Mathematics
Andrew T. Parker, Professor
Drew V. Shotwell, Instructor
Mathematics is a deductive science which studies pattern and structure with ideas grounded in numbers and shapes. The Mathematics Department at Principia College offers programs that lead to a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and a minor in mathematics. The department also supports other departmental programs requiring mathematical training through various service courses.
The Mathematics major is flexible enough to support graduate study and careers in pure or applied mathematics or in industries such as finance, engineering, technology, education, etc., in both private and government sectors.
Mathematics majors must complete a core of required mathematics courses with a 2.000 grade point average or higher. This core consists of:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 181 | Calculus I | 4.0 |
| MATH 182 | Calculus II | 4.0 |
| MATH 273 | Linear Algebra | 3.0 |
| MATH 283 | Multivariable Calculus | 4.0 |
A course which provides explicit instruction in proof techniques and mathematical writing is required, ideally before advanced mathematics electives are taken. Additionally, at least two courses must be selected from a list of four topics which form the foundation for graduate study and many of the significant applications of mathematics: abstract algebra, real analysis, complex analysis, and topology. Four free electives round out the mathematical content of the major. A capstone course provides an opportunity to practice writing in a mathematical style via a research paper and presentation on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor. Additional required courses outside the department include a programming course and two Center wide courses: CBCS 210 Responsible Business and Tech (1.0 SH), and CBCS 240 Technology and Innovation (3.0 SH).
Matching elective courses (both foundational and free electives) to your career and education goals should be done in consultation with an advisor. Graduate study in mathematics -- which can lead to rapid advancement in many career fields -- is best supported by pure mathematics courses. Recommended elective courses in pure mathematics include: MATH 370 General Topology; MATH 374 Algebraic Structures; and MATH 432 Real Analysis. Applied mathematics courses support careers in areas of applications such as finance, engineering, and technology fields. Recommended applied mathematics electives include: MATH 355 Applied Advanced Calculus; MATH 360 Numerical Analysis; MATH 364 Mathematical Statistics; and MATH 431 Complex Variables. It should be understood, however, that the lines between pure and applied mathematics courses are not always clearly drawn; an applied mathematician will do well with the background provided in a course such as MATH 374 Algebraic Structures which forms the basis for many profound technological advances. Likewise, a student pursuing a graduate degree in a pure mathematics field may improve their standing with MATH 431 Complex Variables under their belt.
Independent study courses in areas such as combinatorics or cryptography can be arranged with the mathematics faculty.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the foundational elements of undergraduate mathematics such as geometry, analysis, algebra, and logic.
- Students can solve problems appropriate for an undergraduate mathematics program.
- Students can synthesize proofs of theorems appropriate for an undergraduate mathematics program.
College Wide Student Learning Outcomes of Principia College: Defining a Liberal Arts Education
The curricular and co-curricular programs at Principia College are designed for students to be lifelong learners, thinkers, and problem-solvers. To accomplish this, the College has established the following outcomes for its graduates.
Guided by Principle, Principia College students will demonstrate:
- Depth and breadth of knowledge
- Critical and creative thinking
- Effective communication
- Intellectual inquiry and engagement
- Active commitment to community and global citizenship
MATH 099 Basic Math Tutorial 0.0 SH [ ]
A two-hour-per-week, non-credit guided tutorial for students needing review of arithmetic.
MATH 110 Mathematical Applications 3.0 SH <GEM>[GEQR]
Applications of elementary mathematics in the fields of finance, economics, statistics, physical and life sciences, and business. Mathematical topics may include probability, decision trees, combinatorics, statistics, systems of linear equations, quadratic equations, population growth models, exponential decay, sequences and series, simple and compound interest investments, voting systems, basic trigonometry, laws of sines and cosines, astronomical models, and apportionment methods.
Prerequisite: Success in this course depends upon students having successfully completed the equivalent of two years of high school algebra and one year of high school geometry with grades of C or above.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
MATH 111 A Survey of Mathematics 3.0 SH <GEM>[GEQR]
A conceptual and historical overview of mathematics. A survey of selected topics such as: what mathematics is; numeration; elementary number theory; math and music; geometry and art; loans and payment plans; numbers, equations, and graphs; counting and probability; statistics; and geometric modeling. Intended for non-science majors.
Prerequisite: Success in this course depends upon students having successfully completed the equivalent of two years of high school algebra and one year of high school geometry with grades C or above.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
MATH 140 Trigonometry 3.0 SH <GEM>[ ]
Geometry review, angle measures, trigonometric functions - properties and graphs, trigonometric identities, inverse functions, trigonometric equations, solving general triangles. Possible additional topics: polar coordinates, spherical trigonometry, and hyperbolic trigonometry.
Prerequisite: High School Geometry and Intermediate Algebra. Success in this course depends upon students having completed a high school second-year algebra course and a high school geometry course with a grade of C or above.
MATH 141 College Algebra 3.0 SH <GEM>[ ]
Topics include the theory of solving polynomial equations; solving simultaneous linear equations; graphs and properties of polynomial functions, rational functions, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, and conic sections; and mathematical induction and the general binomial expansion.
Prerequisite: Success in this course depends upon students having successfully completed the equivalent of two years of high school algebra and one year of high school geometry with grades of C or above.
MATH 143 Precalculus 4.0 SH <GEM>[ ]
Investigates properties of functions, techniques for solving equations and inequalities and graphing. Emphasizes polynomial, rational, algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, and circular functions as well as conic sections and trigonometry.
Prerequisite: Success in this course depends upon students having successfully completed the equivalent of two years of high school algebra and one year of high school geometry with grades of C or above.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
MATH 164 Introduction to Statistics 3.0 SH <GEM>[GEQR]
Descriptive and inferential statistics established on principles of probability. Rules of probability; discrete and continuous random variables and common probability distributions; the Central Limit Theorem; estimation of central tendency and dispersion; hypothesis tests; linear regression and correlation. Applications drawn from a wide range of disciplines and industries.
Prerequisite: Success in this course depends upon students having successfully completed the equivalent of two years of high school algebra and one year of high school geometry with grades of C or above.
MATH 181 Calculus I 4.0 SH <GEM>[ ]
First semester of single-variable calculus. Includes a review of properties of elementary functions, limits, derivatives, applications of derivatives, continuity, the definite integral, basic antiderivative formulas, the Mean Value Theorem, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
Prerequisite: MATH 143.
MATH 182 Calculus II 4.0 SH <GEM>[ ]
Second semester of single-variable calculus. Includes a review of Calculus I, techniques of integration, applications of the definite integral, an introduction to differential equations, parametric equations, polar coordinates, and the theory of infinite sequences and series, including tests for convergence and Taylor Series.
Prerequisite: MATH 181.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
MATH 190 Topics in Mathematics 1.0-3.0 SH [ ]
In this course we will be thinking outside the traditional boundaries of the science of mathematics to discover new trends in mathematical thought, new applications, new pedagogies, and/or new partnerships with other disciplines. Title will be extended to describe the current topic. May be taken four times provided topics differ.
MATH 211 History of Mathematics 2.0 SH [ ]
A concise history of mathematics. Includes topics from mathematics in early civilizations, Greek mathematics from classical, first Alexandrian, and second Alexandrian periods, Hindu and Arabic contributions, European Renaissance, the calculus controversy, non-Euclidean geometry, the rise of analysis, Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem, and the loss of certainty.
Prerequisite: MATH 181 or taken concurrently.
MATH 220 Mathematical Proofs 2.0 SH [ ]
Investigates the nature and structure of mathematical proofs found in calculus, algebra, and geometry. Includes set theoretic foundations, the rules of propositional logic, the principle of mathematical induction, and the nature of deductive reasoning. Analyzes various proofs from geometry, algebra, and calculus as well as provides students with practice in constructing such proofs.
Prerequisite: MATH 182.
MATH 261 Discrete Math 3.0 SH <GEM>[ ]
Nature of proof, sets, graph theory, logic, Boolean algebra, functions and relations.
Prerequisite: MATH 143.
MATH 263 Multivar. Calculus for AIDA 2.0 SH [ ]
Advanced calculus concepts for AI and Data Science, including multivariate derivatives and integrals, vectors, and gradients.
Prerequisite: MATH 181.
MATH 273 Linear Algebra 3.0 SH [ ]
Vector and matrix operations; systems of linear equations; determinants; vector spaces; linear transformations; inner product spaces; bases; eigenvalues; diagonalization. Additional topics and applications as time allows.
Prerequisite: Strongly recommend MATH 181.
MATH 283 Multivariable Calculus 4.0 SH [ ]
Includes vector algebra and coordinate geometry in two and three dimensions, partial differentiation, directional derivatives, slope fields, multiple integration and applications, line and surface integrals, Lagrange multipliers, vector calculus including Green's, Divergence, and Stokes' theorems.
Prerequisite: MATH 182.
MATH 284 Differential Equations 3.0 SH [ ]
Linear differential equations; Laplace transform methods; series solutions; systems; numerical solutions; applications.
Prerequisite: MATH 182. Recommended: MATH 283.
MATH 290 Intermediate Topics in Math 3.0 SH [ ]
Title will be extended to describe the current topic. May be taken four times provided topics differ.
MATH 304 Synthetic Geometry 3.0 SH [ ]
An axiomatic development of Euclidean geometry using Hilbert's axioms; hyperbolic geometry and its models; a comparison of Euclidean, spherical, and hyperbolic trigonometry; may include an introduction to projective geometry.
Prerequisite: MATH 220 and MATH 273.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
MATH 320 Elementary Number Theory 3.0 SH [ ]
Divisibility theory of integers, primes and their distribution, theory of congruences, Fermat's "Little Theorem," Euler's phi function, quadratic reciprocity, perfect numbers and Mersenne primes, Fermat's "Last Theorem."
Prerequisite: Strongly recommend MATH 220.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
MATH 355 Applied Advanced Calculus 3.0 SH [ ]
Vector differential calculus, vector integral theorems, curvilinear coordinates. Fourier analysis: Fourier series, integrals, and transforms; orthogonal functions; applications in boundary value problems. Additional topics as time allows.
Prerequisite: MATH 283.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
MATH 360 Numerical Analysis 3.0 SH [ ]
Theory and techniques for calculating numerical solutions to nonlinear problems. Root-finding; interpolation; approximation of functions and derivatives; numerical integration; applications. Error analysis emphasized throughout. Some prior programming experience is helpful but not assumed.
Prerequisite: MATH 273 and MATH 283.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
MATH 364 Mathematical Statistics 3.0 SH [ ]
Calculus-based probability and statistics. Probability axioms and theorems; random variables; probability distributions; moments; moment generating functions; sampling distributions; Central Limit Theorem; estimation and hypothesis testing; correlation; linear and nonlinear regression; ANOVA.
Prerequisite: MATH 263 or MATH 283.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
MATH 366 Math of AI and Data Science 3.0 SH [ ]
Theory and application of mathematics underlying AI and Data Science, including high-dimensional spaces, information theory, gradient descent, calculus of variations, function approximators, and random linear algebra.
Prerequisite: MATH 263 and MATH 273.
MATH 370 General Topology 3.0 SH [ ]
Introductory point-set topology. Topological spaces, open and closed sets, bases, interior, closure, limit points and boundary of subsets, metric spaces, continuous functions, homeomorphisms, connectedness and compactness, as well as some applications.
Prerequisite: MATH 182 and MATH 220.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
MATH 374 Algebraic Structures 3.0 SH [ ]
Group theory, Boolean algebra, rings, integral domains and fields.
Prerequisite: MATH 220 and MATH 273.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
MATH 415 Senior Capstone 3.0 SH [ ]
Synthesizes and extends material from courses in the major using topics such as integration, linearity, optimization, periodicity, orthogonality, and expansions. Open only to mathematics majors.
Class Level Restriction: Senior only.
Field of Study Restrictions: Mathematics BS Majors only.
MATH 421 Math Seminar 1.0-3.0 SH [ ]
A seminar in selected topics in mathematics. The contents will vary, and the title will be extended to describe the current topic. May be taken more than once provided the topics differ.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
MATH 431 Complex Variables 3.0 SH [ ]
Analytical functions, Cauchy's theorem, Taylor and Laurent series, residues, contour integration, integral transforms, conformal mapping.
Prerequisite: MATH 283.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
