MATHEMATICS / COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS

Otto Miller Hall
206-281-2140
www.spu.edu/depts/math

FACULTY:  David K Farrell, Brian Thomas Gill, Steven Darrel Johnson, Russ Alan Killingsworth, Wai Wah  Lau, Robbin  O'Leary, Sharon Laree Young

Mathematics offers curricula leading to the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. The B.A. degree program is designed for students interested in mathematics as a liberal arts major and for those planning to teach mathematics in secondary schools. The B.S. in mathematics degree program is designed for students planning graduate work or professional careers in mathematics. The B.S. in computational mathematics is an interdisciplinary major designed for students interested in careers involving the application of mathematics and computer science. A mathematics education major is also offered for elementary certification. See the School of Education for information.

High school preparation. Three years of high school mathematics, including trigonometry, are required for all students entering one of the degree programs. However, students who plan to make mathematics a career are urged to take a minimum of four years of high school mathematics. Students deficient in their high school mathematics preparation must take the appropriate courses in the sequence MAT 0152 and MAT 0153 to make up the deficiency before starting one of the math degree programs.

Advanced Placement Program. Superior students who have completed one year of calculus in high school may apply for advanced placement and credit for MAT 1234 and MAT 1235. The extent to which a student will be advanced and the amount of credit given will be decided on an individual basis by the mathematics faculty.

Mathematical competency requirement. All undergraduates are required to demonstrate mathematical competency. This can be accomplished in any one of the following ways:

1. Have a quantitative SAT score of at least 580 or ACT score of at least 25.
2. Transfer in with a C or better in MAT 1234, or in its college-level equivalent.
3. Achieve a passing score on SPU's mathematics proficiency exam.
4. Complete the required work in Arithmetic Review as revealed by the proficiency test results.
5. Successfully complete all 5 credits in Arithmetic Review.
6. Have an acceptable Direct Transfer Agreement associate's degree from an approved community college. See Transfer Student Information for approved degrees.
   
   

Unless the waivers in the first or second above apply, no student will be allowed to enroll in any mathematics course (except Arithmetic Review) without having passed the proficiency exam or completed the required work in Arithmetic Review.

What to take first. In general, students with four years of high school mathematics should start with MAT 1234; those with three years should take MAT 1110 or MAT 1112 and MAT 1114. Those students with two years should take MAT 0152.

However, mathematics faculty will determine where a student should start on the basis of high school record and entrance test scores. Students planning to take MAT 1234 must achieve a passing score on the online Calculus Placement Test prior to registering for the course. 

Admission to the major or minor. A GPA of 2.5 or above in 15 credits of mathematics that apply to the major or minor is required for admission to the major or minor. A 2.5 GPA must be maintained in all math courses to earn the degree. A student must complete the major or minor requirements in effect when the student is admitted to the major or minor.

Computer use. Each mathematics student should have strong computer skills. Students wishing careers in industry or applied mathematics should have skill in programming.

Math Lab. The following courses are available through the Math Lab: Arithmetic Review, MAT 0140, MAT 0152, MAT 0153, MAT 1112, and MAT 1114. The Math Lab is open daily for student tutoring and testing.

These courses do not include a lecture; students study self-instructional materials, obtain instructional help in the Math Lab when necessary, and take tests in the Math Lab. Since the learning system in this lab follows a mastery learning approach, students may take more than one exam per unit.

Arithmetic Review is available as a two-quarter sequence, MAT 0131 and MAT 0132, for students who need 4 or 5 credits as a result of their proficiency test score. MAT 1112 and MAT 1114 are equivalent to the single 5-credit lecture course MAT 1110.

Requirements for the B.A. Mathematics Major
Students pursuing an endorsement in secondary education must take MAT 3401 as 3 of the 8 mathematics electives credits. A maximum of 3 credits in MAT 4930 may be applied.

Requirements for the B.S. in Mathematics Major

Courses MAT 4363 and MAT 4830 are strongly recommended. A maximum of 3 credits in MAT 4930 may be applied.

Fifteen credits in related approved courses in which mathematics is applied are also required. A GPA of 2.5 must be maintained for all mathematics courses. Students who plan graduate work in mathematics are strongly advised to take further work in real analysis in their upper-division program and to acquire a reading knowledge of French, German, or Russian.

Requirements for the B.S. in Computational Mathematics

This is an interdisciplinary major designed for students interested in careers involving the application of mathematics and computer science. Some courses are offered only every other year, so careful planning is recommended.

Requirements for the Mathematics Minor
Anyone desiring a minor in mathematics should begin with MAT 1234, MAT 1235, and MAT 1236, which are prerequisite to most upper-division courses.

MAT 3749 and MAT 4402 are strongly recommended for all minors and a teaching minor must include MAT 3749, MAT 4402, and MAT 3441 or MAT 3443. A maximum of 3 credits in MAT 4904 or MAT 4930 may be applied.

Special Programs

Actuarial science. A student interested in becoming an actuary should major in mathematics or mathematics/economics. The following mathematics courses should be included: MAT 3360, MAT 4363, MAT 4725, MAT 4830, and some independent study. This provides the foundation for beginning the sequence of exam offered by the Society of Actuaries. Further work in economics is helpful.

Mathematics/economics. Students desiring a major in mathematics-economics should consult a mathematics advisor for information on a student-designed major.

B.S. in engineering science. Emphasis in mathematics. (See Engineering Science.)

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