Introduction

The discipline of mathematics is defined as much by its methodology as it is by its content. Indeed, it is this methodology which unifies the different areas of mathematics. The Department of Mathematics seeks to involve students at all levels in the thoughts and methods of mathematics in a creative, lively way.

The courses in the Department are organized around three related areas: the core curriculum, service to other disciplines, and the major in mathematics.

Mathematics and the sciences have cross fertilized each other for centuries. Physics, biology, chemistry and economics all draw on mathematical ideas and techniques. The calculus sequence is the primary avenue for learning these ideas. The knowledge of computation learned in the Computer Science Concentration can be applied in other disciplines where the computer can be used as a powerful tool for scientific investigation. Many mathematical concepts grew out of problems in science, and the content of a number of upper-level courses reflects this relationship.