Mathematics

J. Alan Alewine, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mathematics;

jaalewine@mckendree.edu; (618) 537-6096; Voigt Science Hall 115

 
Linda Lawton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Dennis Ryan, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics; Associate Dean of the College; dryan@mckendree.edu; (618) 537-6926, Wildy Hall 3rd Floor; (618) 537-6937, Voigt Science Hall 119

An undergraduate degree in mathematics prepares a student for a wide variety of career opportunities. Besides pursuing graduate degrees or teaching, graduates may be employed by government agencies and private industries. Moreover, an increasing number of employers are hiring mathematics majors for careers not usually considered mathematical because the problem solving skills developed by the mathematics student can be applied to other areas.

The mathematics major may seek a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in the general or secondary education track, or a Bachelor of Science degree with a finance/actuary concentration. For the Bachelor of Arts degree, the student must complete the mathematics, computer and/or economics courses listed below. For the Bachelor of Science degree, the student must satisfy these same requirements and must, in addition, complete either four science courses from two science areas, or a sequence of business courses. The student must complete all major requirement courses with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.25 and with no grade lower than C-. No course, including support courses, taken to satisfy a major requirement or number of hours requirements may be taken using the Pass/C-/D/Fail grading option.
 

The general concentration is designed for students interested in mathematics for graduate school or computing (with computer science as a second major).
 

Students seeking secondary school certification should pursue the secondary education track and, in addition, complete the general and professional education components. These are listed in the section entitled “Initial Secondary Certificate” in the Courses of Study section of this catalog under Education. If student teaching conflicts with one of the required mathematics courses, another course may be substituted with approval of the student’s advisor and the Provost. The education track is specifically designed to meet both the requirements of the State of Illinois and the standards set by the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), in conjunction with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
 

Students interested in mathematical finance, or in taking actuarial exams, should pursue the finance/actuary track. Students have the option of either a senior seminar or an internship as a capstone experience. Upon finishing the track, a graduate should be prepared to immediately seek employment with a variety of companies and/or to take the first three actuarial exams.
 

To obtain a minor in mathematics, the student must complete MTH 210, 211, 213, and an additional six credits in mathematics from courses numbered 300 or higher, excluding MTH 310. The same requirement regarding minimum cumulative grade point average and the Pass/C-/D/Fail grading option which applies to the major applies to the minor. 
 

Planning Sheets:

2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-06


General track                                                                        42-44 crs.
MTH 210
MTH 211
MTH 213
MTH 300
MTH 360
MTH 391
MTH 392
MTH 393
MTH 490
CIS 130
CIS 230
CALCULUS I   
CALCULUS II  
VECTOR FUNCTIONS AND MATRICES
  
SET THEORY  
LINEAR ALGEBRA   
MULTIVARIATE CALCULUS
 
INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS 
MODERN ALGEBRA I
   
SEMINAR IN MATHEMATICS  
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING I
   
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING II
(4)
(4)
(4)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(1-3)
(4)
(4)
 
Two additional courses selected from:

MTH 301
MTH 330
MTH 340
MTH 341
MTH 350
MTH 366
MTH 370
MTH 375
MTH 394
COLLEGE GEOMETRY            
COMPLEX ANALYSIS
                  
PROBABILITY AND MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS I
      
PROBABILITY AND MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS II       
INTRODUCTION TO ACTUARIAL MODELS        
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS             
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
      
DISCRETE STRUCTURES
     
MODERN ALGEBRA II   
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

Recommended elective:

 

 

PHI 204 LOGIC (4)

BACHELOR OF ARTS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:


Secondary Education Track                                                    41-43 crs.


 

MTH 210
MTH 211
MTH 214
MTH 300
MTH 301
MTH 340
MTH 370
MTH 375
MTH 391
MTH 393
MTH 490
CSI 130
MTH 210         CALCULUS I     
MTH 211         CALCULUS II
       
MTH 213         VECTOR FUNCTIONS AND MATRICES       
MTH 300         SET THEORY                    
MTH 301         COLLEGE GEOMETRY
        
MTH 340         PROBABILITY AND MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS I
  
MTH 370         DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND MODELING
      
MTH 375         DISCRETE STRUCTURES          
MTH 391         MULTIVARIATE CALCULUS
          
MTH 393         MODERN ALGEBRA I
            
MTH 490         SEMINAR IN MATHEMATICS
            
CSI 130           INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING I   
(4)
(4)
(4)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(1-3)
(4)

Two additional courses selected from:


 
MTH 330
MTH 341
MTH 350
MTH 360
MTH 366
MTH 392
MTH 394
COMPLEX ANALYSIS   
PROBABILITY AND MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS II     
INTRODUCTION TO ACTUARIAL MODELS     
LINEAR ALGEBRA
      
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS     
INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS
   
MODERN ALGEBRA II  
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

 

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:


Finance/Actuary Track                                                        56-60 crs.

 

MTH 210
MTH 211
MTH 213
MTH 300
MTH 340
MTH 341
MTH 350
MTH 391
MTH 470
or
MTH 490
CSI 130
 CALCULUS I        
CALCULUS II
          
VECTOR FUNCTIONS AND MATRICES
            
SET THEORY
              
PROBABILITY AND MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS I
    
PROBABILITY AND MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS I I    
INTRODUCTION TO ACTUARIAL MODELS      
MULTIVARIATE CALCULUS
         
INTERNSHIP IN MATHEMATICS
    

SEMINAR IN MATHEMATICS       
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING I  
(4)
(4)
(4)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(1-3)
(3)

Supplementary requirements                                                 20 crs.


ACC 261
ACC 262
ECO 211
ECO 212
FIN 308
ECO 309 
PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING I        
PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING II
      
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS    
PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS   
PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS FINANCE
  
MONEY AND BANKING 
(4)
(4)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

Recommended Elective


CSI 230 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING II    3)

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS                52-60 crs.


Same as above for Bachelor of Arts with one of the following two options
in addition:

1. Four science courses from at least two of the following sciences: biology, chemistry (except CHE 100 and CHE 101) and physics (except PHY 101).

2. Four business courses including ACC 261, ECO 211,

but not including BUS 310

MTH 105         INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA       (3)

This course is for students who have had no more than one year of high school algebra or who have not had mathematics for some time. The course consists of a review of elementary algebra and additional work in linear and quadratic equations, factoring, exponents, polynomials, graphing and linear systems. Students may not apply credit for both MTH 105 and MTH 111 toward fulfillment of the core curriculum requirements. Each semester.

MTH 111         MATHEMATICS FOR EDUCATORS       (3)

Elementary topics and fundamental concepts studied from a modern point of view. Real number system developed carefully. This course is designed to be a review for the Illinois Basic Skills Test required for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Each semester.

MTH 131         COLLEGE ALGEBRA       (3)

A course beginning with the fundamentals of the real numbers and sets which are used to develop a logical system of algebra including the study of linear equations, radicals, quadratic equations, inequalities, permutations and probability. Prerequisites: One and one-half units of entrance algebra and one unit of geometry or MTH 105 or consent of instructor. Each semester.

MTH 132         TRIGONOMETRY       (3)

Study of trigonometric functions, identities, addition formulas, solution of triangles, inverse functions, logarithms. May be taken the same term as MTH 131. Prerequisite: MTH 131 or consent of instructor. Each semester.

MTH 142         FINITE MATHEMATICS       (3)

Introduction to elementary combinatorial mathematics. Topics to be discussed include logic, sets, relations and functions, number systems, matrices, finite probability, mathematics of computer computation, and linear programming. Prerequisites: One and one half units of algebra and one unit of geometry or MTH 105 or consent of the instructor. Each semester.

MTH 210         CALCULUS I       (4)

Study of the calculus of single variable algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions culminating in the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Prerequisite: MTH 132 or consent of the instructor. Each semester.

MTH 211         CALCULUS II       (4)

Techniques of integration, applications of integration, parametric equations, polar coordinates, and infinite sequences and series. Prerequisite: MTH 210. Each semester.

MTH 213         VECTOR FUNCTIONS AND MATRICES       (4)

A study of the calculus of vector functions and elementary matrix algebra. Prerequisite: MTH 211. Annually, Fall.

MTH 220         SURVEY OF CALCULUS       (3)

An introductory survey of the essential ideas of calculus. Topics are drawn from the differential, integral, and multivariate calculus. Historical considerations are discussed as appropriate. This course is appropriate for elementary education majors concentrating in mathematics, but does not fulfill the calculus requirement for mathematics majors in any track. Prerequisite: College algebra or consent of the instructor. May not be taken for major credit. Annually, Fall, or as needed.

MTH 280-289   SPECIAL TOPICS IN MATHEMATICS       (1-3)

As needed.

MTH 300         SET THEORY       (3)

Introduction to the methods of proof through the study of sets, logic, relations, mappings, cardinality, and elementary structures. Prerequisite: MTH 210 or consent of the instructor. Annually, Fall.

MTH 301         COLLEGE GEOMETRY       (3)

The study of geometry including a review of elementary geometry, Euclidean, non-Euclidean, and transformational geometries. Prerequisite: MTH 210 or MTH 220. Annually, Fall.

MTH 310         STATISTICS       (4)

This is an introductory course in descriptive and inferential statistics, approached through intuition, algebra, and problem solving. Understanding of central concepts and methods is stressed. Practical applications in the fields of social and physical sciences are studied. Real-world problems are solved through use of statistical computer packages such as SPSS, SAS, or MINITAB. Prerequisites: MTH 105 and computer literacy. Each semester.

MTH 330         COMPLEX ANALYSIS       (3)

Introduction to the study of holomorphic functions of one complex variable. Cauchy-Riemann equations, elementary functions, Laurent series, integral theorems, mappings, applications. Prerequisite: MTH 213. As needed.

MTH 340         PROBABILITY AND MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS I       (3)

Probability axioms, random variables and their distributions, limit distributions, estimation. Prerequisite: MTH 391 or consent of the instructor. Alternate years, Fall ’05 or as needed.

MTH 341         PROBABILITY AND MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS II       (3)

Continues MTH 340. Hypothesis testing, nonparametric methods, sufficient statistics, multivariate methods. Prerequisite: MTH 340. Alternate years, Spring ’06 or as needed.

MTH 350         INTRODUCTION TO ACTUARIAL MODELS       (3)

Utility theory, risk models, survival distributions, life tables. Life insurance models, life annuities, premium calculation, valuation theory for pension plans. Prerequisite: MTH 340. Alternate years, Spring ’06.

MTH 360         LINEAR ALGEBRA       (3)

This course is an introduction to the techniques of linear algebra. Topics include vector spaces, linear independence, basis, dimension, linear transformations, eigenvalues, and egenvectors. Prerequisite: MTH 213 and MTH 300 or permission of instructor. Alternate years, Spring ’06 or as needed.

MTH 366         NUMERICAL ANALYSIS       (3)

An introductory course in numerical methods, including computational techniques for locating roots of equations, interpolation, differentiation, integration, approximation, and systems of linear equations; to include detection, prediction, and control of computational errors. Problem solving using mathematical computer programs and computer programming of algorithms is stressed. Prerequisite: MTH 213 and CSI 230; same as CSI 366. As needed.

MTH 370         DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND MODELING       (3)

An introductory course in the solution of elementary differential equations and of their applications in a variety of real world contexts. A general study of mathematical modeling is included. Prerequisite: MTH 211 or consent of instructor. Annually, Spring.

MTH 375         DISCRETE STRUCTURES       (3)

An introduction to the methods of discrete mathematics. Topics may include logic, sets and mappings, recurrence relations, graphs, techniques and applications of group theory and linear algebra, finite automata, algorithms, and computational complexity. Prerequisite: MTH 210 or consent of the instructor. Annually, Spring.

MTH 380-389   SPECIAL TOPICS IN MATHEMATICS       (1-3)

As needed.

MTH 391         MULTIVARIATE CALCULUS       (3)

Limits, continuity, and differentiability for maps from Rn to Rm; implicit and inverse function theorems; line and surface integrals; the theorems of Green, Gauss, and Stokes. Prerequisite: MTH 213. Annually, Spring.

MTH 392         INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS       (3)

Introduction to analysis on the real line with emphasis on careful development of limits, continuity, and differentiation. Prerequisite: MTH 212 and MTH 300. Alternate years or as needed. Spring ’07.

MTH 393         MODERN ALGEBRA I       (3)

Presents a logical development of the fundamentals of modern algebra. Proceeding from the simple to the complex, those topics most essential are examined. Theorems covering the major algebraic systems are proven by students. Methods of presentation abstract. Prerequisite: MTH 300. Alternate years, or as needed. Fall ’05.

MTH 394         MODERN ALGEBRA II       (3)

A continuation of MTH 393. Prerequisite: MTH 393. Spring ’06.

MTH 470         INTERNSHIP IN MATHEMATICS       (3-8)

MTH 480         INDEPENDENT STUDY IN MATHEMATICS       (1-4)

MTH 490         SEMINAR IN MATHEMATICS       (1-3)

Topics drawn from a variety of advanced topics in mathematics. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Annually, Fall.