Mathematics Department

“All is number,” proclaimed the Pythagoreans of the 6th century B.C.E. In the 17th century Descartes dreamed of a world unified by mathematics and believed he had seen the future. Today mathematics permeates nearly every aspect of the world, appearing sometimes as a tool and other times as a theoretical science. Thus an appreciation of both the beauty and utility of mathematics is essential to a liberal arts education. The mathematics department facilitates growth in both areas by working with other departments to encourage students’ development of skills needed for study in those departments, and by fostering an appreciation of mathematics for its own sake.

Students begin their study of mathematics at a level based on their interests and experience. For a well-prepared student intending a career requiring math, a typical beginning course of study is MATH 1170/1180: Calculus I and II, MATH 3320: Multivariable and Vector Calculus, and MATH 3550: Foundations of Mathematics. Students entering with a strong background in calculus may, upon consultation with the department, elect to omit MATH 1170 or MATH 1180. MATH 1130: Fundamental Concepts is for students who want exposure to mathematics but plan to take only one course. MATH 1200: Statistics, an introduction to statistics and data analysis, is also an appropriate first course.

The mathematics department occasionally offers courses such as complex variables, number theory, topics in algebra or analysis, and others. Such offerings are dependent upon student need and interest. Students wishing to broaden their study of mathematics are encouraged to consider such courses on a group basis, or as an independent study. Presentations by faculty, students, or campus visitors are emphasized in the Junior/Senior Seminars. Teaching internships and departmental tutoring assignments are available to advanced students.

Faculty

Katharine Adamyk, assistant professor. BS 2014, Mathematics and Psychology, Gordon College; MS 2017, Applied Mathematics, University of Colorado; PhD 2020, Mathematics, University of Colorado. Research Interests: stable homotopy theory, algebraic topology, topological data analysis.

Alexander Wiedemann, assistant professor. BA 2013, Mathematics, Tusculum University, Greeneville, Tennessee; PhD 2019, Mathematics, University of South Carolina, Columbia. Interests: complex systems and network dynamics, discrete mathematics, computational complexity, genomics, opinion dynamics, data science, quantitative methods in public safety and policy.

Programs

Applied Mathematics Major (BS)