PDF version - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
PDF version - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
PDF version - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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Mathematics and Statistics<br />
Kevin Dennis, Ph.D., Chair<br />
The focus <strong>of</strong> the department <strong>of</strong> mathematics and statistics is to create an environment for the<br />
appreciation and understanding <strong>of</strong> two important branches <strong>of</strong> knowledge in the liberal arts:<br />
mathematics and statistics.<br />
Specifically, it provides students guided opportunities to develop powers <strong>of</strong> logical thought and<br />
critical analysis together with an orientation for mathematical and statistical modeling in applications.<br />
Culturally, the department aims to demonstrate the precision, beauty, and power <strong>of</strong> mathematics<br />
and statistics, their systematic organization, symbolic clarity and exact reasoning, and their capacity<br />
for yielding generalizations and predictions from data submitted to mathematical and statistical laws.<br />
Departmental courses are designed to provide an appropriate mathematical or statistical experience for<br />
students whether they are majoring in the department, taking courses to complement another major,<br />
or taking courses in the general education program.<br />
General Department Goals<br />
The overarching goals <strong>of</strong> the department are to help students to:<br />
• Communicate about and with mathematics and statistics in oral and written formats;<br />
• Understand and use mathematical and statistical theory and techniques to analyze and solve<br />
problems; and<br />
• Translate real-world problems into mathematical situations and then apply mathematics and/or<br />
statistics to solve the problems.<br />
As part <strong>of</strong> the university advising program, the department makes recommendations for each first-year<br />
student concerning the preparatory mathematics and statistics courses they are required/qualified to<br />
take. These recommendations are based on the ACT subscore in mathematics and/or the department<br />
placement tests. Placement tests are <strong>of</strong>fered to incoming freshmen during the summer orientation<br />
sessions. They may also be taken at almost any time by arrangement with the department chair.<br />
Students who have a high school background in calculus are encouraged to apply for credit through<br />
advanced standing. A sufficiently high score on the national advanced placement (AP) College Entrance<br />
Examination, the CLEP Calculus Test, or the <strong>Saint</strong> <strong>Mary's</strong> <strong>University</strong> Advanced Placement Calculus Test is<br />
required. Advanced placement information is available from the department chair.<br />
There is an active student-operated Mathematics and Statistics Club, which freshmen through seniors<br />
are welcome to join. In addition, the department has its own chapter, <strong>Minnesota</strong> Zeta, <strong>of</strong> the national<br />
honorary mathematics society, Pi Mu Epsilon, to which qualified sophomores, juniors, and seniors may<br />
earn membership.<br />
Besides the mathematics major, the department also <strong>of</strong>fers a secondary mathematics education major<br />
and a mathematics endorsement for the elementary education major. Both are designed to deepen the<br />
student’s mathematical knowledge and prepare her or him to be a stronger mathematics teacher. See<br />
the education section in this catalog for more information.<br />
Majors Offered:<br />
Mathematics<br />
Mathematics Education<br />
Minors Offered:<br />
Mathematics<br />
Statistics<br />
The mathematics and statistics department also supports and staffs the scientific computing minor.<br />
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