Mathematics and Computer Science
- Professor Coulliette, Chair
- Associate Professors Lee, Roller, Searls
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Asbury College has a strong commitment to a program of quality. The curriculum offers the student both depth and breadth of mathematics and application content, and a variety of introductory computer science courses. Three majors and three minors are available.
1. The COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS MAJOR prepares the student to enter a career in industry, government, or business immediately upon graduation or to enter graduate school in computational science, or related areas of applied mathematics such as statistics, management science, operations research, actuarial science or computational biology. This major couples a strong emphasis on applied mathematics with the computational and programming skills necessary to solve practical problems. These skills are in high demand in the private sector and in government employment. The Computational Mathematics major is designed to allow the student flexibility in choosing a minor area of study as an application of the computational and mathematical skills learned in Department courses. Suggested minors range from the sciences (physics, chemistry, computer science or biology) to business management to art/media communications.
2. The MATHEMATICS MAJOR prepares the student for graduate study in mathematics, mathematical physics, or a related area that relies heavily upon theoretical mathematics. Eventual employment opportunities for persons with this background include teaching and research at the college or university level or being a member of a research team in government or industry. The Department has a rich history of graduates who have been successful in graduate school and subsequent academic and research careers.
3. The program content of the MATHEMATICS GRADES 8-12 MAJOR follows the recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Mathematical Association of America and meets teacher certification requirements in most states. Teachers of mathematics in both public and private middle and high schools are very much in high demand.
4. In recent years, the need for additional analytical and technical skills in financial and risk analysis has grown significantly. The technical nature of modern financial and economic analysis requires a student with a strong mathematical and computational background in addition to strong skills in business and economics. The FINANCIAL MATHEMATICS MAJOR is designed to provide the student with these skills. The marketplace is also demanding this new combination of skills. Alumni and friends of Asbury College have advised that the need for technically savvy analysts is large and growing. Professional opportunities for actuaries, a prototype occupation for financial mathematics, are always near the top of employment projections. The continued spread of free-market economies, furthermore, increases the potential for these graduates to have international impact in an environment that seeks those who have a worldview shaped by the classical liberal arts and complemented by cutting-edge financial analysis.
Engineering
Asbury College has contracted a 3 - 2 Dual Degree Program in Engineering in cooperation with the University of Kentucky. A student enrolling in this program would take courses at Asbury for three years. While this is intended as a 3-2 program, some students find it necessary to extend their studies over 6 years. Engineering courses (leading to one of seven possible engineering degrees) would be taken primarily the fourth and fifth years on the UK campus. The student would receive a B.A. in Physical Science (a major offered only to students in this program) from Asbury College upon satisfactory completion of the fourth year. At the end of the fifth year, the student would receive a B.S. in one of seven engineering fields from UK. These fields include: agricultural, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and mining engineering, and materials science and engineering. A minimum GPA of 2.5 must be maintained to participate in these programs. In some cases an engineering program has a higher GPA requirement. Please consult the department chair for more information.
COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS (51 hour major + general education + electives)
CSC 121, 122; MAT 181, 182, 241, 252, 271, 281, 351, 352, 442, 475, 482; PHY 211, 212.
FINANCIAL MATHEMATICS (50 or 54 hour major + general education + electives)
CSC 121, 122; MAT 181, 182, 252, 271, 281, 474; ECN 272, 273, 372, 472
Choose one area of concentration:
A. ACTUARIAL SCIENCE: MAT 351; BM 311; and 6 hours from: BM 321, 331, 361, 451, 452, MAT 352
B. INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS: MAT 241, 435 (1); ECN 471, 473; and 6 hours from: MAT 351, 352, 481; BM 321, 451, 452
MATHEMATICS (54 hour major + general education + electives)
CSC 121, 122; MAT 181, 182, 241, 252, 271, 351, 352, 471, 472, 475, 481, 482; PHY 211, 212.
MATHEMATICS GRADES 8-12 (72-73 hour major + general education + electives)
CSC 113 or 121, ED 200, 210, 220, 240, 320, 385, 405, 410, 420, 470; MAT 152, 181, 182, 232 or 281, 241, 271, 342, 362, 462; MAT 371 or 471.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE (78 hour major + general education + electives)
CHE 121, 122; CSC 112; MAT 181, 182, 252, 271, 351, 352; PHY 211, 212; SOC 100; PSY 100; MIS 330, SPN 322, HIS 351, or HIS 352; 4th year at the University of Kentucky--27 hours in chosen engineering major, with 18 at 200 level or above. (Requires a 2.50 cumulative grade point average.)
MATHEMATICS (21 hour minor)
MAT 152, 181, 182, 252, 271, 475, plus 3 hours MAT 200 or above.
MATHEMATICS MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION (26 hour minor)
Track A: MAT 162, 261, 262, 371; 12 hours from CSC 113, 121, MAT 152, 181, 232, 241, 271, 342, 362, 462.
Track B: MAT 152, 232, 362, 462, 371; 8 hours from CSC 113, 121, MAT 262, 181, 241, 271, 342.