What you should take depends a great deal on what you find most interesting and on what your goals are. You should discuss the options with your adviser and also talk to the instructors of particular courses that interest you.
Choosing mathematics courses is somewhat different from choosing other subjects' courses. The catalog descriptions of history courses, for example, make perfect sense even to a non-historian. The catalog description of a mathematics course sometimes makes sense only after the midterm. We urge you to read the essays in the next section to get a better idea of the flavor of mathematics in each offering.
Some general guidelines:
You are interested in the sciences
The department offers a variety of courses to give you a solid mathematical
experience. Calculus III and Linear Algebra are fundamental courses. You may
also want to consider taking one or more of the following:
Intro to Probability and Statistics, Differential Equations, Differential Equations and Numerical Methods,
Discrete Mathematics, Advanced Topics in Continuous
Applied Mathematics.
You are interested in computer science
Consider taking some of these: Calculus III, Linear Algebra, Modern Algebra,
Discrete Mathematics. Many of our students are double majoring in
mathematics and computer science.
You are interested in economics
Calculus will give you a good basic experience.
You may consider other courses as well, discuss your options with your adviser.
If you are contemplating graduate school in economics, the economics department
recommends you to take 211, 212, 225 and 243. Taking a solid course in statistics is also a good idea (any of 245,
246, 247, and 346 would do). Many economics majors want to take 222
as well. Double majoring in mathematics and economics is a good choice.
You are interested in applied mathematics
The department is rich in faculty with applied interests.
The following courses work specifically with applications: 204
222, 264, 353,
and 364. Other courses here that contain many
applications and are important for anyone considering graduate school in
applied mathematics: 211, 225, 245,
246, 247, 254,
325, and 346. In addition, many topics courses
are often on applied topics: 224,
333, and 343.
You are interested in theoretical mathematics
The department is rich in faculty with theoretical
interests. The following courses work with abstract structures:
217, 233,
238, 243, 246,
255, 325, 333,
342, and 343.
You liked Calculus
There are many reasons for liking calculus. If you delighted in the
geometry, for example, you should consider 224, 225,
325 and 342. If you enjoyed the power of calculus to describe and
understand the world, you will want to take 222. If you are fascinated with the ideas of limit and infinity and want to get
to the bottom of them, you should take 243 or
217.
You liked Linear Algebra
You will like 233 very much, and you will also like
217, 238, and
333.
You liked Discrete Mathematics
The natural sequel to Discrete Mathematics is 254 or 255 and
then 353. In addition, you may be interested in
246 and in CSC 252 (counts 2 credits toward the
mathematics major).
You are interested in graduate school in mathematics
Take a lot of courses, but be sure to take 233,
243, 254, 325, and as many of
222, 333, 342, and
343 as possible. You should also consider taking a
graduate course at the
University.
You are interested in graduate school in statistics
Our statistics offerings are 245,
246, 247, and 346. In addition,
you may wish to take a special studies, or a course at the
University, or one at
Mt. Holyoke.
Graduate schools in statistics will expect that you had
Real Analysis 243 to enter a Ph.D. Program (but not if you go for an applied statistics MS). See
statistics and
consult Katherine Halvorsen or
Nicholas Horton for more information.
You are interested in graduate school in operations research
Operations research is a relatively new subarea of
mathematics bringing together
mathematical ideas and techniques that are applied to large
organizations such as businesses, computers, and governments. You
should take 211 and at least some of the courses listed for
statistics above, some combinatorics (254)
and some computer science. Consider also
Topics in Applied
Mathematics. See
operations research and consult Ruth Haas.
You want to be a teacher
Certification requirements vary widely from state to state. If you are
interested in teaching in secondary school, a mathematics major plus
practice teaching may be enough to get started. In Massachusetts, the
major should include either 233 or
238, and one of 245,
246, 247. A course involving geometry, such as 224 or 342 is also helpful.
You should also have some introduction to computers. For guidelines, look at the list of
courses listed in the MAT program. Finally, while 307, Topics in Mathematics
Education, is rarely offered, something equivalent is taught as a
special studies whenever there are MAT students.
See Jim
Henle or Mary Murphy.
If you are interested in teaching elementary school, most of your required courses will be in the education department. In the mathematics department, our concern would be that you are comfortable with mathematics, have seen its variety, and most important, that you enjoy it. For all that, you should take the mathematics courses which appeal to you most. For education courses, the latest information is that you should take EDC 235, 238, 346, 347, 404 (practice teaching), and one elective, to be certified. Note that, during the semester when you take practice teaching EDC 404, you will likely be unable to take a math course. Plan ahead and consult the education department.
You want to be a doctor
You are doing fine by majoring in mathematics. A course in
statistics would be a very good idea. Other
areas of mathematics that would be useful are differential equations and
combinatorics.
You want to get a good job when you graduate
A major in mathematics prepares you pretty well regardless of which
courses you choose (see Careers). One student tells us that at a job interview she
was asked to estimate the number of gas stations in the country. This
information is not in any course we have ever offered. She did a good
job though--she estimated the number in her home town, divided its
population into the population of the country and then multiplied. Math
majors learn to think on their feet. They aren't frightened of numbers,
and they're at home with abstract ideas. Often, this alone is what
employers are looking for. (P.S. she got the job!)
That said, we should add that knowledge of computer programming is very
useful. So is some familiarity with statistics. You should also read the section
``How I got a Job''.
You want to be an actuary
Take 245, 246,
247, and 346. Take the actuarial exams that are offered
periodically. Information on actuarial careers is available in the
Forum, third floor, Burton Hall. Advancement as an
actuary is achieved by passing of a series of examinations. The first
two are ones you can certainly take as an undergraduate. One covers the
calculus sequence and linear algebra. The other is on probability and
statistics. Study guides for these exams are
usually kept in Burton. For more information (and if you want to know
what an actuary is) see actuarial science
You want something we don't have
If you are interested in a subject we do not offer, you should talk to
professors whose fields of interest are closest
to the subject. Often she/he will be delighted to supervise you as a
special studies student. The arrangement must be approved by the
department, but reasonable requests are not refused. If your interest
is particularly strong, you might consider an honors project, or summer
research work. You should also consider taking a course (or courses) at one of the
other colleges or the university.
You aren't really sure what you want!
Some courses for trying things out: 217,
222, 224, 245,
254, 264. Of course, you can
visit several courses the first week of any semester before making a
decision.