Mathematics

  • JESSICA L. SORRELLS, chair
  • PETER H. BROWN
  • JOSEPH S. BARRERA
  • AMANDA J. MANGUM

Mathematics

The mission of the mathematics major is to provide the student with the opportunity to study the classical mathematics curriculum with the following student learning outcomes:

  1. Students will demonstrate the perspectives and the analytical skills required for efficient use and understanding of mathematics,
  2. Students will demonstrate the ability to read, communicate, and understand mathematical ideas in a variety of settings, both verbally and in writing, making use of numerical, graphical, and symbolic viewpoints,
  3. Students will formulate and produce valid mathematical proofs, and
  4. Students will demonstrate a basic historical perspective of mathematics.

The General Education Program is a requirement for all degrees. The requirements listed below are approved for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Fine Arts.

ENG 101 3 hours
Language and Culture 9 hours
MTH 108 or higher 3 hours
One course designated as Quantitative reasoning 3–4 hours
Health and Well-being Wellness 2 hours
Activity course 1–2 hours
Humanities 6 hours
Literature 3 hours
Fine Arts 6 hours
Natural Science 7–8 hours
Social Science 6 hours
Total 49–52 hours

Graduation requirements but not a separate course:

  • First Year Seminar
  • Writing Intensive course
  • Non-European/non-Anglophone course Capstone experience.

A student completing a bachelor’s degree with a mathematics major must take a minimum of 35 credit hours of coursework above MTH 115.

Calculation of GPA for Mathematics Major or Minor

To earn a degree in mathematics or complete a minor in mathematics a student must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all required mathematics coursework. Grades in required non-mathematics courses (CSC 201, CSC 202) are not included in the GPA calculation.
For the Bachelor of Arts degree, only twelve elective credits will be included in the GPA calculation. For the Bachelor of Science degree, only six elective credits will be included in the GPA calculation.
If the student has more than the minimum required number of elective credits, the credits with the highest grades will be used in the GPA calculation.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

MTH 108: FINITE MATHEMATICS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
A study of selected topics from finite mathematics. The topics may include probability, statistics, systems of linear equations, linear programming and the mathematics of finance. Offered most terms. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Notes
GEP credit.

MTH 109: ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY ESSENTIALS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 1

This course is designed as a “bridge” course to help students progress through the ALEKS system in order to prepare them for entering MTH 110 Elementary Functions. Topics include whole numbers, fractions, percentages, linear equations and inequalities, factoring, quadratic functions, polynomial functions, radical and rational expressions, basic geometry, and basic trigonometry. Typically offered every Fall term.

Prerequisites

Placement into MTH 109.

Notes

Elective

MTH 110: ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3

A study of elementary functions and their graphs and applications, including polynomials, rational and algebraic functions, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Offered most terms. 

Prerequisites

Placement in MTH 110

Notes

Quantitative GEP credit.

MTH 112: MATHEMATICS OF THE LIBERAL ARTS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3

This course will cover fundamental mathematical skills similar to those typically taught in finite mathematics or
college algebra courses, but will place special emphasis on a wide range of applications. These application
categories divide the course into four units: (1) Mathematics in Technology & Analytics, (2) Mathematics in
Social & Political Science, (3) Mathematics in Economics & Finance, (4) Mathematics in Art. The goals of this
course are for the student to master basic skills from algebra and geometry and to become familiar with
applications of mathematics to other areas of study and modern careers. Typically offered in January term.

Notes

GEP:  MTH 108 or higher

MTH 113: INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 4
This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the models and methods used in statistics. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

High School Algebra.

Notes
GEP credit.

MTH 115: SURVEY OF CALCULUS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 4
A one-term introduction to the elements of the differential and integral calculus, intended for students majoring in other departments. Offered on demand in Jan Term. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

MTH 110, or equivalent.

Notes
GEP, Minor credit.

MTH 117: DATA SCIENCE I

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3

A study of data and the questions that can be answered by studying data. This course will also introduce students to programming to explore and visualize data effectively. Algorithms and basic modeling techniques will also be discussed.

Prerequisites

Completing of at least 1 Converse University mathematics course satisfying the GEP requirement (or equivalent) or permission of instructor.

Notes

Minor credit. Quantitative GEP credit.

MTH 118: DATA SCIENCE II

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3

A continuing study of data and the questions that can be answered by studying data. This course will build on the programming and visualization techniques introduced in Data Science I. Students will encounter more varied data sets and more methods for analyzing data.

Prerequisites

MTH 117 or permission of instructor.

Notes

Minor credit. Quantitative GEP credit.

MTH 120: CALCULUS AND ANALYTIC GEOMETRY I

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 4
A study of the differential and integral calculus. Offered Fall and Spring Terms. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

MTH 110, or equivalent.

Notes
GEP, Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 125: FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
First-Year Seminars (FYS) constitute a common and academically significant experience in a student’s first year at Converse. All incoming first-year students are required to take a 3 credit- hour FYS course in the fall semester, choosing from a variety of discipline specific topics. Each FYS carries the corresponding departmental prefix, but with a common course number (except designated honors sections). Each FYS course is designed to have no more than 18 students, and counts in some designated category of the General Education Program. Strong writing and speaking components are elements of the course.
Notes
GEP.

MTH 200 : INTRODUCTION TO PROOFS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3

This course is meant to serve as a transition from calculus to more abstract mathematics and ways of thinking. This course emphasizes the importance of proper proof writing style and covers basic set theory, logic, and the main proof techniques in higher mathematics: direct proof, proof by contradiction, proof by contrapositive, and mathematical induction. These topics are fundamental to communicating and understanding mathematical concepts learned in later courses.
 

Prerequisites

MTH 120 or permission of instructor.

Notes

Major, Minor, Elective credit. Quantitative GEP credit.

MTH 205: DISCRETE MATHEMATICS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
The course will introduce students to topics and techniques of discrete methods and combinatorial reasoning. Methods for approaching problems in counting, logic, and other Computer Science related topics will be accumulated. A wide variety of applications will be incorporated into the mathematics. Offered alternate years. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

CSC 201 and MTH 110 or consent of the instructor.

Notes
Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 299H: INTERDISCIPLINARY HONORS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
This course is team taught by members in two departments and is open to Nisbet Honors Program participants and to others who meet Honors Program guidelines. All students registering for these courses must register not only through the Honors Program but also with their adviser and the Registrar’s Office. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Notes
GEP, Major, Elective credit.

MTH 303: NUMBER THEORY

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
A study of the integers and their divisibility properties with particular emphasis on the theory of congruences, prime numbers, Diophantine equation, and quadratic residues. Offered on demand. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

Consent of the instructor.

Notes
Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 311: SURVEY OF GEOMETRY

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
A study of the foundation of Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry. Offered alternate years. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

Consent of the instructor or MTH 351.

Notes
Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 330: INTRODUCTION TO NUMERICAL ANALYSIS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3

This is a first course in numerical analysis. Topics include numerical techniques for solving equations and problems in calculus, understanding error, and computer solutions. Students will be required to complete coding assignments as part of the course.

Prerequisites

MTH 210 and CSC 201, or permission of the instructor.

Notes

Major, Minor, Elective credit. Quantitative GEP credit.

MTH 340: INTRODUCTION TO GRAPH THEORY

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 4
This course is an introduction to a relatively new area of mathematics study. A diverse collection of applications includes operations research, sociology and chemistry. An introduction to mathematical proofs is included, and various proof techniques are illustrated while developing the theory itself. Offered on demand in Jan Term. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

MTH 351 or permission of the instructor.

Notes
Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 400: REAL ANALYSIS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
A study of selected topics from real analysis. Offered on demand. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

MTH 220.

Notes
Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 410: DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
A study of differential equations and their physical applications. Offered alternate years. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

MTH 220 or consent of the instructor.

Notes
Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 413: ABSTRACT ALGEBRA

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
A study of groups, rings, integral domains, and fields. Offered alternate years. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

MTH 210.

Notes
Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 423: PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
A study of probability, distributions, sampling distribution theory, and estimation. Offered alternate years. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

MTH 210, or equivalent.

Notes
Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 450: MATHEMATICS INTERNSHIP

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3 6

The internship involves the student in a business or governmental agency related to the student’s career choice. Credit and work to be arranged according to the experience desired.

Prerequisites

 Minimum 2.5 major GPA and permission of the department chair.

MTH 485: RESEARCH

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 1 4
A special course to allow the student to pursue a research project. May be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours.
Prerequisites

MTH 210 or its equivalent and consent of the instructor.

Notes
Major, Minor, Elective credit.

MTH 490: DIRECTED INDEPENDENT STUDY IN SPECIAL TOPICS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 1 3
Intensive independent study of a topic in mathematics which is not in the regular curriculum. This study will be directed by a cooperating faculty member. May be repeated for credit. Offered on demand. Quantitative GEP requirement.
Prerequisites

Consent of the instructor and department chair.

MTH 497: HONORS THESIS IN MATHEMATICS

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 3
This course is for qualified students pursuing honors in mathematics. Students perform independent research and write a thesis under the direction of a mathematics faculty member. Honors Thesis in mathematics demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct systematic research with the intention of producing a research paper.
Prerequisites

MTH 210 or its equivalent, senior class standing, approval by the department, permission of the instructor (adviser), and other prerequisites as outlined in the Nisbet Honors Guidelines.

MTH 499: SENIOR SEMINAR

Class Program
Mathematics
Credits 1

This course allows the student to investigate a topic of particular interest in mathematics or computer science. The student will have the opportunity to present a written and oral report on the student's topic. Offered every year. Quantitative GEP requirement. Capstone.

Notes

Required of all majors.