Mathematics

In keeping with liberal arts traditions, Clark's mathematics program provides a solid education in mathematical principles for students who wish to apply mathematics in other fields as well as for students who wish to pursue mathematics in graduate school. In addition to the major and minor, the Department provides courses of assistance to students in other majors.

Please visit the links at right under Academic Catalog for additional information on recommended courses for the major, calculus tracks, the honors program and teacher certification. We also invite you to visit the First Year Research Group in Mathematics.

Mathematics Placement Test

All students who intend to take mathematics courses or who need to satisfy the University’s mathematics proficiency requirement (with the exception of students with advanced-placement credit in calculus) must take the mathematics placement test given during orientation and preregistration. Based on placement test scores, some students will be required to pass IDND017 Foundations of Quantitative Thinking, offered through COPACE before they enroll in a formal analysis course. Other students, who place at levels ranging from precalculus through MATH124, must begin in a course corresponding to their placement test scores. This course must not be higher or lower than the test score indicates. Students may challenge their placement by taking backup placement tests.

You can take the on-line Mathematics Placement Test anytime. It is located on the Blackboard system here at Clark at http://echalk.clarku.edu/. You'll need to log in on Blackboard with your username and password, then access the Math Placement course.

After you've logged in on Blackboard, click on the "courses" tab on the header line of the webpage, between the "ClarkBoard" and "Goddard Library" tabs. On the "Course Catalog" page, click on "Math Placement Test". You should see the link to the "Math Placement" course along with two buttons off to the right labelled "preview" and "enroll." If you're not sure yet whether you will be taking the test or not, press "preview," but if you know you're going to take it, press "enroll." When you're just previewing, you can read through the information about the test, but you can't actually take the test until you enroll.

The Major

The mathematics major, built around a core of fundamental courses, is best started early with Calculus (Math 120-121 or Math 124-125); in the first year. Advanced electives provide some flexibility and allow students to tailor the major to their needs. Following the description of the requirements are suggestions for concentrations in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and actuarial science.

Department faculty are eager to help students select courses. If a major has not been declared earlier, it must be declared by the end of the sophomore year. Students should choose an academic advisor from the department faculty as early as possible, and in any case by the end of the sophomore year. (Entering students enrolled in First-Year Seminars in programs outside mathematics, computer science, or the natural sciences are especially encouraged to make a prompt choice of an unofficial secondary advisor in the Mathematics Department, who will be able to supplement the advice offered by their primary advisor.)

Suggested Specializations in Mathematics

Pure mathematics is the study of mathematics as an end in itself. Many students are originally attracted to mathematics because of its powerful applications, but a taste for pure mathematics often develops after studying the subject. Students planning to study mathematics in graduate school should consider programs in either pure or applied mathematics.

Applied mathematics is the study of mathematics as applied to the natural or social sciences. The heart of the field is modeling--translating aspects of natural or social phenomena into mathematical objects that can be studied with such mathematical tools as differential equations, linear systems, and stochastic processes.

Actuarial science is the study of finance and insurance. Study in this field requires a grounding in mathematics and statistics and an understanding of economics and business management.

Please consult the Academic Catalog link to the major for recommended courses for these specialties.

The Minor

The mathematics minor consists of the following: The total number of courses is six or seven, depending on student's choice of calculus sequence. (Reading courses and internships are accepted only with departmental approval.) The two elective courses depend on the student's interest. For instance, a student interested in the physical sciences could take Math 172 (Introduction to Modern Analysis) and Math 244 (Differential Equations), while Math 217-218 (Probability and Statistics and Topics in Statistics) might be more appropriate for social sciences. See the department for further suggestions.

Combining Mathematics with Other Interests

The Master of Arts in Teaching offered through Clark's Jacob Hiatt School for Urban Education is an opportunity for students who plan to teach mathematics. Eligible students have the option to continue their studies in the fifth-year tuition-free program toward the M.A.T. degree. There are numerous opportunities to volunteer in the local schools.

Fifth-year tuition-free M.B.A. and M.S.F. programs (for eligible students) are especially popular with mathematics majors.

Mathematics Services

The mathematics department offers courses to help students using mathematics as a tool for studying other areas; see MATH113: Mathematical Problem Solving and MATH217-218: Probability and Statistics, and Topics in Statistics. Outside the department, COPACE offers IDND017: Foundations of Quantitative Thinking.