2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog Department of Mathematics

Cooperative Education/Internship in Mathematics

The Department offers a Cooperative Educa­tion/Internship program for undergraduate Mathematics majors which provides for prac­tical work experience in business, govern­ment, or industry. Students interested in par­ticipating in the program may secure further information by contacting the Mathematics Department Office.

Mathematics Courses

• A year of high school geometry and a second year of high school algebra are highly recommended for anyone who wants to take Mathematics courses.
• Students may not enroll in a course which is prerequisite to a course that has been completed with a grade of C or better.
• Some courses may not be taken under the Passing/No Passing (P/NP) option (see course descriptions).

The following Mathematics courses are not eligible for credit toward the major

• MAT 102
• MAT 102a01
• MAT 104
• MAT 108
• MAT 113
• MAT 113a01
• MAT 119
• MAT 120
• MAT 121
• MAT 130
• MAT 131
• MAT 150
• MAT 152
• MAT 160
• MAT 162
• MAT 201
• MAT 202
• MAT 298a50
• MAT 302
• MAT 304
• MAT 309
• MAT 312
• MAT 314
• MAT 315
• MAT 385

Graduation GPA Requirement for Majors 

The minimum graduation Mathematics GPA is 2.00 for a Mathematics Major, 2.80 for a Mathematics Major: Teacher Education Sequence, 3.00 for Mathematics Major: Actuarial Science Sequence, 2.00 for Mathematics Major: Data Science and Computational Mathematics, and 2.00 for Mathematics Major: Statistics Sequence. These grade point averages are computed using the following courses taken at Illinois State: the required English and computer programming courses and all Mathematics courses that are eligible for credit toward the major.

NOTE: Students who have taken calculus in high school may request to take a Calculus Proficiency Test. If proficiency credit is granted, students may begin their Mathematics courses with MAT 146 or a higher-level course.

To ensure proper placement, transfer students should consult with an advisor prior to registration for classes.

Career Information for Mathematics Majors and Minors

Career information for Mathematics Majors and Minor can be found on the Mathematics website.

Students are urged to consult with the Mathematics Advisor, Mathematics Undergraduate Director or Mathematics faculty in planning their programs. Information on careers in Mathematics can be secured from the Mathematics Department advisor and from the Mathematics Department website.

Students interested in meeting the requirements for licensure to teach secondary school Mathematics must consult with a Mathematics Department advisor to design a special program of studies.

Students preparing for a specific career are advised to include courses from the appropriate list(s) that follow. The courses with an asterisk (*) should be among those selected. Those wishing a major or minor in Mathematics should select additional courses from the list as well. (Note that some courses in the following lists may not count toward major or minor requirements.)

Business Management

• MAT 260
• MAT 337
• MAT 340
• MAT 350
• MAT 351*
• MAT 353
• MAT 356
• MAT 361
• MAT 362*
• MAT 363

Business, Government, and Industry

• MAT 260
• MAT 337
• MAT 340*
• MAT 341
• MAT 345
• MAT 351*
• MAT 353
• MAT 356*
• MAT 361
• MAT 362
• MAT 363

Applications or Research in Physical Sciences

• MAT 236
• MAT 336
• MAT 337
• MAT 340*
• MAT 341*
• MAT 345*
• MAT 350

Applications or Research in Social Sciences

• MAT 260
• MAT 337
• MAT 340
• MAT 350*
• MAT 351*
• MAT 356*
• MAT 361
• MAT 362
• MAT 363

Graduate Study and Research in Mathematics 

• MAT 210
• MAT 236*
• MAT 247
• MAT 260
• MAT 330
• MAT 336*
• MAT 337*
• MAT 340
• MAT 341
• MAT 345
• MAT 347*
• MAT 350
• MAT 351
• MAT 361
• MAT 363

Major in Mathematics

The Mathematics sequence in the Mathematics major first provides students with a strong foundation in Mathematics and then gives students the flexibility to explore various aspects of the discipline. 

There is also the flexibility within the Mathematics major for a student to pursue a minor in a related field of study. Such a program can prepare students for jobs in industry and government as well as prepare students for graduate study in Mathematics. 

View Mathematics Course Requirements

Mathematics Teacher Education Sequence

Departmental requirements for admission to the University Professional Studies program include a minimum Mathematics GPA of 2.80, a cumulative GPA of 2.80 and completion of Calculus I, II, and III and  MAT 223  with grades of C or better.

• This sequence of the major is part of the entitlement program leading to high school mathematics teacher endorsement
• Admission to the Mathematics Teacher Education Sequence is limited
• Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education
• University-Wide Teacher Education Requirements

View Mathematics Teacher Education Sequence Course Requirements

Pedagogy Emphasis Sequence

This sequence of the major is not part of the entitlement program leading to high school mathematics teacher endorsement. All re­quirements are the same as the Mathematics Teacher Education Sequence except for State of Illinois requirement of successful comple­tion of the edTPA.

Actuarial Science Sequence

This sequence of the major is designed to teach the students the mathematical founda­tions of actuarial science, and to prepare them for careers as actuaries in a variety of fields dealing with the risk of potential finan­cial losses, such as life insurance, health in­surance, financial risk management, property/casualty/liability insurance, pensions, or employee benefits.

View Actuarial Science Sequence Course Requirements

Statistics Sequence

This sequence of the major is designed to prepare students for statistical work in industry and government. In addition to learning the mathematical foundation in statistics, students study at least two cognate areas of application of statistics from Biometrics, Computer Science, Econometrics, Finance and Psychometrics. This will allow students to experience many fields of statistical applications and select a field of their choice for a career. It is to the advantage of the student to have a minor or double major in one of the above areas. However, it is not a requirement for the sequence. Senior students in good standing are encouraged to take upper level applied statistics courses from selected cognate areas.

View Statistics Sequence Course Requirements

Accelerated Mathematics Sequence

Program Admission Requirements for New and Continuing Students: Admission to this academic program is limited and is based on space availability and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. Factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to: courses completed, cumulative GPA, hours completed, personal interview or written statement, and samples of work completed. For additional information on minimum requirements for admission and the application and selection process, visit the Majors website or contact the undergraduate advisor for the intended major.

View Mathematics Accelerated Sequence Course Requirements

Data Science and Computational Mathematics Sequence

This sequence is designed to equip students with a solid mathematics and statistics background as well as advanced computer programming skills required for modern data analysis. Students in this sequence follow a common track for the first two years before deciding a concentration in either Data Science or Computational Mathematics. A minimum Mathematics GPA of 2.00 required for graduation.

Data Science Concentration
The Data Science concentration will provide students comprehensive training in mathematical thinking, statistical modeling and computational programming. Students will take courses from mathematics, statistics and information technology areas. During mathematical and statistical preparation, students will learn to think critically about the process of understanding data and analyze data through the full cycle of the investigative process in scientific and practical contexts. During the computational preparation, students will gain solid skills on data structure, computational processes, and data management strategies.

This concentration is designed to equip students with a solid mathematics and statistics background as well as advanced computer programming skills required for modern data analysis. Students majoring in Data Science will learn to think critically about the process of understanding data, and analyze data through the full cycle of the investigative process in scientific and practical contexts. The students in this major will be able to gain deep insights from data in context, using knowledge of statistical inference, computational processes, and data management strategies.

Computational Mathematics Concentration
The Computational Mathematics concentration is a blend of foundational mathematics, applied mathematics, and computer science. It is suited for students interested in pursuing careers in technical fields that require excellent analytical and computational skills. This sequence is also suitable for students who wish to pursue advanced degrees in Applied or Computational mathematics for careers in academia or industry.

Students concentrating in Computational Mathematics will gain extensive preparation in applied and computational mathematics. It is suited for students interested in pursuing careers in technical fields that require excellent analytical and computational skills. This concentration is also suitable for students who wish to pursue advanced degrees in Applied or Computational mathematics for careers in academia or industry.

View Data Science and Computational Mathematics Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Mathematics

22-24 total credit hours in Mathematics required

Required courses

• MAT 145
• MAT 146

At least four courses (14-16 credit hours) chosen from the following

• MAT 147
• MAT 175
• MAT 236
• MAT 247
• MAT 260
• MAT 268
• MAT 330
• MAT 336
• MAT 337
• MAT 340
• MAT 341
• MAT 345
• MAT 347
• MAT 350
• MAT 351
• MAT 361
• MAT 362
• MAT 363