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Mathematics

  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Minor

Mathematics, the study of numbers and shapes, and the language of the physical sciences, has emerged from its classical roots as the principle tool for the analysis and comprehension of many current problems. Chaos and fractals, cryptography, data compression algorithms, tomography and turbulence are only a few of the many areas currently studied by mathematicians. In addition, promising research continues to be done in the fields of analysis, topology, algebra and number theory. These exciting areas of study all utilize the fundamentals of mathematics within a rigorous logical structure.

Undergraduate Programs

What Can I Do With a Degree in Mathematics?

The Department of Mathematics prepares the student by teaching the ability to comprehend and use the language of mathematics. Students will come to appreciate the logical structure and beauty of the mathematical development. The student will come to formulate the needed mathematical methods to analyze and solve real problems.

The courses offered prepare mathematics majors for graduate studies, research, engineering, teaching and positions in industry and government. They also provide the necessary background for students in engineering and the social and physical sciences. Finally, the courses allow for the study of mathematics for its own sake.

Curriculum Requirements

  • Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics

    Major Requirements (44 credits)
    MA 111 Analytical Calculus I* - 4 credits
    MA 112 Analytical Calculus II - 4 credits
    MA 211 Calculus III - 4 credits
    MA 212 Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations - 4 credits
    MA 251 Linear Algebra - 3 credits

    Two other MA courses at the 200 or 300 level - 6 credits

    Two MA courses at the 400 level - 8 credits

    One of these two computing science courses - 3 credits
    CS 110 C++ Programming I
    CS 270 Introduction to Numerical Computation

    Two series (i.e., two courses with respective labs) out of these six** - 8 credits
    BL 150 & 151 General Biology I & Lab
    BL 152 & 153 General Biology II & Lab
    CH 101 & 103 General Chemistry I & Lab
    CH 102 & 104 General Chemistry II & Lab
    PH 111 & 113 General Physics I & Lab
    PH 112 & 114 General Physics II & Lab

    * Analytical Calculus I is a 4 credit course with 3 credits fulfilling the mathematics core.
    ** These 8 credits are fulfilling the science core curriculum requirement.

  • Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

    Major Requirements (59 credits)
    MA 111 Analytical Calculus I* - 4 credits
    MA 112 Analytical Calculus II - 4 credits
    MA 211 Analytical Calculus III - 4 credits
    MA 212 Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations - 4 credits
    MA 251 Linear Algebra - 3 credits

    Four other MA courses at the 200 or 300 level - 12 credits

    Four MA courses at the 400 level - 16 credits

    PH 111 & 113 General Physics I & Lab** - 4 credits

    One of these two computing science courses - 3 credits
    CS 110 C++ Programming I
    CS 270 Introduction to Numerical Computation

    Two other series (i.e., two courses with respective labs) out of these five** - 8 credits
    BL 150 & 151 General Biology I & Lab - 4 credits
    BL 152 & 153 General Biology II & Lab - 4 credits
    CH 101 & 103 General Chemistry I & Lab - 4 credits
    CH 102 & 104 General Chemistry II & Lab - 4 credits
    PH 112 & 114 General Physics II & Lab - 4 credits

    * Analytical Calculus I is a 4 credit course with 3 credits fulfilling the mathematics core.
    ** 8 of these 12 science credits are fulfilling the science core curriculum.

     

  • Requirements for a Minor in Mathematics

    Requirements for Minor in Mathematics (at least 18 credits)
    MA 111 Analytical Calculus I - 4 credits
    MA 112 Analytical Calculus II - 4 credits
    MA 211 Analytical Calculus III - 4 credits

    Two more MA courses at level 200 or above (6 to 8 credits)

  • Teacher Certification

    Teacher Preparation
    All students who are interested in pursuing the teacher certification should refer to the education certification information. The required Mathematics courses would be MA 111, MA 112, MA 211, MA 212, MA 251, MA 301, MA 311, MA 421 and MA 451. Other courses in other disciplines are also required.
     

Program Highlights

Results

  • Our math graduates have gone to work in many different fields and positions, such as network security software developer, engineering, actuary, college professor, high school teacher, physician, corporate manager, attorney, banker, economic analyst and college president. 
  • Those who went to graduate school were accepted into numerous high quality universities (e.g., University of Albany, American University, University of Arizona, Boston College, Bowling Green, Brandeis, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Duke, University of Florida, George Mason, Indiana University at Bloomington, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, Ohio University, Princeton University, Rice, Purdue, SUNY at Albany, Syracuse, Texas A&M, University of Virginia, Washington University, Westchester University, William and Mary). 
  • 80% of our full-time faculty has a Ph.D. in Mathematics and is active in their research, publishing regularly in national and international refereed math journals. 

Typical Freshman Schedule

Fall
CH 101 General Chemistry I - 3 credits
CH 103 General Chemistry I Laboratory - 1 credit
MA 111 Analytical Calculus I - 4 credits
EL 102 Language & Rhetoric - 3 credits
One or two more core classes - 3 or 6 credits
Total Fall 14 or 17 credits

Spring
CH 102 General Chemistry II - 3 credits
CH 104 General Chemistry II Laboratory - 1 credit
MA 112 Analytical Calculus II - 4 credits
TH 119 First Theology - 3 credits
One or two more core classes - 3 or 6 credits
Total Spring 14 or 17 credits

All students will take one three (3) credit course designated as a Freshman Seminar which will satisfy a core curriculum requirement.

Capstone Project

As a culminating activity, mathematics majors must take Abstract Algebra I or Real Analysis I during the first semester of their senior year. 

Internships and Careers in Mathematics

Saint Vincent students have participated in internships at a variety of top tier research institutions and cutting edge industry in the field of bioinformatics, including Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative, Allegheny General Hospital and the Immune Tolerance Network. Students in our program combine the advantages of a small college atmosphere with the opportunities to do internships at nationally and internationally recognized institutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students earning a degree in mathematics will be able to:

  • use the definitions of fundamental concepts and the major theorems of analysis and algebra to solve problems.
  • construct a rigorous proof of various propositions.
  • demonstrate critical thinking by analyzing and solving problems.

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