Degree Requirements

Mathematics Majors

The CORE courses consist of:

Bachelor of Arts Degree

The minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics are the six CORE courses plus four courses; two foundation courses and two modeling courses.

The FOUNDATION courses focus on teaching abstract reasoning and the reading, creation, and writing of rigorous proofs in the study of the foundational structures of mathematics.

The MODELING courses, while not devoid of proofs, include a significant study of how mathematical techniques can be used to model and analyze real-world problems.

Bachelor of Science Degree

The minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics are:

Students majoring in Math may take up to two cross-listed math or computer science courses to count as requirements in the intended major.  These cross-listed courses typically satisfy electives in the major.

Mathematics Minor

The minimum requirements for a mathematics minor are:

Computational Science Concentration

Computational Science is the field of study concerned with constructing mathematical models and numerical solution techniques and using computer algorithms and simulation to analyze and solve scientific, social scientific, and engineering problems.

The Computational Science concentration consists of four core courses:

In addition, students must take a two-semester sequence of courses in a department other than Mathematics or Computer Science. A written plan for completing the concentration must be approved by the Department of Mathematics or the Department of Computer Science before the end of the student’s junior year of study and prior to enrollment in the elective courses.  In particular, the elective courses and cognate requirements specified above must be chosen consistently with a valid educational plan for the study of Computational Science (as defined above). Any mathematics major who wishes to complete this concentration must choose non-math courses as their elective courses.  Any computer science major who wishes to complete this concentration must choose non-computer science courses for their elective courses.  A double Mathematics and Computer Science major is not eligible for this concentration.

Additional Points of Interest

Research at Denison

Denison offers a number of research opportunities, including funding for summer research projects.  The Anderson Foundation and the Denison University Research Foundation (DURF) support qualified students conducting summer research.  For off-campus research opportunities in Mathematics, see the various National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates experiences.  Interested students should consult a faculty member as early as possible in the fall semester.

Off-Campus Study

The Department of Mathematics strongly encourages students to globalize their education by completing some portion of their undergraduate education abroad. A majority of Denison students who spend a semester abroad do so during their junior year and many more spend a second summer abroad. Denison offers a wide range of opportunities to study off-campus that are highly relevant to the Denison experience.

Going abroad allows students to enhance their knowledge while experiencing another culture and way of life. Students gain valuable international experience that will benefit future career goals and/or graduate school opportunities. Math majors who are fluent in another language will have special advantages in the job market.

Students may take up to two classes outside the department to transfer towards the major at Denison.  Additional courses taken outside Denison may accrue credit hours towards graduation, but will not contribute to requirements in the major.  Courses taken outside the university must be pre-approved for acceptance towards major requirements.  Students should provide the department chair syllabi for the intended courses for department approval.  Students may petition the department chair for exceptions to this policy.  In particular, transfer students may be eligible to transfer additional courses towards major requirements.