Academic Bulletin Mathematics & Computer Science - 2006-07

Currently viewing 2006-07 bulletin

Faculty: J.D. Phillips (chair), M. Axtell*, R. Foote, D. Maharry, E. Poffald, P. Thompson, W. Turner, C. Westphal

*Sabbatical Leave, full year

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science has as its goals:

• To give all students who take mathematics courses a sense of the nature of mathematics and its place in society;

• To give our majors and minors an understanding of mathematics and computer science, their nature, and uses, to prepare students to become effective users of mathematics and computer science in their careers;

• To prepare future high school teachers of mathematics;

• To give our students interested in continuing to graduate study in mathematics, statistics, or computer science an adequate preparation to succeed in that study.

Mathematics

Mathematics majors may opt for either the Pure Mathematics Major or the Computational Mathematics Major. There is a great deal of overlap between these two choices.

Requirements for the Pure Mathematics Major:

1) Calculus I (111), Calculus II (112), Linear Algebra (223), Abstract Algebra (331)

2) Real Analysis (333) or Topology (341)

3) Senior Seminar (400)

4) Electives (excluding Mathematics 003, 106, 107, 108, and 217) to reach the Department's 9-credit minimum

Requirements for the Computational Mathematics Major:

1) Calculus I (111), Calculus II (112), Linear Algebra (223), and Abstract Algebra (331)

2) Differential Equations (224)

3) Numerical Methods (337) or Topics in Computational Mathematics (338)

4) One additional course from 219, 226, 314, 337, and 338

5) Senior Seminar (400)

6) Electives (excluding Mathematics 003, 106, 107, 108, and 217) to reach the Department's 9-credit minimum

Incoming freshmen interested in pursuing mathematics at Wabash College will typically take Math 111 or Math 112 in the fall (depending on placement) and Math 112 or Math 223 in the spring. Course choices in the fall of the sophomore year will usually depend on the direction the student sees himself headed. Students should plan on taking Math 331 in the spring of their sophomore year. It is a good idea for all mathematics students to discuss their plans with one of the mathematics professors.

Requirements for the Minor: Five or more course credits, including Mathematics 111, 112, 223, excluding Mathematics 003, 106, 107, and 108. Mathematics 003 should not be used in an area concentration.

Advanced Placement Credit: Students should take the BC Advanced Placement exam (as opposed to the AB exam) if they have covered the appropriate material. If placed into Mathematics 112 on the basis of the Advanced Placement exam or the departmental exam, credit will be given for Mathematics 111 upon successful completion of Mathematics 112 with a grade of B- or better. If placed into a more advanced course, credit will be given for Mathematics 111 and 112 upon successful completion of Mathematics 224 or 225 with a grade of B- or better.

Computer Science

No major is offered.

Requirements for the minor: The requirements for a minor in computer science are five courses in computer science and one course in mathematics. The computer science courses must be: Computer Science 111 and 112 and three other Computer Science courses. The mathematics course must be Mathematics 108 or 219.