| Department of Mathematical Sciences Profile of the Department |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
The department has approximately 20
full-time tenure-track faculty members forming groups in
Algebra, Analysis,
Applied Mathematics (Modeling),
Mathematics Education, Combinatorics
and Optimization and Statistics making
it truly a Department of Mathematical Sciences.
The department offers a Bachelor's Degree with emphases in Pure Math, Applied Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Combinatorics and Optimization, Combined Mathematical Sciences-Computer Science and Statistics. The department offers three graduate degrees: a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics (for high school teachers), a Master of Arts Degree and a Ph.D. Degree with essentially the same emphases as the Bachelor's Degree. The Ph.D. has two options, one requiring a standard research thesis and the other a thesis that can be expository in nature. All of the department's Ph.D.s except two have accepted positions in four year colleges as their first job. Most are still teaching in four year colleges and all have been very successful. The department has strong, active faculty members in all areas of mathematics that it covers. Approximately half of the faculty is currently active on national committees of professional organizations in the Mathematical Sciences, many on several committees. There are approximately 100 undergraduate majors and 35 graduate students in the department. There are several computer labs available on campus. The Math Building has two computer labs with Mathematica, MATLAB, S-Plus and other specialized software. Three five-year multi-million dollar grants from the National Science Foundation are currently funding mathematics curriculum projects for 6-12 within the department. The department typically has 8-10 active seminars going each semester. These seminars provide a substantial portion of the education for our Ph.D. students. An active colloquium series brings speakers to the department from around the country and the world. Nearly half of the faculty members have written college level mathematics textbooks. |
The undergraduate program in the department receives a great deal of attention from the faculty. Nearly all courses from Calculus and up are taught by regular full-time faculty members. Class sizes are kept reasonably small. Faculty members are easily available to undergraduate majors. There is an active student Math Club. Each year several seniors write Senior theses under the guidance of faculty members. Undergraduates can participate in competitions such as the Putnam Exam and the Mathematical Contest in Modeling. Several undergraduates have participated in the Undergraduate Research Programs available at some universities during the summer. Undergraduates have an opportunity to work in the department's developmental mathematics laboratory and the department's computer labs. Students receiving Bachelor's Degrees have become successful high school teachers or worked in industry. Many of the department's graduates continue on to do graduate work at some of the best Mathematics departments in the country; many have completed Ph.D.s in a Mathematical Science. The department emphasizes good teaching at all levels; Teaching Assistants and Part-time Instructors are carefully supervised by faculty members. The department has a strong developmental mathematics program and tutorial laboratory that have been especially helpful for returning non-traditional students and minorities such as American Indians. The department takes very seriously its role as the provider of a wide variety of service courses at many different levels for non-math majors at The University of Montana. |
 |
|