Admission & Financial Aid

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Regulations & Requirements

Regulations & Requirements

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Amherst College Courses

Amherst College Courses

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Mathematics and Statistics

Professors R. Benedetto‡, Call, Cox, Horton and Velleman*; Associate Professors Folsom, Leise (Chair) and Wagaman; Assistant Professors Ching, Daniels, and Liao; Senior Lecturer D. BenedettoVisiting Assistant Professors Juul, Naqvi, Sosa, and Zhang; Visiting Lecturers Jeneralczuk and Matheson; Postdoctoral Fellow Yacoubou Djima.

*On leave 2016-17.

‡On leave spring semester 2016-17.

 The Department offers the major in Mathematics and the major in Statistics, as well as courses meeting a wide variety of interests these fields.  Non-majors who seek introductory courses are advised to consider MATH 105, 111, 140, and 220 and STAT 111, none of which require a background beyond high school mathematics.

           Mathematics

 Major Program. The minimum requirements for the Mathematics major include MATH 111, 121, 211, 271 or 272, 350, 355, and three other elective courses in Mathematics numbered 135 or higher. In addition, a major must complete two other courses, each of which is either an elective course in Mathematics numbered 135 or higher or a course from outside Mathematics chosen from among: COSC 201, 301, 401; ECON 300, 301, 361, 420; PHIL 350; any Physics course numbered 116 or higher (excluding PHYS 227); and STAT 230, 235 (formerly 335), 240 (formerly 330), 495. (Note: this requirement can be satisfied by taking two math electives, one math elective and one outside course, or two outside courses.) Requests for alternative courses must be approved in writing by the chair of the Department in consultation with the Mathematics faculty within the Department.

     Students who have taken MATH 130 may count it as an elective for the major, and students who declared their Mathematics major before May 17, 2014 may count toward the major an approved outside course together with a requisite for that course chosen from the same discipline.

     Students who have placed out of certain courses, such as calculus, as indicated by a strong performance on an Advanced Placement Exam or other evidence approved by the department, are excused from taking those courses. Students who place out of Math 111, 121 or 211 do not need to replace these courses.  Beginning with the class of 2016, students who place out of MATH 271, 272, 350, or 355 by taking a competency exam must replace each such course with an additional Mathematics course numbered 135 or higher.

     A student considering a major in Mathematics should consult with a member of the Department as soon as possible, preferably during the first year. This will facilitate the arrangement of a program best suited to the student’s ability and interests. Students should also be aware that there is no single path through the major; courses do not have to be taken in numerical order (except where required by prerequisites).

     All students majoring in Mathematics are encouraged to include in their program courses that include concepts and methods from data analysis, mathematical modeling, and computation (e.g., MATH135/STAT135, MATH140, MATH240, MATH284, MATH360/STAT360, or COSC111).  Students majoring in Mathematics are expected to attend all Mathematics colloquia during their junior and senior years.

     For a student considering graduate study, the Departmental Honors program is strongly recommended. Such a student is advised to take the Graduate Record Examination early in the senior year. It is also desirable to have a reading knowledge of a foreign language, usually French, German, or Russian.

 Double Majors in Mathematics and Statistics. Students electing a double major in Mathematics and Statistics may count MATH 111, 121, 211, and MATH 271 or 272 towards both majors. A maximum of one additional course taken to complete the Statistics major may be counted towards the Mathematics major.

 Comprehensive Examination. A comprehensive examination for majors who are not participating in the Honors Program will be given near the beginning of the spring semester of the senior year. (Those who will complete their studies in the fall semester may elect instead to take the comprehensive examination at the beginning of that semester.) The examination covers MATH 211, MATH 271 or 272, and a choice of MATH 350 or 355. A document describing the comprehensive examination can be obtained from the Department website.

 Honors Program in Mathematics. Students are admitted to the Honors Program on the basis of a qualifying examination given at the beginning of the spring semester of their junior year. (Those for whom the second semester of the junior year occurs in the fall may elect instead to take the qualifying examination at the beginning of that semester.) The examination is described in a document available from the Department website. Before the end of the junior year, an individual thesis topic will be selected by the Honors candidate in conference with a member of the Department. After intensive study of this topic, the candidate will write a report in the form of a thesis which should be original in its presentation of material, if not in content. In addition, the candidate will report to the departmental colloquium on her or his thesis work during the senior year. Honors candidates are also required to complete MATH 345 and either MATH 450 or 455.

           Statistics

Major Program.  For majors in the class of 2016 and 2017, and all other majors who declared statistics before May 7, 2016,the minimum requirements for the Statistics major include MATH 111, 121, and 211; MATH 271 or MATH 272; STAT 111 or STAT 135; MATH 140 or COSC 111; STAT 230, 360, 370 (formerly 430), and 495; and one additional elective course in Statistics at the 200 level or higher.

For majors in the class of 2018 and beyond declaring statistics after May 7, 2016, the minimum requirements for the Statistics major include MATH 111, and 121; MATH 271 or MATH 272; STAT 111 or STAT 135; STAT 230, 360, 370 (formerly 430), and 495; two courses in Computer Science at the level of 111 or higher (typically COSC111 and COSC112); and two additional elective courses in Statistics at the 200 level or higher.

Requests for alternative courses must be approved in writing by the chair of the Department in consultation with the Statistics faculty within the Department. Students who have placed out of certain courses, such as calculus, introductory statistics, or introductory computer science, as indicated by strong performance on an Advanced Placement Exam or other evidence approved by the Department, are excused from taking those courses. Statistics majors may place out of up to three courses without having to replace those courses. Students placing out of more than three courses must replace all but three of those courses with additional courses approved by the Department to complete the major.

A student considering a major in Statistics should consult with a member of the Department as soon as possible, preferably during the first year. This will facilitate the arrangement of a program best suited to the student’s ability and interests. Students should also be aware that there is no single path through the major; courses do not have to be taken in numerical order (except where required by prerequisites). Students majoring in Statistics are expected to attend all Statistics colloquia during their junior and senior years. Students planning to attend graduate school in statistics are strongly advised to take MATH 211 (Multivariable Calculus), MATH 355 (Introduction to Analysis), and MATH 450 (Functions of a Real Variable).

Double Majors in Statistics and Mathematics.  Students electing a double major in Statistics and Mathematics may count MATH 111, 121, 211 (for majors for which this is required), and MATH 271 or 272 towards both majors. A maximum of one additional course taken to complete the Mathematics major may be counted towards the Statistics major.

Comprehensive Evaluation.  In the fall of their senior year, all Statistics majors will enroll in the capstone course STAT 495, and complete a capstone project under faculty supervision. An extension of the capstone project (completed in the spring semester of senior year) will serve as the basis for a comprehensive evaluation of each student’s achievement in the major. Each student’s project will be assessed by the Statistics faculty in the Department to determine if the student has successfully completed the comprehensive evaluation. (Those for whom the second semester of the junior year occurs in the fall should enroll in STAT 495 in that semester in order to complete the extension of the capstone project and satisfy the comprehensive evaluation).

Honors Program in Statistics.  Students are admitted to the Honors Program on the basis of a qualifying examination given at the beginning of the spring semester of their junior year. (Those for whom the second semester of the junior year occurs in the fall may elect instead to take the qualifying examination at the beginning of that semester). The qualifying examination covers MATH 211 and 271 or 272, as well as STAT 360. The portion covering MATH 211 and 271 or 272 is equivalent to that portion on the Mathematics honors qualifying examination. The examination is described in a document which can be obtained from the Department website. Before the end of the junior year, an individual thesis topic will be selected by the Honors candidate in conference with a member of the Department. After intensive study of this topic, the candidate will write a report in the form of a thesis which should be original in its presentation of material, if not in content. In addition, the candidate will report to the departmental colloquium on her or his thesis work during the senior year. Honors candidates are not required to complete additional coursework in statistics apart from the thesis courses.

Mathematics

105 Calculus with Algebra

MATH 105 and 106 are designed for students whose background and algebraic skills are inadequate for the fast pace of MATH 111. In addition to covering the usual material of beginning calculus, these courses will have an extensive review of algebra and trigonometry. There will be a special emphasis on solving word problems.

MATH 105 starts with a quick review of algebraic manipulations, inequalities, absolute values and straight lines. Then the basic ideas of calculus--limits, derivatives, and integrals--are introduced, but only in the context of polynomial and rational functions. As various applications are studied, the algebraic techniques involved will be reviewed in more detail. When covering related rates and maximum-minimum problems, time will be spent learning how to approach, analyze and solve word problems. Four class meetings per week, one of which is a two-hour group-work day.

Note: While MATH 105 and 106 are sufficient for any course with a MATH 111 requisite, MATH 105 alone is not. However, students who plan to take MATH 121 should consider taking MATH 105 and then MATH 111, rather than MATH 106. Students cannot register for both MATH 105 and CHEM 151 in the same semester.

Fall semester. Professor R. Benedetto.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024

106 Calculus with Elementary Functions

MATH 106 is a continuation of MATH 105. Trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential functions will be studied from the point of view of both algebra and calculus. The applications encountered in MATH 105 will reappear in problems involving these new functions. The basic ideas and theorems of calculus will be reviewed in detail, with more attention being paid to rigor. Four class meetings per week, one of which is a two-hour group-work day.

Requisite: MATH 105. Spring semester. Lecturer D. Benedetto.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025

111 Introduction to the Calculus

Basic concepts of limits, derivatives, anti-derivatives; applications, including max/min problems and related rates; the definite integral, simple applications; trigonometric functions; logarithms and exponential functions. Four class hours per week.

Limited to 30 students per section. Fall and spring semesters. In the fall semester, the intensive section (Section 01) is open only to students listed as eligible on the Mathematics placement list. The intensive section replaces one weekly class hour with a 90-to-120-minute group work day. Fall semester: TBA. Spring semester: Professor Folsom.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

121 Intermediate Calculus

A continuation of MATH 111. Inverse trigonometric and hyperbolic functions; methods of integration, both exact and approximate; applications of integration to volume and arc length; improper integrals; l’Hôpital’s rule; infinite series, power series and the Taylor development; and polar coordinates. Four class hours per week.

Requisite: A grade of C or better in MATH 111 or placement into MATH 121 or consent of the Department. Limited to 30 students per section. Fall and spring semesters. Both semesters. Professor Call and Lecturer D. Benedetto.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

135 Introduction to Statistics via Modeling

(See STAT 135)

140 Mathematical Modeling

Mathematical modeling is the process of translating a real world problem into a mathematical expression, analyzing it using mathematical tools and numerical simulations, and then interpreting the results in the context of the original problem. Discussion of basic modeling principles and case studies will be followed by several projects from areas such as environmental studies and biology (e.g., air pollution, ground water flow, populations of interacting species, social networks). This course has no requisites; projects will be tailored to each student’s level of mathematical preparation. Four class hours per week, with occasional in-class computer labs. 

Limited to 24 students. Omitted 2016-17.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2012, Fall 2014, Spring 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2019, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025

150 Voting and Elections: A Mathematical Perspective

The outcomes of many elections, whether to elect the next United States president or to rank college football teams, can displease many of the voters. How can perfectly fair elections produce results that nobody likes? We will analyze different voting systems, including majority rule, plurality rule, Borda count, and approval voting, and assess a voter’s power to influence the election under each system, for example, by calculating the Banzhaf power index. We will prove Arrow’s Theorem and discuss its implications. After exploring the pitfalls of various voting systems through both theoretical analysis and case studies, we will try to answer some pressing questions: Which voting system best reflects the will of the voters? Which is least susceptible to manipulation? What properties should we seek in a voting system, and how can we best attain them?

Limited to 24 students.  Fall semester.  Professor Leise.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2022

205 ≠ (Inequality)

(Offered as MATH 205, BLST 209 and HIST 209 [US].) This course will look at issues surrounding inequality in K-12 math education. Mathematics has a reputation for being something that either you can do or you can’t: the so-called "geniuses" know all the answers already, whereas for everyone else it is a constant struggle. In addition, math and other STEM fields have traditionally been discouraged as career paths for women and for students from underrepresented groups. At Amherst today, students from those groups are still in the minority in math classes. We’ll ask why this is, whether it can and should be changed, and if so, how.

Our discussions will be guided by some of the following questions: To what extent is math ability an innate talent that you are either born with or not? How and why is variation in accomplishment in mathematics related to race, gender and socio-economic class? What mathematics should we teach in schools and how should those teachers be prepared? What is "math phobia," how does it develop and how can it be treated? How do attitudes towards math in the general public affect student learning?

Limited to 25 students. Admission with consent of the instructor. Spring semester. Professors Ching and Moss.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2017, Spring 2018

211 Multivariable Calculus

Elementary vector calculus; introduction to partial derivatives; multiple integrals in two and three dimensions; line integrals in the plane; Green’s theorem; the Taylor development and extrema of functions of several variables; implicit function theorems; Jacobians. Four class hours per week.

Requisite: A grade of C or better in MATH 121 or placement into MATH 211 or consent of the Department. Limited to 30 students per section. Fall semester: Professor R. Benedetto and Visiting Assistant Professors Naqvi, Sosa Castillo and Zhang. Spring: Professor Leise and Visiting Professor Zhang.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

220 Discrete Mathematics

This course is an introduction to some topics in mathematics that do not require the calculus. The topics covered include logic, elementary set theory, functions, relations and equivalence relations, mathematical induction, counting principles, and graph theory. Additional topics may vary from year to year. This course serves as an introduction to mathematical thought and pays particular attention to helping students learn how to write proofs. Four class hours per week. 

Limited to 25 students. Fall semester: Visiting Professor Juul. Spring semester: Visiting Professor Naqvi.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

225 Fractal Geometry

MATH 225 is a mathematical treatment of fractal geometry, a field of mathematics partly developed by Benoit Mandelbrot (1924-2010) that continues to be actively researched in the present day. Fractal geometry is a mathematical examination of the concepts of self-similarity, fractals, and chaos, and their applications to the modeling of natural phenomena.  In particular, we will develop the iterated function system (IFS) method for describing fractals, examine Julia sets, Mandelbrot sets, and study the concept of fractal dimension, among other things. Through the teaching of these concepts, MATH 225 will also lend itself to familiarizing students with some of the formalisms and rigor of mathematical proofs.

Requisite: MATH 211 or consent of the instructor. Limited to 35 students. Fall semester.  Professor Folsom.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2023, Spring 2025

240 Mathematical Modeling of Biological Systems

(Offered as MATH 240 and BIOL 240.)  With new experimental techniques leading to large biological data sets of increased quality, the ability to analyze biological systems using mathematical modeling approaches has become an integral part of modern biology. This course aims to provide students interested in the interface between biology and mathematics with an integrated understanding of some of the mathematical and computational techniques used in this field. The mathematical approaches we will use to study biological systems will include discrete and continuous dynamical models as well as probability models and parameter estimation algorithms.

Requisite: MATH 211 and BIOL 181 or 191, or permission of the instructor.  Limited to 24 students. Omitted 2016-17.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2015

250 Number Theory

An introduction to the theory of rational integers; divisibility, the unique factorization theorem; congruences, quadratic residues. Selections from the following topics: cryptology; Diophantine equations; asymptotic prime number estimates; continued fractions; algebraic integers. Four class hours per week. Offered in alternate years.

Requisite: MATH 121 or consent of the instructor. Spring semester. Visiting Professor Juul.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2012, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2023, Spring 2025

255 Geometry

About 2300 years ago, Euclid introduced the axiomatic method to mathematics in his geometry textbook, the Elements.  In this book, Euclid deduced the theorems of geometry from a small number of simple axioms about points, lines, and circles.  Among his axioms is the parallel axiom, which asserts that if we are given a line and a point not on the line, then there is a unique line through the given point that is parallel to the given line.

Over 2000 years after Euclid, mathematicians discovered that by replacing Euclid's parallel axiom with its negation, we can develop a different kind of geometry in which we still have geometric objects like triangles and circles, but many of the theorems and formulas are different.  For example, the sum of the angles of a triangle will always be less than 180 degrees, and this sum will determine the area of the triangle.

In this course we will study both Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry.  We will also consider the fascinating history of how non-Euclidean geometry was discovered.  Four class hours per week. 

Requisite:  Mathematics 121.  Omitted 2016-17.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2024

260 Differential Equations

The study of differential equations is an important part of mathematics that involves many topics, both theoretical and practical. The course will cover first- and second-order ordinary differential equations, basic theorems concerning existence and uniqueness of solutions and continuous dependence on parameters, long-term behavior of solutions and approximate solutions.  The focus of the course will be on connecting the theoretical aspects of differential equations with real-world applications from physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering.  Four class hours per week.

Requisite: MATH 211 or consent of the instructor. Spring semester. Visiting Professor Sosa Castillo.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

271 Linear Algebra

The study of vector spaces over the real and complex numbers, introducing the concepts of subspace, linear independence, basis, and dimension; systems of linear equations and their solution by Gaussian elimination; matrix operations; linear transformations and their representations by matrices; eigenvalues and eigenvectors; and inner product spaces. MATH 271 will feature both proofs and applications, with special attention paid to the theoretical development of the subject. Four class meetings per week.

Requisite: MATH 121 or consent of the instructor. This course and MATH 272 may not both be taken for credit. Limited to 25 students.  Fall semester: Professors Ching and  Daniels. Spring semester: Professor Ching.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

272 Linear Algebra with Applications

The study of vector spaces over the real and complex numbers, introducing the concepts of subspace, linear independence, basis, and dimension; systems of linear equations and their solution by Gaussian elimination; matrix operations; linear transformations and their representations by matrices; eigenvalues and eigenvectors; and inner product spaces. MATH 272 will feature both proofs and applications, with special attention paid to applied topics such as least squares and singular value decomposition.

Four class hours per week, with occasional in-class computer labs. 

Requisite: MATH 121 or consent of the instructor. This course and MATH 271 may not both be taken for credit. Limited to 25 students.  Spring semester. Visiting Professor Naqvi.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

280 Graph Theory

A graph is a collection of points with edges drawn between them. Graph theory was first introduced by Leonhard Euler in his solution to the Königsberg bridge problem in 1736. Since then, graph theory has become an active area of study in mathematics due both to its wide array of real life applications in biology, chemistry, social sciences and computer networking, and to its interactions with other branches of mathematics.

The course will start with an overview of the fundamental concepts and general results in graph theory, followed by explorations of a variety of topics in graph theory and their applications, including: connectivity, planar graphs, directed graphs, greedy algorithms, matchings, vertex and edge colorings. The course will end with the introduction of a more advanced topic.  Four class hours per week. 

Requisite:  MATH 271 or 272 or permission of instructor.  MATH 220 or other prior experience with mathematical proofs is recommended. Limited to 30 students. Omitted 2016-17.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024

284 Numerical Analysis

This course will study numerical techniques for a variety of problems, such as finding roots of polynomials, interpolation, numerical integration, numerical solutions of differential equations, and matrix computations. We will study the underlying theory behind the algorithms, including error analysis, and the algorithms will be implemented using mathematical software to facilitate numerical experimentation.

Requisite:  MATH 211 and either 271 or 272, or permission of the instructor. Limited to 24 students.  Fall semester.  Professor Leise. 

294 Optimization

Optimization is a branch of applied mathematics focused on algorithms to determine maxima and minima of functions, often under constraints. Applications range from economics and finance to machine learning and information retrieval. This course will first develop advanced linear algebra tools, and then will study methods of convex optimization, including linear, quadratic, second-order cone, and semidefinite models. Several applications will be explored, and algorithms will be implemented using mathematical software to aid numerical experimentation.

Requisite:  MATH 211 and either 271 or 272, or permission of the instructor.  Limited to 30 students.  Spring semester.  Professor Leise. 

Other years: Offered in Fall 2022, Spring 2025

310 Introduction to the Theory of Partitions

The theory of partitions is a fundamental branch of combinatorics and number theory pertaining to enumerative properties and patterns of the integers.  With its mathematical origins tracing back to the seventeenth century, partition theory has evolved through contributions made by many influential mathematicians including Euler, Legendre, Hardy, Ramanujan, Selberg and Dyson, and continues to be an active area of study today. Topics include partition identities and bijections, Ferrers diagrams and Durfee squares, partition generating functions and q-series, the pentagonal number theorem, q-binomial numbers (Gaussian polynomials), and partition congruences.

Requisite:  MATH 220 and 121, or other significant experience with proofs, or by consent of instructor.  Limited to 24 students. Fall semester.  Professor Folsom.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2016, Spring 2021

320 Wavelet and Fourier Analysis

The first half of the course covers continuous and discrete Fourier transforms (including convolution and Plancherel’s formula), Fourier series (including convergence and the fast Fourier transform algorithm), and applications like heat conduction along a rod and signal processing. The second half of the course is devoted to wavelets: Haar bases, the discrete Haar transform in 1 and 2 dimensions with application to image analysis, multiresolution analysis, filters, and wavelet-based image compression like JPEG2000. Three class hours per week plus a weekly one-hour computer laboratory.

Requisite: MATH 211 and 271 or 272.  Omitted 2016-17.  Professor TBA. 

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2011, Fall 2013, Fall 2015, Fall 2017, Fall 2019, Fall 2024

345 Functions of a Complex Variable

An introduction to analytic functions; complex numbers, derivatives, conformal mappings, integrals. Cauchy’s theorem; power series, singularities, Laurent series, analytic continuation; Riemann surfaces; special functions. Four class hours per week.

Requisite: MATH 211 and prior experience with mathematical proofs, or consent of the instructor. Fall semester. Visiting Professor Zhang.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024

350 Groups, Rings and Fields

A brief consideration of properties of sets, mappings, and the system of integers, followed by an introduction to the theory of groups and rings including the principal theorems on homomorphisms and the related quotient structures; integral domains, fields, polynomial rings. Four class hours per week. 

Requisite: MATH 271 or 272 or consent of the instructor. Students with a grade of B+ or lower in linear algebra are encouraged to take another 200-level course with proofs before taking MATH 350. Limited to 25 students. Fall semester: Visiting Professor Sosa Castillo. Spring: Visiting Professor Juul.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

355 Introduction to Analysis

Completeness of the real numbers; topology of n-space including the Bolzano-Weierstrass and Heine-Borel theorems; sequences, properties of functions continuous on sets; infinite series, uniform convergence. The course may also study the Gamma function, Stirling’s formula, or Fourier series. Four class hours per week. 

Requisite: MATH 211 and prior experience with mathematical proofs (MATH 271 or 272 recommended), or consent of the instructor. Students with a grade of B+ or lower in linear algebra are encouraged to take another 200-level course with proofs before taking MATH 355.  Limited of 25 students.  Fall semester: Professor Call. Spring semester: Professor Cox.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

359 An Introduction to the p-adic Numbers

The p-adic numbers were first introduced by Kurt Hensel near the end of the nineteenth century. Since their introduction they have become a central object in modern number theory, algebraic geometry, and algebraic topology. These numbers give a new set of fields (one for each prime p) that contain the rational numbers and behave in some ways like the real numbers. While these fields are similar to the real numbers in some respects, they also possess some unique and unexpected properties. The main objective of this course will be to rigorously construct the p-adic numbers and explore some of the algebraic, analytic, and topological properties that make them interesting.

Requisite: Math 350 or consent of the instructor.  Limited to 32 students.  Spring semester.  Professor Daniels.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2017, Spring 2019

360 Probability

(See STAT 360)

365 Stochastic Processes

A stochastic process is a collection of random variables used to model the evolution of a system over time.  Unlike deterministic systems, stochastic processes involve an element of randomness or uncertainty. Examples include stock market fluctuations, audio signals, EEG recordings, and random movement such as Brownian motion and random walks. Topics will include Markov chains, martingales, Brownian motion, and stochastic integration, including Ito’s formula. Four class hours per week, with weekly in-class computer labs.

Requisite: MATH 360 or consent of instructor. Limited to 24 students. Omitted 2016-17.  Professor TBA.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2018, Spring 2022

370 Theoretical Statistics

(See STAT 370)

375 Introduction to Representation Theory

Representation theory concerns the study of groups by expressing their elements as linear transformations of vector spaces. This approach gives us a more concrete way to think about groups via matrices, and it allows us to use tools from linear algebra to study them. Topics covered in this course include group actions, representations and modules, subrepresentations and homomorphisms, irreducibility, characters and character tables, and induced and restricted representations. We will also explore some applications to physics and other areas of mathematics.

Requisite: MATH 350 or consent of the instructor. Limited to 24 students. Priority to pre-registered students, math majors, and juniors and seniors.  Fall semester.  Visiting Professor Naqvi. 

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2016

380 Set Theory

Most mathematicians consider set theory to be the foundation of mathematics, because everything that is studied in mathematics can be defined in terms of the concepts of set theory, and all the theorems of mathematics can be proven from the axioms of set theory. This course will begin with the axiomatization of set theory that was developed by Ernst Zermelo and Abraham Fraenkel in the early part of the twentieth century. We will then see how all of the number systems used in mathematics are defined in set theory, and how the fundamental properties of these number systems can be proven from the Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms. Other topics will include the axiom of choice, infinite cardinal and ordinal numbers, and models of set theory. Four class hours per week.

Requisite: MATH 220, 271, 272, or 355, or consent of the instructor.  Fall semester.  Professor TBA.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2008, Fall 2009, Spring 2013, Fall 2015

385 Mathematical Logic

Mathematicians confirm their answers to mathematical questions by writing proofs. But what, exactly, is a proof? This course begins with a precise definition specifying what counts as a mathematical proof. This definition makes it possible to carry out a mathematical study of what can be accomplished by means of deductive reasoning and, perhaps more interestingly, what cannot be accomplished. Topics will include the propositional and predicate calculi, completeness, compactness, and decidability. At the end of the course we will study Gödel’s famous Incompleteness Theorem, which shows that there are statements about the positive integers that are true but impossible to prove. Four class hours per week. Offered in alternate years.

Requisite: MATH 220, 271, 272, or 355, or consent of the instructor.  Omitted 2016-17.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2015, Spring 2018, Fall 2019, Spring 2022

390, 490 Special Topics

Fall and spring semesters. The Department.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023

410 Galois Theory

The quadratic formula shows us that the roots of a quadratic polynomial possess a certain symmetry. Galois Theory is the study of the corresponding symmetry for higher degree polynomials. We will develop this theory starting from a basic knowledge of groups, rings and fields. One of our main goals will be to prove that there is no general version of the quadratic formula for a polynomial of degree five or more. Along the way, we will also show that a circular cake can be divided into 17 (but not 7) equal slices using only a straight-edged knife. 

Requisite: MATH 350 or consent of the instructor. Omitted 2016-17. Professor Ching.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2023, Fall 2024

415 Topics in Mathematics

The topic will vary from year to year.  The study of geometric objects by means of their defining equations dates back to the introduction of coordinates by Descartes in 1637.  This course will introduce algorithmic methods for manipulating and understanding algebraic equations and will develop a dictionary between algebra and geometry.  We will also explore the structure of ideals in polynomial rings and the resulting quotient rings.  The course will end with student presentations on applications of algebraic geometry to robotics, geometric theorem proving, invariant theory, graph theory, and sudoku.  Three class hours per week plus a weekly one-hour computer lab. 

Requisite:  MATH 350.  Limited to 16 students.  Omitted 2016-17. 

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2021

450 Functions of a Real Variable

An introduction to Lebesgue measure and integration; topology of the real numbers, inner and outer measures and measurable set; the approximation of continuous and measurable functions; the Lebesgue integral and associated convergence theorems; the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.  Four class hours per week.

Requisite:  MATH 355.  Omitted 2016-17.  Professor TBA.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Spring 2016

455 Topology

An introduction to general topology; the topology of Euclidean, metric and abstract spaces, with emphasis on such notions as continuous mappings, compactness, connectedness, completeness, separable spaces, separation axioms, and metrizable spaces. Additional topics may be selected to illustrate applications of topology in analysis or to introduce the student briefly to algebraic topology. Four class hours per week. Offered in alternate years.

Requisite: MATH 355. Spring semester. Visiting Professor Zhang.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2013, Spring 2015, Spring 2017, Spring 2019, Spring 2021, Spring 2023, Spring 2025

498, 499 Senior Departmental Honors

Open to seniors with the consent of the Department. Fall semester. The Department.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025

Statistics

111, 111E Introduction to Statistics

Introduction to Statistics provides a basic foundation in descriptive and inferential statistics, including constructing models from data.  Students will learn to think critically about data, produce meaningful graphical and numerical summaries of data, apply basic probability models, and utilize statistical inference procedures using computational tools.  Topics include basic descriptive and inferential statistics, visualization, study design, and multiple regression.  Students who are majoring in mathematics should take STAT 135/MATH 135 instead of this course.

Limited to 24 students per section. Fall semester.  Professor Liao.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024

135 Introduction to Statistics via Modeling

(Offered as STAT 135 and MATH 135.)  Introduction to Statistics via Modeling is an introductory statistics course that uses modeling as a unifying framework.  The course provides a basic foundation in statistics with a major emphasis on constructing models from data. Students learn important concepts of statistics by mastering powerful and relatively advanced statistical techniques using computational tools. Topics include descriptive and inferential statistics, probability, study design, ANOVA, and multiple regression. Students who are majoring in mathematics should take this course instead of STAT 111. (Students may not receive credit for both STAT 111 and MATH 135.) Four class hours per week (two will be held in the computer lab).

Requisite: MATH 111. Limited to 24 students.  Fall semester: Professor Horton, Lecturer Jeneralczuk and TBA.  Spring semester: Professors Horton, Liao, and Matheson.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024

220 Bayesian Modeling and Inference

Bayesian statistics is founded upon the idea that our beliefs about the world are constantly revised with the incorporation of new information. This course provides a principled introduction to Bayesian statistics. We begin with the basic building blocks of Bayesian inference: the likelihood, prior, and posterior distributions. We will then show how to simulate from the posterior distribution using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. Single and multivariate models will be considered as well as hierarchical models, such as Bayesian linear regression, and other more advanced topics. The course will emphasize problem solving and data analysis via statistical software.  Four class hours per week. 

Requisite MATH 111 and STAT 111/135 or permission of instructor.  Limited to 20 students. Omitted 2016-17.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2016

225 Nonparametric Statistics

This course is an introduction to nonparametric and distribution-free statistical procedures and techniques. These methods rely heavily on counting and ranking techniques and will be explored through both theoretical and applied perspectives. One- and two-sample procedures will provide students with alternatives to traditional parametric procedures, such as the t-test. We will also investigate correlation, regression, and one-way analysis of variance techniques in a nonparametric setting. A variety of other topics may be explored in the nonparametric setting including resampling techniques (for example, bootstrapping), categorical data and contingency tables, density estimation, and the two-way layout. The course will emphasize data analysis (with appropriate use of statistical software) and the intuitive nature of nonparametric statistics. Four class hours per week. 

Requisite: STAT 111 or STAT 135 or equivalent. Omitted 2016-17. Professor Wagaman.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2023

230 Intermediate Statistics

This course is an intermediate applied statistics course that builds on the statistical data analysis methods introduced in STAT 111 or STAT 135. Students will learn how to pose a statistical question, perform appropriate statistical analysis of the data, and properly interpret and communicate their results. Emphasis will be placed on the use of statistical software, data manipulation, model fitting, and assessment. Topics covered will include ethics, experimental design, parametric and nonparametric methods, resampling approaches, analysis of variance models, multiple regression, model selection, and logistic regression. Four class hours per week.

Requisite: STAT 111 or 135. Limited to 24 students. Fall semester: Admission with consent of the instructor. Fall and spring semesters. Professor Wagaman. 

Other years: Offered in Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024

240 Multivariate Data Analysis

Real world experiments often provide data that consist of many variables. When confronted with a large number of variables, there may be many different directions to proceed, but the direction chosen is ultimately based on the question(s) being asked. In biology, one could ask which observed characteristics distinguish females from males in a given species. In archaeology, one could examine how the observed characteristics of pottery relate to their location on the site, look for clusters of similar pottery types, and gain valuable information about the location of markets or religious centers in relation to residential housing. This course will explore how to visualize large data sets and study a variety of methods to analyze them. Methods covered include principal components analysis, factor analysis, classification techniques (discriminant analysis and classification trees) and clustering techniques. This course will feature hands-on data analysis with statistical software, emphasizing application over theory. Four class hours per week. 

Requisite: STAT 111 or 135. Limited to 20 students. Fall semester. Professor Persson.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2022

265 Spatial Statistics

This course is an intermediate applied statistics course that builds on the statistical concepts introduced in STAT 111 or STAT 135 and data analysis methods introduced in 200-level statistics courses. It will focus on the analysis and mapping of environmental and social data in a spatial context, including continuous process data and point process data. Other topics include descriptive and inferential techniques used in quantitative geographic analysis, parametric and nonparametric analyses, model assessment, and visualization. Students will build computing skills and use R for data display, modeling, and communication. Two class meetings per week, 80 minutes each.

Requisite: Previous 200-level statistics coursework, or any 2 courses in statistics, or permission of the instructor. Limited to 24 students. Omitted 2016-17.

 

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2015

320 Statistical Communication

Statistical communication is an important component of the capacity to "think with data." The course will integrate theoretical and practical aspects of statistics with a focus on communicating results and their implications. Students will gain experience clearly synthesizing and explaining complex data using diverse predictive and explanatory models. Learning objectives include: understanding the role of a statistician, developing communication skills, working collaboratively on group projects, designing studies to collect information, acquiring existing data resources, utilizing publications in statistics, creating reproducible research and developing oral arguments, relevant project reports, and dynamic graphical displays. Emphasis will be placed on the use of statistical software, data management, visual presentation, and oral and written communication skills that are necessary for communicating technical content.

Requisite: STAT 230 or consent of the instructor. Limited to 24 students. Spring semester.  Visiting Lecturer Matheson.

2023-24: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2023

360 Probability

(Offered as STAT 360 and MATH 360.) This course explores the nature of probability and its use in modeling real world phenomena. There are two explicit complementary goals: to explore probability theory and its use in applied settings, and to learn parallel analytic and empirical problem solving skills. The course begins with the development of an intuitive feel for probabilistic thinking, based on the simple yet subtle idea of counting. It then evolves toward the rigorous study of discrete and continuous probability spaces, independence, conditional probability, expectation, and variance. Distributions covered include the binomial, hypergeometric, Poisson, normal, Gamma, Beta, multinomial, and bivariate normal. Other topics include generating functions, order statistics, and limit theorems. Four class hours per week.

Requisite: MATH 121 or consent of the instructor. Limited to 24 students. Fall semester. Professor Wagaman.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024

370 Theoretical Statistics

(Offered as STAT 370 and MATH 370.) This course examines the theory underlying common statistical procedures including visualization, exploratory analysis, estimation, hypothesis testing, modeling, and Bayesian inference.  Topics include maximum likelihood estimators, sufficient statistics, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and test selection, non-parametric procedures, and linear models. Four class hours per week.

Requisite: STAT 111 or STAT 135 and STAT 360, or consent of the instructor. Limited to 25 students.  Spring semester. Professor Horton.

Other years: Offered in Spring 2023, Spring 2025

495 Advanced Data Analysis

Our world is awash in data. To allow decisions to be made based on evidence, there is a need for statisticians to be able to make sense of the data around us and communicate their findings. In this course, students will be exposed to advanced statistical methods and will undertake the analysis and interpretation of complex and real-world datasets that go beyond textbook problems. Course topics will vary from year to year depending on the instructor and selected case studies. Topics may include visualization techniques to summarize and display high dimensional data, advanced topics in design and linear regression, selected topics in data mining, nonparametric analysis, and analysis of network data. Through a series of case studies, students will develop the capacity to think and compute with data, undertake and assess analyses, and effectively communicate their results using written and oral presentation.

Requisite:  STAT 230 (formerly MATH 230), STAT 370 (formerly MATH 430 and STAT 430) and the computing requirement; or consent of the instructor.  Limited to 20 students.  Fall semester.  Professor Horton.

Other years: Offered in Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024