Mathematical Sciences
D. Rutherford, Chairperson
bsu.edu/math
By focusing on strong analytical and quantitative skills, the mathematical sciences programs prepare students for professional positions in a variety of areas. The department offers programs in actuarial science, mathematics, and mathematics teaching. The department minor in mathematics is open only to non-departmental majors. The minor in foundations of business for actuarial science and mathematics majors is open only to departmental majors.
The major in actuarial science provides students with the mathematics and business education necessary to enter the actuarial profession and prepares students for the professional actuarial exams. Actuaries apply the theory of probability and statistics along with the principles of finance to analyze and solve problems in insurance, pension plans, social security issues, and related fields.
The mathematical sciences major offers student's concentrations for specialization in four areas: mathematics, applied mathematics, middle school mathematics teaching, and secondary mathematics teaching.
The mathematics and applied mathematics concentrations prepare students for professional positions in business, industry, and government, as well as graduate work in mathematics or related fields, including engineering, law, or medicine.
The mathematics teaching concentrations satisfy state licensure requirements for students preparing to teach mathematics in junior high/middle school and high school. Students can choose to focus on middle school or secondary school mathematics. Additionally, elementary education majors may choose mathematics as their area of concentration. Elementary education majors may also earn additional licensure to teach mathematics in junior high/middle school.
Unless otherwise noted, all students enrolling in courses in the Department of Mathematical Sciences are expected to have completed at least three years of college preparatory mathematics in high school, including two years of algebra and one year of geometry. To begin all programs (except for the concentration in mathematics for elementary education majors), it is expected that students will have completed high school mathematics courses equivalent to the prerequisite for Calculus 1 (MATH 165).
For majors or minors in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, a grade of C- or better must be earned in each course serving as a prerequisite for other courses applied to meet program requirements and a grade of C or better must be earned for each professional education course. For graduation, a grade-point average of at least 2.5 is required in a major or minor program.