Mathematics and Computer Science

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Contact Information

Phone: 401.865.2334
Fax: 401.865.1356
Location: Howley Hall 218

The Faculty

Professors

C. Joanna Su, Ph.D.
James J. Tattersall, Ph.D., Emeritus

Associate Professors

Lynette J. Boos, Ph.D.
Jeffrey T. Hoag, Ph.D.
Su-Jeong Kang, Ph.D.
Rev. Humbert Kilanowski, O.P., Ph.D.
Cayla D. McBee, Ph.D.
Joseph Shomberg,  Ph.D.
Adam H. Villa, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors

Michael Chou, Ph.D.
Liam A. Donohoe, Ph.D., Chairperson
Martin D. Hellwig, Ph.D.
Wataru Ishizuka, Ph.D.
Mary L. Karker, Ph.D.
Shailaja Mallick, Ph.D.
Laura Murray, Ph.D.
Asta Shomberg, Ph.D.
Jason R. Willwerscheid, Ph.D.

The Major

Concentrations in the three following areas are available:

• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Mathematics/Secondary Education

The required courses for each of the three concentrations are listed in the catalog. Students should be aware that some of the courses are prerequisites for others and some courses are offered in only one semester of the academic year. For example, students concentrating in mathematics or mathematics/secondary education usually take MTH 290 in their sophomore year, as this is a prerequisite for both MTH 315 and MTH 323, which are generally taken in the first semester of the junior year.

A student considering electives in his or her concentration should consult with an advisor. This is especially important in the case of research courses because these courses are offered only when students have expressed an interest in them.

Students wishing to continue a study of a foreign language are encouraged to take the language in their freshman year.

Students in the mathematics concentration are encouraged to choose free electives that will give them a strong minor, one that will supplement their major in mathematics. Thoughtful selection of free electives may lead to interdisciplinary professions such as econometrics, biometrics, psychometrics, and operations research (applications of mathematics to management in both industry and government). Of course, students interested in research in mathematics or in teaching at the college level are encouraged to prepare for graduate study by taking extra mathematics courses.

Mathematics/Secondary Education

Students in Mathematics/Secondary Education must add seven education courses to the 10 mathematics courses of the program. One of these, EDU 450, Student Teaching, is nine credits and is usually taken in the spring semester of the senior year. Because the student is off-campus for most of the day during this semester, they must plan a program of study accordingly. Very often the student can put off to this eighth semester two courses that will be available in the evening through the School of Continuing Education. These students also must take MTH 309 Geometry and MTH 325 Mathematical Statistics as two of their electives. Real Analysis I & II or Abstract Algebra I & II and Geometry should be taken in the junior year since Real Analysis II, Abstract Algebra II, and Geometry are offered in the spring semester only.

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