. Those completing a degree in Mathematics will be prepared to continue their studies in mathematics in graduate school, though some may enter business, industry, or government service. Those students receiving a degree in Applied Mathematics will be primarily prepared to enter business, industry, or government service in an area where mathematics or computer science is used or to continue their studies in applied mathematics or computer science in graduate school. This student would not be expected to continue graduate studies in pure mathematics.

The Mathematics Department shares in a joint degree with the Economics Department. Students with ability and interest in economics discover that a solid background in mathematics is an essential prerequisite for advanced theoretical and applied work in the discipline. Similarly, students with talent and interest in mathematics find economics an excellent field in which to employ their skills and knowledge. The Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics/Economics allows students to combine these complementary subjects in a joint degree program administered cooperatively by the Departments of Mathematics and Economics. Enrolled students will be assigned an advisor in each department.

Those completing the program will have an exceptional background for graduate study in economics and such related fields as business, public policy, or operations research. They also will be ideally prepared to fill a wide variety of technical and quantitative positions in both government and private industry.

The program leading to the B.S. in Education with a major in Mathematics Education prepares the student for teaching mathematics in junior or senior high school. Many graduates, however, continue their formal education in mathematics at the graduate level or work in government or industry.

Elementary education majors may elect to take a concentration of at least 15 hours in mathematics. The program of courses for this concentration is as follows: in addition to MA151 and MA152, select 9 hours from the following courses: MA317, MA420, MA456, MA457, MA458, MA459, MA471, or MA481.

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This information is maintained by the Office of the Registrar, with approval from the University Senate. Last Modified at 7:39 PM on 7/27/98.