Mathematics
Why major in Mathematics at Mount Mary?
Did you know that math is one of the top career areas today? Mathematicians and statisticians are highly rated professions based on stress, work environment, physical demands, income and job outlook. As a mathematics major at Mount Mary University, you can develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will serve you for life and gain a competitive edge in the job market.
Minor in Mathematics
Complete degree requirements for a minor in mathematics and a listing of courses are available in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Scholarships for Math Majors
As a mathematics major, you may be awarded the S. Mary Petronia Van Straten Annual Scholarship or the Altenhofen Annual Scholarship depending on your need and academic progress. Learn more about Mount Mary scholarships.
Learn more about Mount Mary's Mathematics Degree
Mount Mary offers a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics degree. Throughout the program, you can engage with professors in and out of the classroom, get personalized attention, participate in national and statewide organizations and conferences, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will serve you for life.
You can choose from two curriculum options:
- Mathematics Major – Math majors are required to take a minimum of 32 credits in mathematics and complete the university’s core curriculum requirements.
- Mathematics Teacher Education – If you wish to become a math teacher, you will take courses in math and education. The curriculum prepares you to teach mathematics for early adolescence/adolescence (approximately grades 6-12). A student teaching experience is required.
Complete degree requirements and a listing of courses are available in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Minor in Mathematics
A mathematics minor is a great complement to any major and requires a minimum of 16 credits. For more details on requirements and courses for this minor, see the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Faculty
The School of Arts and Sciences at Mount Mary is rich with talented faculty who care about their students.
A degree in mathematics prepares you for a successful career in fields that require a strong foundation in mathematics or for graduate study. It can give you a competitive advantage in the job market, enhance your competencies in natural and social science fields and prepare you for today’s most innovative, lucrative careers.
Math is used in many occupations and employees with a strong background in mathematics are increasingly in demand. Math jobs pay well, too. The average starting salary of math majors is 33.7 percent higher than other majors, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Math majors also score higher on graduate school entrance exams, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.
According to the Mathematical Association of America, students studying mathematics have the quantitative and analytic talents that are desirable in many fields, including:
- Actuarial science—Take math and statistics and apply it to finance and insurance.
- Biomathematics—Use mathematical techniques and tools to model natural and biological processes and apply results to neurobiology, genetics and other science areas.
- Computer science—Use the logical and precise thinking learned from mathematics and apply it to the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their applications in computer systems.
- Cryptology—Combine math and computer science in the practice and study of hiding information, with applications in areas such as security of personal information and computer passwords.
- Finance—Build models to help explain and predict financial markets.
- Operations research—Evaluate problems in maximizing or minimizing things like costs or profits in this interdisciplinary area of mathematics.
- Teaching—Teach math to children in grades K-12 or pursue an advanced degree and become a math professor.
- Statistics—Use mathematical techniques to analyze and interpret data.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2018 median annual salary for mathematicians and statisticians is more than $88,000 ,and employment is projected to grow 30% in the next decade. Some math-related career fields require a master’s degree or other advanced degree.
To view particular mathematicians talking about their work, see Mathematically Gifted and Black and Lathisms.
Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Mathematics
Our department believes that mathematics is a human endeavor, and therefore that everyone is entitled to participate and flourish in mathematics. We strive to create a welcoming environment in our department and our classrooms, and to work to dismantle harmful stereotypes about who is expected to succeed in mathematical spaces and what mathematics encompasses.
Too often, members of marginalized groups (women, individuals of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals) are not welcomed in mathematical spaces. Our department strives to advocate for these students in their endeavors, both in mathematics and beyond. We believe the discipline of mathematics will be improved by a commitment to diversity and welcoming of individuals with a multitude of perspectives and approaches. We further believe, in support of Mount Mary’s Mission, that this freedom to flourish mathematically is critical for the development of the whole person and provides a valuable tool for transforming the world.
For information about the experience of diverse mathematicians, as well as to view mathematicians discussing their work and careers, we welcome you to explore the following links:
- Association for Women in Mathematics: https://awm-math.org/
- Mathematically Gifted and Black: https://mathematicallygiftedandblack.com/
- Lathisms: https://www.lathisms.org/
- Spectra: http://lgbtmath.org/
- NAM: https://www.nam-math.org/
Kappa Mu Epsilon Honor Society
Mount Mary is home to the first Wisconsin chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon, the Wisconsin Alpha Chapter. Established at Mount Mary in 1947, Kappa Mu Epsilon is a mathematics honor society for undergraduate mathematics students. Its objectives are to further interests in mathematics, to realize the important role mathematics has played in the development of western civilization, and to develop an appreciation for the power and the beauty possessed by the subject.
π (pi) Day
March 14th is celebrated around the world as π Day, in honor of the irrational number 3.1415926... At Mount Mary, math students have celebrated by making π bracelets, having a π-day scavenger hunt, and joining forces with Tri Beta to fundraise by selling pie of course!
MAA Departmental Membership
Mathematics students at Mount Mary enjoy a departmental membership at the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). This provides online access to several math journals, discounts on MAA and American Mathematical Society (AMS) books, and reduced registrations to MAA sponsored conferences, such as the yearly MAA Wisconsin Section Meeting. For a full list of benefits, click here. For information on gaining access to Mount Mary's departmental membership, please contact our department contact, Jeremy Edison at (414)-930-3463 or edisonj@mtmary.edu.
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