Mathematics
Courses
MA 101 PRE CALCULUS
Three Credits Fall
Semester
Algebraic equations and simplification: factoring, common denominators and conjugates. Graphs
of equations. Lines, quadratic curves: equations
and graphs. Graphing curves with intercepts and asymptotes. Examples using algebraic,
logarithmic and exponential and trigonometric
functions. Use of mathematics technology.
MA 119 APPLIED CALCULUS FOR BUSINESS
Three Credits Fall
Semester
A one semester introduction to differential and integral Calculus designed for Business
Administration majors. Topics include limits, derivatives, rates, exponential functions,
antiderivatives, graphs, logarithms and exponential functions,
antiderivatives, differential equations. The course emphasizes computation,
problem solving and applications. Students who have taken either MA 123 or MA 125 may not
receive credit for MA 119. Pre-requisite: Students who have not taken a high school
equivalent of Pre Calculus should take MA 101 Pre Calculus before enrolling in MA 119.
MA 123 CALCULUS FOR BIOLOGY I
MA 124 CALCULUS FOR BIOLOGY II
Eight Credits Fall
and Spring Semesters
A two semester sequence designed for Biology majors seeking an alternative to a traditional
first year Calculus course. Differential and Integral Calculus based on infinitesimals with a
focus on those aspects of Calculus relevant to Biology. Topics include logarithmic,
exponential and trigonometric functions; models and modeling in Biology; differential
equations and characteristic polynomials; complex numbers and variables; eigenvectors
and systems of linear equations; biexponential and Michaelis-Menten equations. Students who
have taken either MA 119 or MA 125 may not receive credit for MA 123. Pre-requisite:
Students who have not taken a high school equivalent of Pre Calculus should take MA 101
Pre Calculus before enrolling in MA 123.
MA 125 CALCULUS I
MA 126 CALCULUS II
Eight Credits Fall and
Spring Semesters
First two semesters of a four-semester sequence. Intended primarily for Mathematics and
science majors and minors. Includes theory of Calculus of one variable as well as
computational methods, problem solving, logical reasoning and applications and
applications with algebraic and transcendental functions. In addition to the basic topics from
differential and integral Calculus, these courses include: improper integrals, indeterminate
forms, sequences and series. A computer algebra system, MAPLE V, or graphing
calculators may be used. Students who have taken either MA 119 or MA 123 may not
receive credit for MA 125.
MA 143 MATHEMATICAL REASONING FOR EDUCATION
Three Credits Fall
and Spring Semesters
A one-semester course designed for Education majors. The course includes a review of algebra
and geometry. Further topics include: types of numbers, algebraic structures, theory of
equations, combinatorics, probability and statistics, interpreting and analyzing data.
The course emphasizes problem solving, quantitative and logical reasoning.
MA 145 BASIC QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES
(Statistical Reasoning)
Three Credits Fall and
Spring Semesters
Basic methods of data analysis: organizing and summarizing data, probability, probability
distributions, statistical inference.
MA 149 COLLEGE HONORS SEMINAR
(Natural Scientific Inquiry)
Three Credits Not
Offered 2007-2008
A General Education course open to students in the college-wide Honors Program. Special
themes and topics. Emphasis on oral and written expression. For
further information, consult with the Department Chairperson or the Director of the Honors Program.
MA 193 THE NON-EUCLIDEAN REVOLUTION
(Natural Scientific Inquiry)
Three Credits Fall
Semester
Book I of Euclid’s Elements; Plato and Kant on geometry; Euclid’s controversial fifth postulate;
Lobachevsky’s alternative geometry. An intellectual adventure spanning 2100 years, whose outcome
changed the way mathematicians view their subject
MA 207 STATISTICAL REASONING: CHANCE
(Statistical Reasoning)
Three Credits Fall and
Spring Semesters
An introduction to the ideas and issues of probability and statistics and their
applications in everyday life. Topics include: experiment design,descriptive statistics, chance and inference.
MA 209 PROBLEM SOLVING FOR EDUCATION
Three Credits
Alternate Years: Spring 2008, 2010
For Mathematics majors with a minor in Secondary Education. Focuses on developing a
deep understanding of high school mathematics
through the use of challenging problems. Analysis and development of problem solving
skills. Topics include: fundamental concepts of Algebra, Number Theory, Geometry,
Probability and Statistics.
MA 225 STATISTICS IN SCIENCE
(Statistical Reasoning)
Three Credits
Spring Semester
Probability; descriptive statistics; normal distribution, inference; hypothesis testing;
analysis of variance; sampling theory; correlation and regression. Examples from the
sciences. Prerequisites: MA 123-124, or MA 125-126, or consent of the Instructor.
MA 251 LINEAR ALGEBRA
Three Credits
Spring Semester
The development of the methods and underlying ideas for solving systems of linear
equations. Topics include: vectors, matrices, linear transformations, determinants and
eigenvectors. Use of mathematical software MAPLE, in applications. Prerequisite: MA 261
or consent of the Instructor.
MA 261 CALCULUS III
Four Credits Fall
Semester
Continuation of the sequence begun in Calculus I and II. Functions of several variables, analytic
geometry, vectors, partial derivatives, multiple integration. Prerequisite: MA 124 or MA 126
with minimum grade “C-,” or consent of the Instructor.
MA 262 CALCULUS IV – DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Four Credits Spring
Semester
Infinite sequences and series; ordinary differential equations of first and second order; linear
differential equations of higher order; series solution to differential equations; systems of
differential equations; Laplace transforms. Pre-requisite: MA 261 or consent of the Instructor.
MA 351 ABSTRACT ALGEBRA I
MA 352 ABSTRACT ALGEBRA II
Six Credits Fall
Semester and Alternate Spring Semesters: 2007, 2009
Rings, fields, rings of polynomials, extension fields, automorphisms of fields, splitting fields,
groups, Galois theory. Prerequisite: MA 251 with minimum grade of “C-,” or consent of the
Instructor.
MA 361 REAL ANALYSIS I
MA 362 REAL ANALYSIS II
Six Credits Fall
Semester and Alternate Spring Semesters: 2008, 2010
Rigorous development of the theory of Calculus of one variable. Topics include: properties of
the real line, sequences, series, limits, continuity and uniform continuity. Additional
topics from differential and integral Calculus of one or more variables. Pre-requisite: MA 251
and MA 262, or consent of the Instructor.
MA 371 COMBINATORICS AND GRAPH THEORY
Three Credits
Alternate Years: Fall 2007, 2009
Methods for determining, given some well-defined operation, the number of ways it
can be performed. Networks of dots and lines. Pre-requisite: MA 251 or consent of the
Instructor.
MA 373 OPERATIONS RESEARCH
Three Credits
Alternate Years: Spring 2009, 2011
Topics include: linear programming (theory as well as practice); integer solution methods;sensitivity analysis. Pre-requisite: MA 251.
MA 375 MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
Three Credits
Alternate Years: Fall 2007, 2009
Logic as the study of sound argument forms and formal analyticity; the connection between
the two. The propositional and predicate calculi as models of mathematical English.
Prerequisite: MA 251 or consent of the Instructor.
MA 377 NUMBER THEORY
Three Credits
Alternate Years: Fall 2008, 2010
Mathematical induction, prime numbers, Diophantine equations, congruences, sums of
squares. Pre-requisite: MA 251 or consent of the Instructor.
MA 384 THEORY OF COMPUTATION
Three Credits
Alternate Years: Fall 2008, 2010
Introduction to the general theory of computation. Formal grammars: regular,
context-free, and context-sensitive languages. Formal automata: finite-state and pushdown
models. Decidability. Parsing. Turing theory. The Chomsky hierarchy. (Also listed as CS 384).
MA 393 NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
Three Credits
Alternate Years: Fall 2008, 2010
Both theoretical and practical problems in the computational aspects of mathematics:
approximation of functions, numerical differentiation, solutions to algebraic and
differential equations; topics in linear algebra. Also listed as CS 393. Pre-requisites: MA 251
and MA 261 or consent of the Instructor.
MA 395 PROBABILITY
Three Credits
Alternate Years: Fall 2008, 2010
Mathematical theory of probability, axioms and basic properties, random variables; continuous
and discrete distributions, moments, generating
functions, special distributions, law of large numbers, central limit theorem. Use of
mathematical software in applications. Pre-requisites: MA 251 and MA 261 or consent
of the Instructor.
MA 396 STATISTICS
(Statistical Reasoning)
Three Credits
Alternate Years: Spring 2009, 2011
Theory and application of statistics; random sampling; organization of data; descriptive
statistics; sample mean and additional special
distributions, the theory of Estimators, applications of Estimation, Hypothesis Testing
and Regression. Mathematical software is used in applications of Statistics. Pre-requisite: MA
251 and MA 261 or consent of the Instructor.
MA 399 MATHEMATICS SEMINAR
Three Credits
Spring Semester
Possible topics include: Advanced Calculus, Complex Analysis, Dynamical Systems,
Geometry, History of Mathematics, Topics in Algebra, Topology.
MA 475 INTERNSHIP
Three Credits Fall
and Spring Semesters
Requires approval of the Department Chairperson.
MA 490 DIRECTED STUDY
Three Credits Fall
and Spring Semesters
Opportunity for upper level students to do advanced work in a specialized area of
mathematics.
MA 496 INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
Three Credits Fall
and Spring Semesters
Students carry out an independent research project under the direction of a faculty
member. The research may be part of an ongoing project being conducted by the faculty
member, or the student and faculty member may develop an original project.
Pre-requisite: Approval of the faculty member and the
Department Chairperson.
MA 497 SENIOR THESIS
Three Credits Fall
and Spring Semesters
Students complete an independent scholarly work under the guidance of a faculty member,
resulting in a substantial written work.
Prerequisite: Senior standing in the department; approval of the faculty member
and the Department Chairperson.
