Mathematics Major/Minor Brochure
|
 |
This brochure describes the mathematics major and minor at RU–New Brunswick/Piscataway, as well as interdisciplinary majors, and five-year Bachelor's/Master's programs which begin with a major in mathematics. It also describes special opportunities and facilities available to undergraduates through the mathematics department.
Students should consult with their academic advisors about the ways in which mathematics courses can satisfy college requirements. Questions about courses preceding first-semester calculus should be addressed to the director of precalculus instruction, Prof. Lewis Hirsch, Lucy Stone Hall B, room 102A, telephone (732) 445-2288. Further information about advising is found here. New students and prospective students should review the information on our web page for prospective students.
For additional information students should contact the Undergraduate Office.
INTERDISCIPLINARY MAJORS AND THE MINOR IN MATHEMATICS
INTERDISCIPLINARY MAJORS
In addition to the three major options listed above, two interdisciplinary majors are available at RU–New Brunswick/Piscataway. Students electing one of these majors should consult with the mathematics department and the allied department early and continually to make sure they are making appropriate progress towards the degree.
Statistics/Mathematics
Interdisciplinary Major (curriculum
code 961):
This major is administered by the Department of Statistics. Consult
Professor Harold Sackrowitz of the
that department, telephone (732) 445 2693,
http://www.stat.rutgers.edu/people/faculty/sackrow.html.
Biomathematics
Interdisciplinary Major (curriculum
code 122):
This major requres 63-67 credits:
33 in mathematics and 30-34 in biology and cognate fields. Students
must earn a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 in courses credited toward the
major. The major is administered by the mathematics department. For the
precise course requirements and other details, consult
the web site for the
biomathematics major.
This site includes a useful list of
biology and mathematical biology links.
A minor in mathematics consists of three terms of calculus (ordinarily
01:640:151, 152, 251), Introduction to Linear Algebra (01:640:250), and four
additional 3-credit courses chosen from 01:640:252, 244 and 300-400 level courses
in the mathematics department (01:640:491, 492 do not satisfy this requirement). Grades of
C or better are required in 01:640:250 and 251; at most one
D is permitted in the four courses beyond 01:640:250. At least
three out of the four elective courses must be taken at RU–New Brunswick/Piscataway.
The Department of Mathematics offers a number of programs which make it easy to
move on from
an undergraduate major
in mathematics to a Master's degree in fields where graduates are in
demand.
In the most standard path, at Rutgers or elsewhere, students apply to a
Master's program
in their senior year of college. Others apply after a period of
employment. A Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Arts (M.A.)
degree can usually be completed in 2 years of full-time graduate
study. Part-time study is often permitted.
In the intensive five-year B.A.-M.A. sequence at Rutgers,
students take extra credits before graduating
from college, work which can be transferred to the Master's program.
Students apply in their third undergraduate year. With careful
planning, the Master's degree can be earned in one year of full-time
study after completion of the undergraduate degree.
See the web page on
the B.A.–M.A. programs at Rutgers. Here is some information on
each of these programs:
New Jersey certification as a mathematics teacher is available to students who
complete the Graduate School of Education's five-year mathematics teacher
certification program. For such students, the eight courses required at the
300- to 400-level for the
mathematics major must include 01:640:300; 311 or 411; 351 or 451; 435;
436; 477; 481; and an applied mathematics
course,
in addition to an extra mathematics elective and the courses required
for
certification.
Students interested in teacher certification should read the
GSE's web page on the
five-year teacher education program.
They should also contact Professor
Keith Weber Graduate School of Education as early in their undergraduate
career as possible to obtain advice and further information.
Students entering the five-year dual degree program
in Industrial and Systems Engineering must complete a standard math major. They
must have Math 477; Engineering Economics (14:540:343)–: see catalogue for
prerequisites, Linear Programming (Math 354 or Math 453; Math 453 is preferred); and facility with a
programming language like C++. For students who do
not major in engineering, I.S.E. sets a cumulative g.p.a. of 3.2 or better as one guideline for
admissibility into the Master's program. Grades in mathematics courses and
other technical courses are most important.
Select at least
some math electives from Math 321 (Introduction to Applied Mathematics),
Math 424 (Stochastic Models in Operations Research),
Math 429 (Case Studies in Industrial Mathematics),
Math 478 (Probability II),
Math 481 (Mathematical Statistics),
Math 428 (Graph Theory),
and Math 454 (Combinatorics).
Select at least some
general electives from computer sciencescourses beyond C.S. 111 or 107;
Economics 406 (Game Theory),
ISE 338 (Probability Models in Operations Research),
ISE 433 (Quality Engineering and Statistics),
Statistics 384 (Intermediate Statistical Analysis),
Statistics 390 (Introductory Computing for Statistics),
Statistics 401 (Basic Statistics for Research),
and Statistics 484 (Basic Applied Statistics).
For more information, see the
Industrial and Systems Engineering
web page.
Each math major should see an adviser in the department at
least
once each
semester, during the process of registering for the following
semester. The head undergraduate adviser maintains regular hours in Hill Center 308
throughout each term, and can also be seen by appointment. The advising schedule is at
http://www.math.rutgers.edu/undergrad/AdvSched.html.
Information is also available
by telephone, (732) 445-2390, or email, advisor@math.rutgers.edu.
The head adviser is available outside the pre-registration period
for formal
advising
about major and graduation requirements, etc.
The department faculty provides informal
advice and
discussion to students throughout the year. The department encourages
students
to consult with faculty members for general advice on mathematical and
scientific
matters, and to maintain their contact with former instructors after
courses
end. Although instructors feel obligated to give priority during office
hours
to students in their current courses, most faculty members are happy to
talk to
anyone who stops in during office hours (or at any time when they're
not under
time pressure to do something else). A list of faculty and their areas of
interest is at:
http://www.math.rutgers.edu/people/faculty.html
The mathematics department maintains a web site,
http://www.math.rutgers.edu/undergrad, with useful
information for undergraduates, including new courses, special seminars,
mathematics competitions, and job opportunities. Students are encouraged to
visit this web site frequently.
During the spring, the mathematics department often gets calls and letters
from organizations offering employment to graduating seniors. Less frequently,
the department receives inquiries seeking candidates for part-time or summer
jobs. Information about these employment opportunities and about a great variety
of graduate programs for
which mathematics majors are eligible are posted on bulletin boards
adjacent to the doors of the main undergraduate office, Hill Center 303. The department encourages all its majors to take a diverse program, and
students will usually sample courses from a variety of categories before they
decide whether to concentrate on one or more areas. The syllabi for
mathematics courses are at
http://www.math.rutgers.edu/courses/
.
However, students should be
aware that syllabi for upper-division courses are often not very detailed;
instructors can introduce variations into the contents of the course while
remaining
within catalogue descriptions. The best way to get an idea of the details is
usually to consult the intructor. It is important to take Math 300 as early as possible, since it is a
prerequisite for the abstract courses Math 311, 350,
351, 361, 435, 441, and 461. The following list suggests one possible grouping of upper-level math
courses by area. It is impossible to make a single, rigid list of the courses a mathematics
major should take.
Experience has suggested, however, that the following
guidelines offer good choices for students who already have some idea of the
type of program they would like to pursue. All math majors are
encouraged to talk to the head adviser on this subject.
See also the recommendations on related areas,
below.
(a) A student planning to study abstract mathematics at the graduate
level is advised to take as many courses as possible from this list: Math 411-412, Math
451, Math 403, 432, Math 477, and Math 441. Students interested in undergraduate
seminars or honors courses such as 300:H or Math 451-452 should discuss the
matter with a member of the department's honors committee.
(b)
The honors track has higher requirements regarding courses and grades.
Each honors track student's program of study must be approved by the honors
committee.
For details, see the honors track web page,
http://www.math.rutgers.edu/undergrad/Honors/Track/index.html.
(c) A student planning to study applied mathematics at the graduate
level is advised to take Math 477 as early as possible, and also to take Math
311-312, and other courses in applicable mathematics, such as Math 336, 338,
354 or 453, 357, 428, 454. It is also advisable to take courses in such areas
of application as physics, biology, and economics, and computer science.
(d) Students interested in the area of application in some of our dual degree
BA/MA programs (statistics, economics, operations research, industrial and
systems engineering, mathematics education, mathematical finance) should
consult the mathematics department and the other department as early as
possible. They should also look at the
information on dual degree programs.
(e) For students planning to seek employment as mathematicians in
industry, experience has shown that Math 477 is crucial: it is a prerequisite
for several important courses. Students should take 477 as early as they
can so that they are prepared to take courses for which it is a
prerequisite. They should also take at least one course in mathematical
modeling, such as Math 321, 338, or 424. Also courses drawn from among Math
348, 354, 357, 373, 428, 429, 454, 478 and 481. It is also advisable to take
courses in such areas of application as physics, biology, and
economics—and especially in computer science, a field in which many
mathematics majors find career opportunities. Computer Science courses drawn
from among 112, 211, 314, 344, 416, 431, 436, and 452 are particularly
recommended. Some firms are only willing to consider applications from persons
who have had at least two terms of computer science.
(f)
There is no separate actuarial major. A good preparation for a career as an
actuary begins with a major in mathematics, together with a appropriate
courses in economics and statistics. The electives in mathematics should also
be chosen with this career goal in mind. To see the list of courses presently
recommended by Rutgers, and other useful information on the subject, see the
actuarial information page.
Some current publications of the Society of Actuaries dealing with their
examination program, etc., are available at the undergraduate mathematics
office, Hill 303. A student interested in a career as an actuary should begin
by acquiring these publications and becoming acquainted with their contents;
he or she should also refer to the home page of the
Society of Actuaries.
For advice see Professor Dan Ocone, Hill 518, telephone (732)
445-1320,
http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~ocone/.
(g) Students interested in combining mathematics with biology,
computer science, or statistics should consider the
interdisciplinary programs listed above.
The department recommends that each mathematics major take at least one
two-semester sequence of two mathematically oriented courses in some other
discipline. For areas with dual degree
programs, refer to the respective list of recommended courses.
Students begin with
either 01:750:123-124 (taken by physics majors), 01:750:271-272-273 (honors
sequence, physics department permission required) or 01:750:203-204. To follow
the introductory sequence, one possible choice would be 01:750:323-324.
Students who did well in the first courses and want to study physics seriously
should instead take either 01:750:381-382 (Mechanics) or 01:750:385-386
(Electromagnetism). Students of analysis will find the last-named sequence to
be particularly illuminating.
Sophomores interested in
statistics courses can take 01:960:379-380. Students who have already had Math
477-481 should omit Stat 379. Stat 380 is an applied statistics course which
may be taken after Math 481, although either 01:960:381 or Math 481 satisfies
the prerequisite for upper-level statistics courses. Some of the upper-level
courses that mathematics majors should consider are Stat 463, 476, 486, and
490. Note that credit is not given for both Stat 381-382 and Math 477-481;
however, either of those sequences may follow 01:960:379-380.
Among these courses, only those with subject code 640 count towards the
major or minor in mathematics.
The Department of Mathematics offers or participates in several
honors programs that provide richer educational experiences and greater
opportunities for recognition than the normal curriculum does. These programs
are related to each other but distinct. One of them is the
honors track described above.
There are also honors courses, honors sections of regular courses, and
student seminars.
For further details, see the
honors programs web page.
One of the prime reasons for students to select a major university for
their
undergraduate work is the presence of a research-active faculty and graduate
programs. Strong mathematics majors, especially those considering graduate
study
in mathematics, should take advantage of the opportunities that RU–New
Brunswick/Piscataway presents and discuss with their advisers the possibility
of taking
graduate courses during the senior year (or even sooner in certain cases).
Once the student and major adviser agree that a course is appropriate, the
student should get the approval of the course instructor and/or the
director of the mathematics graduate program. The student can then either sign
up for the course during the
pre-enrollment period or register during the add/drop period at the start of
the
term.
(more)
.
These are courses tailored to specific student purposes and carried out
with the help and supervision of a mentor in the department. They require
special registration arrangements and the specific permission of the
department. The following restrictions apply.
Each year, the mathematics department offers a few scholarships, awards, and prizes to
deserving students.
Some of these prizes depend on students'performance on the prize examinations, which
are held towards the end of March.
For information on these subjects and to see a list of students who have
received these honors in the past few years, see
http://www.math.rutgers.edu/undergrad/Activities/undergradprizes.html
The mathematics department
offers Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), see http://math.rutgers.edu/~reu/
. During the academic year, interested students can get a taste
of mathematical research working with professors on an individual
basis. Participating students are expected to have a strong
mathematical background; good computer skills may also be
required. Their research projects must have department approval. During the summer an intensive eight-week REU program is available
for a limited number of undergraduates. Each student's individual
research project will be assisted by a faculty adviser. The program
includes seminars and other social and professional activities.
Students are selected on the basis of their academic performance and
their compatibility with the available projects. Participating
undergraduates receive a stipend and housing. Under NSF rules, only
citizens or permanent residents of the U. S. are eligible. Women,
members of minorities, and disabled students are encouraged to
apply. For other REU opportunities in mathematics at Rutgers,
see the web site dimacs.rutgers.edu/REU/; for
nationwide programs, see the AMS web site www.ams.org/employment/reu.html,
and the NSF website
http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm
. Hill
Center 323 is a place for undergraduate math majors to meet, discuss
mathematics, and use computers. The room is also used for meetings of the
undergraduate honors seminar, and for special talks for undergraduates about
mathematics or careers in the mathematical sciences.
The computer terminals in the undergraduate common room are for math
majors only. To use them it is necessary to open an account on the
department's computer gauss. This computer is
for declared mathematics majors. Interested majors should inquire in
Hill 322 (see Risa Hynes).
The department offers several courses which require the use of software
packages capable of sophisticated scientific calculation, three-dimensional
graphics, and symbolic manipulation. In some courses, including
third-semester calculus, differental equations, and numerical analysis,
Maple is used. Rutgers has a license that makes
Maple available on many systems, including
eden , the PC labs on every campus, and the
mathematics department's servers.
In other courses, for example the computer sections of linear algebra
(Math 250, C sections), and Math 357, Matlab is
used. Matlab is available on gauss and at the Rutgers computer labs. For
information on software and the servers where it is available, see the list of campus computing
facilities.
Full-scale versions of these software packages are costly. Student versions
are available at a moderate price at the Rutgers University Bookstore and
elsewhere. These student versions can handle only objects of moderate size
(adequate for most uses) and do not include user support.
Although formal courses dealing solely
with the use of these packages do not constitute college-level work, it
should be part of every mathematics student's out-of-class education to
become thoroughly familiar with at least one such package.
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND
SCIENCES MINOR IN MATHEMATICS
FIVE-YEAR B.A.–M.A. (or M.S.)
PROGRAMS
Statistics
Economics
Operations Research
Mathematical Finance
Mathematics Education (K–12)
Industrial and
Systems Engineering
ADVISING
SOURCES OF CURRENT
INFORMATION FOR MAJORS
CHOOSING COURSES TO
FIT CAREER GOALS
RELATED AREAS
Computer Science
The
introductory course is 01:198:111, a course that is required of all
mathematics majors. A new course, 01:640:107, will probably be in place by
the Fall '06 semester; it will take the place of 01:198:111 as a requirement
for mathematics majors. For additional current information on computer science
courses, consult the catalogue and an adviser from the Department of Computer
Science. Here is a list of computer
science advisers and their office hours. This list is also posted in the
Computer Science undergraduate office, Hill Center 390 (Busch campus).
Physics
Statistics
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES IN MATHEMATICS FOR UNDERGRADUATES
DEPARTMENTAL HONORS PROGRAMS
TAKING GRADUATE COURSES AS
AN UNDERGRADUATE
INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSES
For advice and permission,
students should consult the
head adviser.
SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS, AND PRIZES
UNDERGRADUATE
RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS
Facilities
UNDERGRADUATE COMMON ROOM
COMPUTER ACCOUNTS
All Rutgers students are entitled to an account on the university computer
eden and every campus in RU–New
Brunswick/Piscataway has fully equipped computer labs for the use of students.
MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE