Department of Mathematics
Majors & Minors
Mathematics is one of the original liberal arts and serves as the foundation underlying much of modern science and engineering. It is a rigorous discipline, but one in which a creative mind can flourish and excel. Graduates with a mathematics major generally work in business or industry, teach, or pursue graduate studies in mathematics or operations research. The Department of Mathematics offers courses designed to prepare majors for their pursuits, and courses designed to serve the needs of non-mathematics majors. Given their reputation for improving one's logical reasoning abilities, mathematics courses attract many non-mathematical majors.
All new students, except those with AP calculus scores of 4 or higher, must take the Mathematics Placement Examination to determine their mathematical preparation for placement in Whittier College mathematics courses.
The following mathematics courses satisfy the COM1 requirement of the Liberal Education Program : MATH 75, 80, 81, 85, 139A, 141A, 141B, 220, 241 or by advanced placement credit.
Students in chemistry, mathematics, physics, or pre-engineering should begin the calculus sequence in the freshman year. Those not prepared to do so during the first term should begin with MATH 76 or 85, or 139A, depending on their preparation.
The department also participates in an interdisciplinary Mathematics-Business major, a 3-2 Program in Mathematics/Engineering, and a Scientific Computing minor, and offers a one-year sequence of introductory computer science courses.
Guidelines for a Major in Mathematics
In addition to the major in mathematics, the department offers a major in mathematics with teaching credential emphasis for students who plan to teach high-school mathematics. Teaching credential students should contact the Department of Education and Child Development for more information on obtaining an appropriate California teaching credential.
Students who plan to enter a graduate program in mathematics should take more than the minimum number of mathematics courses; these students should work closely with an advisor from the Department of Mathematics to choose appropriate additional mathematics courses.
Core courses for the major (With or without emphasis)
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, MATH 141A or Integrated Precalculus/Calculus, 139A,B, 4 (7 credits)
Calculus and Analytic Geometry II, MATH 141B (4 credits)
Calculus and Analytic Geometry III, MATH 241 (4 credits)
Abstract Thinking, MATH 280 (3 credits)
Linear Algebra, MATH 380 (3 credits)
Senior Seminar, MATH 491A, B (4 credits)
I. Major in Mathematics (no emphasis)
In addition to the core courses, this option requires seven additional mathematics courses, five of which must be at the 300 level or higher. These seven courses must include at least one course from each of groups A, B, and C below.
Group A. Analysis and Geometry Courses (at least one):
Advanced Geometry, MATH 320 (3 credits)
Complex Variables, MATH 344 (3 credits)
Differential Equations I, MATH 345A (3 credits)
Differential Equations II, MATH 345B (3 credits)
Point Set Topology, MATH 360 (3 credits)
Introduction to Analysis I, MATH 440A (3 credits)
Introduction to Analysis II, MATH 440B (3 credits)
Group B. Algebra and Discrete Mathematics Courses (at least one):
Discrete Mathematics, MATH 220 (3 credits)
Number Theory, MATH 305 (3 credits)
Modern Algebra I, MATH 480A (3 credits)
Modern Algebra II, MATH 480B (3 credits)
Group C. Applied Mathematics Courses (at least one):
Probability and Statistics, MATH 315 (3 credits)
Numerical Analysis, MATH 350 (3 credits)
Mathematical Modeling, MATH 354 (3 credits)
Quantum Mechanics, PHYS 350 (3 credits)
or another upper-division mathematics course or an upper- division course in another department. This course must be for at least 3 credits, involve an application of mathematics to another field, and be approved by the mathematics department faculty.
In addition, at least two of these seven courses beyond the Core Courses must be on the following list of Abstract Courses:
Abstract Courses
Advanced Geometry, MATH 320 (3 credits)
Point Set Topology, MATH 360 (3 credits)
Introduction to Analysis I, MATH 440A (3 credits)
Introduction to Analysis II, MATH 440B (3 credits)
Modern Algebra I, MATH 480A (3 credits)
Modern Algebra II, MATH 480B (3 credits)
II. Major in Mathematics with Teaching Credential Emphasis
In addition to the core courses, this option requires the following eight courses:
Programming I, COSC 120 (3 credits)
Discrete Mathematics, MATH 220 (3 credits)
Number Theory, MATH 305 (3 credits)
Probability and Statistics, MATH 315 (3 credits)
Advanced Geometry, MATH 320 (3 credits)
History of Mathematics, MATH 400 (3 credits)
Introduction to Analysis I, MATH 440A (3 credits)
Modern Algebra I, MATH 480A (3 credits)
Guidelines for a Minor in Mathematics
A minor in mathematics requires 20-23 credits including the following:
MATH 139A, B or MATH 141A
MATH 141
MATH 280
And 9 credits of upper-division mathematics courses.
