Mathematical Sciences (MATH)

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The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers the B.S. degree with a major in mathematical sciences with emphases in general mathematical sciences, applied mathematics, computational mathematics, probability and statistics, mathematics education, and actuarial science. Successful completion of the emphasis in mathematics education leads to licensure to teach at the 6-12 grade levels.

The department also offers minors in mathematical sciences, elementary mathematics education, applied probability and statistics, and actuarial science. These minors should be of interest to students majoring in the physical or social sciences or in business. In addition, the department offers an honors program in mathematical sciences and participates in the University Honors Program.

Students interested in the emphasis in probability and statistics, the emphasis in actuarial science, a degree with honors in probability and statistics, a minor in applied probability and statistics or a minor in actuarial science should contact the office of the Division of Statistics.

Several of the department’s courses fulfill the university mathematics core competency requirement, and others can be used by non-majors toward fulfilling the sciences and mathematics area requirement in the university’s general education program. In addition, many of its courses are included as requirements for other programs.

Department Regulations

Mathematical sciences majors are not permitted to count courses in computer science (CSCI) toward fulfilling general education area requirements.

For all majors in the department, the GPA in the major is calculated by using only those mathematical sciences courses numbered 229 or above which are available for credit toward the major.

Department Requirements

Students majoring or minoring in mathematical sciences must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.00 in those MATH/STAT and professional education courses applicable to that major or minor. Courses not applicable to the major or minor are identified in the course descriptions. Some emphases and programs may have a higher GPA requirement; see the appropriate section of the catalog.

All majors are required to have a satisfactory portfolio of work done during their undergraduate studies on file in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. The contents of the portfolio are to be used to assess the department’s program and are to be accumulated largely through course work assignments and examinations; students are expected to cooperate with instructors as these items are collected. In addition, each student must submit in his or her senior year a 250-300 word typed essay describing the student’s experience in the major, including comments on the connections of mathematics with other disciplines. Details on the submission of materials and approval of the portfolio should be obtained from the student’s adviser in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

With department permission, students are allowed to complete certain combinations of the major and one or more minors in the department, or multiple minors within the department. In all such cases, for each minor in the department, the student must earn at least 6 semester hours in MATH/STAT courses that are not counted in fulfillment of the major or any other minors in the department.

Mathematics Placement Examination Policy

Students planning to take MATH 110, MATH 155, MATH 206, MATH 210, MATH 211, or MATH 229 must take the Mathematics Placement Examination, so they may begin their mathematical studies at the appropriate level.

Proficiency Examination Policy

Ordinarily students will not be allowed to attempt a proficiency examination for a course if they have received credit for a higher numbered course (for exceptions, consult the department).

Mathematical Sciences Faculty

Bernard Harris, Ph.D., University of Wales, professor, chair
John Wolfskill, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, associate professor, assistant chair
Gregory Ammar, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, professor
Sanjib Basu, Ph.D., Purdue University, professor
John A. Beachy, Ph.D., Indiana University, Distinguished Teaching Professor
Hamid Bellout, Ph.D., Purdue University, professor
James Benson, Ph.D., University of Missouri, assistant professor
William D. Blair, Ph.D., University of Maryland, Distinguished Teaching Professor
Harvey I. Blau, Ph.D., Yale University, Presidential Teaching Professor
Richard Blecksmith, Ph.D., University of Arizona, professor
Frederick Bloom, Ph.D., Cornell University, Distinguished Research Professor
Douglas Bowman, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, professor
Biswa N. Datta, Ph.D., University of Ottawa, Distinguished Research Professor
Paul Dawkins, Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington, assistant professor
Sien Deng, Ph.D., University of Washington, professor
Nader Ebrahimi, Ph.D., Iowa State University, Distinguished Research Professor
Alastair Fletcher, Ph.D., University of Warwick, associate professor
Michael Geline, Ph.D., University of Chicago, assistant professor
Daniel Grubb, Ph.D., Kansas State University, associate professor
Kitty L. Holland, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago, associate professor
Yoo Pyo Hong, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, associate professor
Balakrishna Hosmane, Ph.D., University of Kentucky, associate professor
Helen A. Khoury, Ph.D., Florida State University, associate professor
Qingkai Kong, Ph.D., University of Alberta, professor 
Ilya Krishtal, Ph.D., Voronezh State University, associate professor
Ying C. Kwong, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, associate professor
Rama T. Lingham, Ph.D., Purdue University, associate professor, director, Division of Statistics
Anders Linnér, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, associate professor
Maya Mincheva, Ph.D., University of Waterloo, assistant professor
Deepak Naidu, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire, assistant professor
Alan Polansky, Ph.D., Southern Methodist University, associate professor
Alon Regev, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, assistant professor
Mary Shafer, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, associate professor
Peng Shi, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, assistant professor
Gleb Sirotkin, Ph.D., Indiana University/Purdue University, Indianapolis, associate professor
Linda R. Sons, Ph.D., Cornell University, Distinguished Teaching Professor
Joseph B. Stephen, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, Lincoln, associate professor
Jeffrey L. Thunder, Ph.D., University of Colorado, professor
Zhuan Ye, Ph.D., Purdue University, professor
Anton Zettl, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Distinguished Research Professor
Alan Zollman, Ph.D., Indiana University, associate professor

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