Mathematics Course Descriptions

MA 029W Quantitative Reasoning Workshop for Statistics

This course is the workshop portion of MA 129 Statistical Analysis with Quantitative Reasoning Workshop for Statistics and must be taken concurrently with MA 129. The workshop provides a review of quantitative reasoning topics, including rate, ratio, and percent; linear models; visual representation of data; and estimation. This course is designed to help reduce students’ mathematical anxiety and increase their confidence with mathematical applications. Credits for MA 029W may not be applied toward any degree. Corequisite: MA 129. (3)

Provides a review of quantitative reasoning topics, including rate, ratios, and percents; perimeter, area, volume, and the units and conversion between units for those calculations; the mathematics of finance; linear models; visual representation of data; and estimation. This course is designed to help reduce students’ mathematical anxiety and increase their confidence with mathematical applications. Intended as preparation for MA 121, MA 124, MA 127, and MA 132. Credits for MA 094 may not be applied toward any degree. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process. (3)

This intermediate algebra course provides a review of topics, techniques, terminology, and applications of algebra. This course is intended as preparation for MA 151 and MA 171. Credits for MA 095 may not be applied toward any degree. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process. (3)

A survey of topics in mathematics that develops critical thinking skills, flexibility of thought, appropriate problem-solving strategies, and the ability to express ideas in mathematical language. Strategies include modeling, symmetry, algebra, logical reasoning, set theoretic analysis, and probability. Emphasis is placed on developing skills in analysis, estimation, and verification. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process or a grade of C or better in MA 094 or MA 095. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (3)

Further develops students’ understanding of elementary mathematics using the history of the subject. Topics include numeration, computation, geometry, and the use of mathematics in problem solving. Offered spring semester only. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process or grade of C or better in MA 094 or MA 095. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (3)

A survey of elementary geometrical topics stressing numerical relations rather than proofs. Emphasis is given to topics needed for design and for teacher preparation below the secondary level (proportion, area and volume, elementary trigonometry, symmetry). Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process or a grade of C or better in MA 094 or MA 095. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (3)

This course is one part of a two-part module and must be taken concurrently with MA 029W Quantitative Reasoning Workshop for Statistics. The course and its companion workshop review quantitative reasoning while presenting an introduction to basic descriptive and inferential statistical procedures used in the analysis of data. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process. Corequisite: MA 029W. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (3)

An introduction to basic descriptive and inferential statistical procedures used in the analysis of data. Prerequisites: complete university’s directed self-placement process or a grade of C or better in MA 094 or MA 095; placement into or completion of EN 101. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (3)

This is the first part of a yearlong sequence that integrates the study of precalculus with the study of calculus. This first semester includes a review of functions, including polynomial and rational functions, limits, differentiation of algebraic functions, and applications of differentiation. Graphing calculators are used to explore properties of functions and to facilitate computations. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process or a grade of C or better in MA 095. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (4)

This is the second part of a yearlong sequence that integrates the study of precalculus with the study of calculus. This second semester begins with an introduction to integration and continues to apply the study of differentiation and integration to exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. The course includes a careful look at integration using substitution and integration by parts. Graphing calculators are used to explore properties of functions and to facilitate computations. Completion of this course is equivalent to completion of MA 181. Prerequisite: a grade of C or better in MA 171. (4)

An introduction to single variable calculus. Topics include limits, continuity, derivatives, integrals, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, and applications. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (4)

A continuation of the study begun in Calculus I. Topics include methods of integration, areas and arc length in Cartesian and polar coordinates, volume of surfaces of revolution, improper integrals, and infinite sequences and series. Offered spring semester of even-numbered years only. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process or a grade of C or better in MA 172 or MA 181. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (3)

This course introduces students to mathematical proofs through the topics of discrete mathematics and simultaneously exposes students to careers and opportunities in mathematics. Additionally, there is a focus on written and oral presentation skills for mathematical topics. Offered fall semester only. (3)

An introduction to proof through the study of real vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices, determinants, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors. The course will be proof-based with an emphasis on concepts and logic. The course is offered spring semester of odd-numbered years only. Prerequisites: grade of C or better in MA 172 or MA 181 and MA 210, or instructor permission. (3)

Introduction to probability theory and statistical inference with a focus on applications in life sciences. Includes probability laws, probability distributions, sampling methods, experimental design, descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, types of error, correlation and regression, and analysis of variance. Computer software for statistical computing is used to apply the concepts covered to realistic data sets from the biological and/or social sciences. Offered spring semester only. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (3)

A study of multivariable calculus. Topics include elementary three-dimensional geometry, vectors, vector-valued functions, partial differentiation, multiple integration, and generalizations of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (like the Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals, Green’s theorem, and Stokes’ theorem). Offered spring semester of odd-numbered years only. Prerequisite: a grade of C or better in MA 172 or MA 181, or instructor permission. (4)

Introduces the use of computers in mathematics problem solving, including elementary numerical methods. This course teaches programming fundamentals, including data and algorithm structure, and modular programming. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered years only. Prerequisite: complete university’s directed self-placement process. (3)

An introduction to proof techniques using the many methods of proof that arise in number theory. This course takes a formal look at the properties of the integers and includes topics such as congruencies, quadratic reciprocity, and solution of Diophantine equations. Offered spring semester of even-numbered years only. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in MA 210. (3)

Introduces basic discrete mathematical ideas, many of which were developed in the late 20th century to solve problems in computer science. Topics include elementary logic, Boolean algebras and combinatorial circuits, number systems, sets, counting, elementary probability, and an introduction to graphs and trees. Offered fall semester only. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in a college-level mathematics course, complete university’s directed self-placement process with placement into MA 171 or MA 181, or permission of the instructor. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: MT. (3)

This weekly seminar is intended for mathematics majors and encouraged for mathematics minors. Includes lectures on mathematical topics or careers in mathematics. Students will plan and give at least one large presentation, and they will partner with other students for smaller presentations. The large presentation must be researched using articles supported by MathSciNet investigations. Offered fall semester only. Prerequisite: MA 210 or permission of the instructor. (1)

Introduces techniques for exploring, analyzing, and visualizing data in R. Intended for students who already have some background in probability and statistics and/or scientific computing. Topics include testing hypotheses, bootstrapping, Bayesian methods, and predictive analysis. Students will also learn strategies for dealing with missing or messy data and coping with large data sets. Offered fall semester of even-numbered years only. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in MA 218 or MA 230. (3)

Provides students with a first look at ordinary differential equations that focuses on concepts rather than techniques and equally addresses qualitative, numeric, and analytic approaches to this subject. Students must work intelligently with a computer algebra system to analyze various differential equations and models that arise in the course. Topics include basic modeling, slope fields, bifurcations, some standard forms of differential equations, numerical methods, properties of linear systems, and the analysis of nonlinear systems. Offered fall semester of even-numbered years only. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in MA 172 or MA 181. (3)

Prepares the student to teach mathematics at the secondary level by integrating content mastery with effective pedagogical strategies. Field experience: 20 hours. Prerequisites: ED 200SL, ED 327, and PSY 110. (3)

Students register for an internship with a cooperating employer in the Washington metropolitan area. The experience is monitored by a supervising professor and a representative of the cooperating firm. Students completing requirements for mathematics teaching certification fulfill internship requirements through student teaching. Prerequisite: junior status. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: EXP. (3-6)

This weekly seminar is intended for mathematics majors and encouraged for mathematics minors. Includes lectures on mathematical topics or careers in mathematics. Students will be expected to be a senior partner with other seminar participants preparing smaller investigations and will give a larger presentation explaining an approved mathematical topic from a refereed mathematics journal. Offered fall semester only. Prerequisite: MA 309 or permission of the instructor. (1)

A survey of real-world phenomena that are modeled using mathematical methods. Focuses on the construction, analysis, and critique of mathematical models using a broad range of techniques. Offered spring semester of even numbered years only.
Prerequisite: grade of C or better in MA 218 and MA 325 or permission of the instructor. (3)

An introduction to abstract reasoning in mathematics in the context of algebraic structures such as rings, fields, and groups. Offered fall semester of even-numbered years only. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in MA 215 or MA 257.  (3)

This course is for the independent study of a particular area of mathematics under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite: approval of department chair. (1-3)

An introduction to proof techniques using the many methods of proof that arise in the study of number systems and in continuous mathematics with emphasis on proofs of calculus. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered years only. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in MA 200 and MA 215 or MA 257. (3)

A study of plane geometry based on Euclid’s axioms, both with and without the parallel postulate. Includes formal study of the consequences of these axioms and algebraic models of both Euclidean and non-Euclidean systems. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered years only. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in MA 215 or MA 257. (3)

A student in this course will conduct collaborative research (scholarly work leading to new knowledge) under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisites: application and approval of department chair. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: EXP. (1-6)

This course offers an elective topic of interest for mathematics majors. Topics may be chosen from complex analysis, logic, topology, mathematical modeling, combinatorics, graph theory, and theory of computation. Prerequisites: grade of C or better in MA 200 and MA 210. (3)