Mar 28, 2024  
2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Mathematical Sciences (B.S.)


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The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http://www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

Emphasis 1. General


Requirement outside Department (4)


Total Hours for Emphasis 1, General: 44-46


Recommendations


Emphasis 2. Applied Mathematics


Requirement outside Department (4)


Total Hours for Emphasis 2, Applied Mathematics: 44-47


Special Requirement


Students in this emphasis are required to complete a minor selected with the approval of the department.

Emphasis 3. Computational Mathematics


Emphasis 4. Probability and Statistics


Requirement outside Department (4)


Total Hours for Emphasis 4, Probability and Statistics: 44-47


Internship opportunities in statistics are available with many employers, including pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, manufacturing companies, and government agencies.

Emphasis 5. Mathematics Education


The requirements listed below for the emphasis in Mathematics Education apply to students who complete the program before the fall semester 2014. Students who anticipate completing the program after summer 2014 should consult their advisers.

Successful completion of the emphasis in mathematics education leads to certification to teach at the 6-12 grade levels. To be certified to teach secondary school mathematics (6-12 grades), the Illinois State Board of Education requires that students must have passed all the MATH/STAT and professional education courses applicable to their major (Mathematics Education emphasis at NIU) with a grade C or better. In addition to the course work and certification requirements in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, students must complete other course work and certification requirements outside the department. A minor that includes a teaching endorsement in a teaching area outside of mathematics is highly desirable to enhance placement opportunities. Students who wish to pursue the emphasis in mathematics education and to seek teacher certification should consult with an adviser in the Department of Mathematical Sciences before enrolling in ILAS 201. Transfer and postbaccalaureate students should see an adviser in the Department of Mathematical Sciences on arrival. Graduate students majoring in the mathematical sciences, graduate students majoring in secondary education, and students-at-large should consult the Graduate Catalog.

Special Departmental Requirements for Certification


Apply for admission to teacher certification in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. This is usually done three semesters prior to the semester of student teaching.

Pass all areas of the Test of Academic Proficiency of the Illinois Certification Testing System in order to be formally admitted to the teacher certification program. This should be accomplished before enrolling in ILAS 301. The Mathematics Content Area Test of the Illinois Certification Testing System must be passed before enrolling in MATH 401 and MATH 412. Information about the test and registration for the test can be obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Obtain departmental approval for admission to teacher certification. This is normally done through a conference with the coordinator of teacher certification in mathematics two semesters prior to the semester of student teaching. Departmental consent must be given in the absence of this conference.

Satisfy the minimum GPA requirements established by the department for the undergraduate emphasis in mathematics education: an overall NIU GPA of at least 2.50, a GPA of 2.25 or higher in all courses counted for credit toward the major, and a GPA of 2.25 or higher in all courses counted for credit toward the major numbered above MATH 231.

Requirements outside Department (26-32)


Professional education requirements (23-28)


Footnotes


1 Students should consult with an adviser in the Department of Mathematical Sciences before enrolling in courses to fulfill this requirement.
2 Undergraduates must consult with the coordinator of teacher certification in mathematics about admission to ILAS 201. Students are eligible to enroll in ILAS 201 after passing MATH 230 with a grade of C or better. Postbaccalaureate students should consult with the coordinator of teacher certification in mathematics upon arrival.
3 Students must consult with the coordinator of teacher certification in mathematics about admission to ILAS 300, ILAS 301, and MATH 401.
4 If MATH 401 is not completed at the student teaching school, MATH 411, Secondary School Mathematics Clinical Experience (0), may be required.
5 Admission to MATH 413 is dependent on the availability of resources. Students are normally admitted to MATH 413 only after satisfactory completion of MATH 412 at NIU and all other course work required for certification.

Additional Requirements (36-39)


In some cases these additional requirements exceed those required by the university for a baccalaureate degree. Therefore, students should consult with an adviser within the department as early as possible about meeting these requirements.

The teacher certification requirements are the same for undergraduate mathematical sciences majors with an emphasis in mathematics education and for postbaccalaureate students seeking certification in mathematics without becoming a candidate for a degree.

Core Competency (9)


  • Written communication, or equivalent of ENGL 105 (6)
  • Oral communication (3)

Humanities (12)


  • U.S. History (3)
  • English course or literature course taught in English (3)
  • Other approved course work (6)

Science (9)


  • Course work in at least two science fields with a minimum of two courses in one science field; must include at least one science laboratory course

Social Science (6)


  • U.S. Government (3)
  • Other approved course work (3)

Cultural Diversity (3)


Other Requirements


See “Teacher Certification Requirements.”

Exit Examination


Students seeking certification must pass the Illinois Assessment of Professional Teaching Test. Information about this test may be obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Emphasis 6. Actuarial Science


This interdisciplinary track prepares students for careers in the actuarial profession and helps them learn material included in the Exams P / 1 (Probability), FM / 2 (Financial Mathematics) and M / 3 (Actuarial Models) of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) / Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). A few courses relevant to Exam C / 4 (Construction and Evaluation of Actuarial Models) of the SOA / CAS are also available to actuarial students. Interested students should contact the Division of Statistics for advising in this emphasis.

Note: A student seeking to attain membership with the SOA and/or CAS is required to complete the Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) requirements of the societies in three areas: applied statistics, economics, and corporate finance. Although not a requirement for completion of this emphasis, a student may receive VEE credits by completing STAT 473, STAT 478, ECON 260, ECON 261, FINA 330 and FINA 340 with a grade of B or better in each course.

Total Hours for Emphasis 6, Actuarial Science: 74-77


Special Requirement


At least 65 semester hours of the total hours required for the baccalaureate degree must be taken in courses other than those in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Division of Statistics.

Recommendations for Actuarial Students


Students should see their advisors in the Division of Statistics before scheduling these additional courses in their individual programs of study.

The following additional courses cover some of the important topics in, and will help students who plan to take, Exam C / 4 of the SOA / CAS.


The skills from the following additional courses will help students after they enter the actuarial profession.


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