The Department of Mathematics at Colorado State University

Education is not the filling of a pail, it is the lighting of a fire. - W. B. Yeats

Undergraduate Program

Concentrations in Mathematics
Minoring in Mathematics
The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition
The Honors Program
Internships

The undergraduate degree program in Mathematics at Colorado State University aims to provide a liberal and practical education in which education and employment are complementary ends, neither subservient to the other. The liberal component of the program requires students to acquire a broad background in communication skills, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The disciplinary component of the program focuses on developing students' knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the mathematical sciences, their problem-solving skills, and their ability to combine their knowledge of mathematics and problem-solving skills in productive ways.

The Department of Mathematics was among the first in Colorado to receive the Quality Incentive Fund Award for Excellence by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. The Commendation is part of the Quality Incentive Program, designed to appropriate state funds for the promotion, encouragement and recognition of excellence in the state's public higher education system. The undergraduate program has grown because it is perceived as one that serves the student well. Visit the University's Admissions Office for information about enrolling here at Colorado State.

CONCENTRATIONS IN MATHEMATICS

The Department of Mathematics offers six concentrations from which to choose: general mathematics, actuarial science, applied mathematics, computational mathematics, statistics, and mathematics education.

General Mathematics

computer science

statistics

graduate study in mathematics

General Mathematics Checksheet

Mathematics Education

Mathematics Education Checksheet

Prof. Kelly Chappell

chappell@math.colostate.edu

Actuarial Science is a professionally oriented program combining business and mathematics, and is designed to prepare students to begin careers as actuaries. Graduates of this program are prepared for the first two professional actuary exams and have a solid base of preparation for further exams. Colorado State is an examination site for the first two actuarial examinations. Requirements for this concentration are listed on the Actuarial Science Checksheet .
**Contact Prof. Kelly McArthur, mcarthur@math.colostate.edu for more information on the Actuarial Science Concentration at Colorado State University.

Applied Mathematics is a professionally oriented program designed to prepare students for careers as applied mathematicians working in business, government, and industry. Students in this concentration receive training in numerical analysis, mathematical modeling, and computing, as well as a solid preparation for further study. Requirements for this concentration are listed on the Applied Mathematics Checksheet .

Computational Mathematics is a professionally oriented program with an emphasis on the computational aspects of Mathematics. It affords the possibility of easily minoring in Computer Science or Statistics. It is specifically intended to include all aspects of computational mathematics, including emerging areas in numerical methods, computational geometry, algebra, and symbolic computation. This new program (Fall 2000) begins with an introduction to mathematical modeling (M331) and culminates with a computational mathematics capstone course (M435). Requirements for this concentration are listed on the Computational Mathematics Checksheet.
Contact Prof. Michael Kirby for more information about the Computational Mathematics Concentration at Colorado State University.

Mathematics of Information This program prepares students for graduate study and/or an interdisciplinary career in information/communication technology where mathematics, computer science and electrical engineering are interwoven. Students in this concentration receive training in cryptlogy, both source and channel coding theory, related courses in the companion fields, as well as the other core science and mathematics courses.

Statistics is a concentration designed for those students who want a solid background in statistics, one of the major applied areas of the mathematical sciences. This concentration is administered with the Department of Statistics, which provides faculty advisors for majors in this concentration. Requirements for this concentration are listed on the Statistics Checksheet.
Contact Prof. Jennifer Hoeting for more information about the Statistics Concentration at Colorado State University.

MINORING IN MATHEMATICS

If you are majoring in a technical area such as engineering or computer science your major requirements may put you just one or two courses short of a Minor in Mathematics. To earn a minor you must complete a calculus sequence and then take 12 credits of upper-division (300+) mathematical sciences. Of these 12 credits, 9 credits must be in mathematics but the remaining 3 credits can be in CS, math, or stat. To initiate a minor, pick up a CHANGE/ADD MAJOR/MINOR form in the Registrar's Office and a PLAN OF STUDY form in the Mathematics Department Office. When you turn those forms in at the Mathematics Department we will be happy to consult about what upper-division courses are best for you if you want advice.

Math Minor Checksheet

There is also a minor in mathematical biology. Please contact Jennifer Mueller or see the Minor in Mathematical Biology page.

THE WILLIAM LOWELL PUTNAM MATHEMATICAL COMPETITION

The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, held annually throughout North America since 1938, is an examination constructed to test originality and technical competence in various branches of undergraduate mathematics. In recent years, over 2,000 students from 350 colleges and universities have competed. Typically, more than half of the students score lower than 10% on this difficult examination.
**Contact Dr. Alexander Hulpke, hulpke@math.colostate.edu for more information on this Putnam Competition

Our Colorado State team has had extraordinary success, placing as high as tenth in the nation in 1985, 30th in 1997, 15th in 1998, 37th in 2001 and 12th in 2002. Students from all majors are encouraged to compete in the Putnam examination at Colorado State. Special weekly training sessions are held each fall to help prepare for the examination which is administered late in the fall semester. Good individual performance on the examination greatly enhances a student's chance of being admitted to his or her graduate school of choice or getting a competitive edge in the job market.

THE HONORS PROGRAM

The Honors Program at Colorado State University provides gifted, academically motivated undergraduates in all majors with intellectual stimulation commensurate with their abilities. It fosters a close intellectual association of serious students with faculty and students of like mind and encourages independent study. In addition, the program offers a rigorous academic experience for Colorado State's most able students, many of whom will assume positions of responsibility and leadership in society.

Honor sections are typically smaller than regular sections and allow students to be more actively involved in the learning process. At the upper-division level, the program features honors colloquia (small, often interdisciplinary, seminar-type courses) and honors independent study projects.

INTERNSHIPS

Internships are a valuable way to enhance your undergraduate experience with a project with contributes to your understanding of real-life applications of your major field of study, and which allows the student to take on new challenges and to obtain job-related skills not normally emphasized in the regular curriculum. The College of Natural Sciences maintains an active database of opportunities available; please visit their " Exploring Internships" web site for more information.

Detailed requirements for a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics can be obtained by writing to:

or by contacting the Undergraduate Director through email: mathdept@math.colostate.edu, or by calling us at (970)-493-6327.