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A photo of Denison's Women's Lacrosse team in uniform with a large Denison flag bearing the Block D Denison Athletics logo celebrates its Sweet Sixteen victory.

Big Red spring sports highlights

June 13, 2025
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About

An overview and description of the Mathematics department at Denison University.

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Mathematics



  • About
    About

    An overview and description of the Mathematics department at Denison University.

    • Applied Mathematics
    • Actuarial Science
  • Degree Requirements
  • Courses
  • Research
  • Honors & Awards
    Honors & Awards

    Scholarships and awards given to students each year in Mathematics at Denison University

    • Pi Mu Epsilon
  • Alumni & Careers
  • Faculty & Staff

Applied Mathematics

Interested in solving problems? Use your mathematics knowledge to impact real-world problems everywhere.

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Why study Math at Denison?

While all math programs will teach students to think clearly and provide a robust foundation of quantitative knowledge and creative problem-solving ability, Denison’s highly resourced mathematics program helps you develop effective thinking and communications skills highly sought after by employers in every field. Our educational approach prepares students well for life after college by promoting mathematical independence and open-ended inquiry.

We offer three majors and two minors: a BA and BS in mathematics, a BS in applied mathematics, and minors in each program. As you think about which path you might choose, we offer an illustration of the difference between mathematics and applied mathematics: Mathematics is ideal for those who enjoy thinking about abstract concepts and theory. Applied mathematics is perfect for those who prefer applying theory in hands-on problem-solving. Regardless of the path you choose, mathematics is an exciting and fundamental part of a liberal arts education. You will gain the capacity to think clearly, search for similar patterns in seemingly different settings, and strive to communicate those patterns with precise logic. These skills translate to many fields of study.

Departmental Guidelines

Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics, a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics, or a minor in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics. You will learn to think abstractly with an emphasis on conceptual understanding, writing proofs, and creating new mathematical models to solve problems. You will learn to use technological tools to enhance conceptual understanding, visualization, and inquiry. In addition, you will learn communication skills, including listening, writing, and presenting. Interactive learning approaches will include group work, exploratory activities, and various projects.

Mathematics majors benefit from:

A highly resourced program: We are able to offer our students access to a vast array of research opportunities, hands-on projects, and technological tools.

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In addition to RStudio, we employ a mobile technology lab, and you will learn an array of technologies, including Mathematica, MatLab, Julia, LaTeX, and advanced knowledge of Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. You will have many opportunities to conduct research throughout your time at Denison. Additionally, through the Gordon Lecture series and Anderson Lecture series, we bring world-renowned speakers to campus, including Art Benjamin, Tim Chartier, Alissa Crans, Deanna Haunsperger, Maria Klawe, Rachel Levy, Larry Sherman, and Amelia Taylor.

Hands-on experience. Mathematics majors at Denison learn to solve the problems that people need to answer in every career field.

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No matter your future career, you will be problem-solving and communicating the results. In mathematics, we work with real-world questions and learn the communications skills to share results effectively.

Through modeling, we translate questions into a powerful computational language that gives insight into real-world problems. Once this is done, predictions can be made and tested and a practical problem-solving strategy can be recommended. We answer questions like: What inventory strategy will maximize profit for a business? How can we predict the spread of an infectious disease? What voting systems are fair? How can we predict the orbit of planets around the sun? Who is the best player in the NBA? We also explore quasicrystals, knot theory, data-driven policing models, and more.

As you can see, our mathematics majors learn to think across multiple disciplines. There is no subject on earth that has not been studied with mathematics. No matter where your interests lie, there is a mathematical research project on that subject waiting for you.

Engaging and interactive courses: Our classroom methods empower students to solve problems by asking questions.

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We approach teaching math differently. We pride ourselves on transforming previously math-adverse students into math-scholars, and our methodologies raise math-confident students to the next level. Instead of a professor standing at the front of a classroom and lecturing endlessly, our brilliant faculty share their wisdom as a part of a question-based exploration, called open-ended inquiry. This method is self-driven and interactive, to empower you to solve problems independently.


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The Mathematics Department prepares our students for their future lives and careers by teaching effective thinking and communications skills in classes that link application and theory, incorporate technological tools, support mathematical independence, and invite open-ended inquiry while working with a diverse group of peers and mentors.

On this page

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Why study Math at Denison?
  • Departmental Guidelines
  • Mathematics majors benefit from:
    • Additional information
    • Additional information
    • Additional information
    • Mission Statement

More in About

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Actuarial Science

Spotlights

Thao Pham ’24
Denison Magazine

Adding it all up

For Thao Pham ’24, the future = math + economics + the next challenge
Rebecca Homan
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Pedagogy perfected

Denison's Teaching Seminar introduces relevant teaching topics, stimulates discussion within the group, and builds community for new faculty members.
Sarah Wolff
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Putting in the work

As math professor Sarah Wolff headed to South Africa as a Fulbright Scholar, she reflected on teaching a topic that many approach with trepidation.
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Matt Iammarino ’18 on becoming the Tennessee Titans’ first analytical researcher.
Winter 2022 cover
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The ON Switch

Conversations with faculty about what it means to teach — and to trigger those amazing moments of illumination
Lucy Anderson ’23
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Lucy Anderson ’23 tells us how to spike a volleyball like a boss.
NFL

Scoring big in the NFL Big Data Bowl

Data Analytics major Jill Reiner hit the big time as one of three winners in the national NFL Data Bowl.
Addie Buzas '20

Addie Buzas ‘20 wins a post-graduation Orr Fellowship

With a potent triple major in math, economics, and Spanish, Addie Buzas ‘20 has won a two-year Orr Fellowship.
Professors Michael Westmoreland (left) and Benjamin Schumacher (right)
How We Learn

Faculty research on thermodynamics breaks new ground

A new framework of thermodynamics could help illuminate our understanding of probability and rewrite quantum theory.
Students together in Olin
How We Learn

Valued Added: Lessons Beyond Calculus and Algorithms

Math and computer science students find that four years in the department have prepared them for life after Denison.
Lew Ludwig, professor of computer science, mathematics, and computational science.
How We Learn

Better Teachers Make Better Students

Lew Ludwig led an effort to create an instructional-practices guide that is helping math professors teach their students more effectively.
Rishi Dani
Where We Go

Rishi Dani ’05 Shares Tips About Careers in Finance

An executive director with CIBC World Markets, Rishi Dani ’05 shares advice about Wall Street and life after Denison.
Excitement, frustration and energy pulsed through the air during the computer science game design class’ mid semester showcase.
How We Learn

Computer science and creative writing make unexpected pair

Excitement, frustration and energy pulsed through the air during the computer science game design class' mid semester showcase.
Group photo
How We Learn

Denison students present at an undergraduate mathematics conference

Department majors presented research at the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women
Students in the classroom
How We Learn

Lending a helping hand halfway across the world

Denison students from math and physics take tutoring to the internet.

What's Happening

What's Happening

Mathematics students discover new career possibilities

Five mathematics students attended a conference for undergraduate women to showcase their work and learn from women in their field.

Read more
In the News

Professor Lew Ludwig takes the plunge on AI in education

“Ignoring AI or banning it was not an option,” says Ludwig, who has shifted from asking “What’s the answer?” to “Why is that the answer?”

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Internships

An internship that keeps going

A successful internship with Owens Corning in the spring semester leads Maya Palmroos ’25 to a yearlong experience with the company.

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