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Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Faculty in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science: William Turner (chair), Robert Foote, Colin McKinney, Esteban Poffald, Peter Thompson, Chad Westphal, and Carolyn Yarnall.
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 the Pure Mathematics Major, the Computational Mathematics Major, or the Financial Mathematics Major. There is a great deal of overlap among these choices, and all include the four core courses.
The Mathematics Core Courses: Calculus I (111) or Calculus I with Pre-Calculus Review (110), Calculus II (112), Linear Algebra (223), Abstract Algebra (331). Mathematics majors should complete the four core courses by the end of the sophomore year, if possible; they must be completed by the end of the junior year.
Requirements for the Pure Mathematics Major:
1) Core courses
2) Real Analysis (333) or Topology (341)
3) Electives to reach the department’s nine-credit minimum
Requirements for the Computational Mathematics Major:
1) Core courses
2) CSC 111. This does not count toward the major, but it is a prerequisite for 337 and 338, and should
be taken by the sophomore year, if possible.
3) Numerical Methods (337) or Topics in Computational Mathematics (338)
4) Electives to reach the department’s nine-credit minimum
Requirements for the Financial Mathematics Major:
1) Core courses
2) Mathematical Finance (251), Mathematical Interest Theory (252), Probability Models I (253), Probability Models II (353), Statistical Models (254)
3) Mathematical Statistics (354) or Regression Models (355)
4) Mathematics electives to reach the department’s nine-credit minimum
The requirements for the financial mathematics major are good preparation for the initial actuarial exams.
Electives may not include 010, 103, 104, 106, or 108.
Additional courses to consider, especially for students who are considering graduate school:
• Pure mathematics: 219, 221, 222, 224, 225, 323, 324, 332, 334, 344
• Computational mathematics: 219, 222, 224, 226, 314, 323, 332
• Financial mathematics: 224, 324, 333
Incoming freshmen interested in pursuing mathematics at Wabash College will typically take MAT 111 or MAT 112 in the fall (depending on placement) and MAT 112 or MAT 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 to take MAT 331 in the spring of their sophomore year. Potential mathematics majors should discuss their plans with a member of the department and should read the brochure How to Major in Mathematics at Wabash College. Several courses are offered in alternate years; majors must plan accordingly.
Requirements for the Mathematics Minor: Five or more course credits including MAT 110 or 111, 112, 223, but excluding MAT 010, 103, 104, 106 and 108. Potential mathematics minors should read the brochure “How to Minor in Mathematics or Computer Science at Wabash College.”
Secondary Licensure Program: The Department of Education Studies offers a minor in Education Studies, and an additional licensure preparation program for students interested in becoming licensed to teach at the secondary level (middle and high school grades 5-12). With a major in this department and a minor in Education Studies, students may also choose to complete the licensure preparation program by applying in the spring of the junior year. For more information about the licensure program, students are advised to meet with faculty in the Department of Education Studies. Requirements for the minor and licensure preparation program are outlined in the Department of Education Studies section of the Academic Bulletin.
Computer Science: No major is offered.
Requirements for the Computer Science Minor: The requirements for a minor in computer science are five courses in computer science and a corequisite of one course in mathematics. The computer science courses must include CSC 111 and 211, at least a half-credit of CSC 121, and one course credit numbered greater than 211. The mathematics course must be MAT 108 or 219.
Potential computer science minors should consult with one of the department members who teaches computer science and should read the brochure “How to Minor in Mathematics and Computer Science at Wabash College.” Computer Science minors should take CSC 111 by the end of the sophomore year.
Advanced Placement
• A student who gets a 5 on the AB calculus exam receives immediate credit for MAT 111 and is placed into MAT 112.
• A student who gets a 4 on the AB calculus exam is placed into MAT 112 without immediate credit for MAT 111.
• Any student starting in MAT 112 (by the AP exam or our internal placement) who gets a B- or better will receive retroactive credit for MAT 111.
• A student who gets a 4 or 5 on the BC calculus exam receives immediate credit for MAT 111 and 112, and is placed into MAT 223.
• A student who gets a 5 on the statistics AP exam receives immediate credit for MAT 103 and 104.
• A student who gets a 4 or 5 on the computer science AP exam receives credit for CSC 111 after taking another course beyond 111 and getting a grade of B- or better.