Rollins College
Department of Math and Computer Science

Mission Statement:

To provide an educational program in which our students develop the critical thinking, problem-solving, computational, and active learning skills essential for responsible decision-making and a broad range of careers in a rapidly changing society.

Why Rollins?

• Small, close-knit department offers a strong, flexible curriculum in a warm and supportive environment.
• Small classes make it easy for us to give our students individual attention.
• Our combined mathematics and computer science department enables us to design programs in both disciplines that reinforce and complement one another.
• These programs include undergraduate research involving independent study courses, senior projects, and summer applied research in collaboration with department faculty.
• Our majors graduate with broader and more marketable skills, and are better prepared for graduate study should they wish to pursue it.

The mathematics faculty are teacher-scholars who are dedicated to teaching and developing courses for their students. The programs are flexible, tailored to best meet the needs of our students.

If you can, drop by and see us in action. Poke your head into any of our offices and you’re likely to see one or two students in there. They know they are always welcome – just ask them.

Why major in mathematics?

• Equips you with the skills, knowledge, flexibility, and the ability to learn – all necessary to thrive in a changing world.
• Allows you to keep lots of career options open. Not only is mathematics used directly in fields such as operations research, management science, statistical consulting, actuarial work, software engineering, and teaching, but a degree in mathematics provides good background for entry to jobs in business or admission to medical or dental school, M.B.A. programs, law school, engineering school, and public health programs.
• You will be viewed as being among the premier problem-solvers.
• Employers understand that math majors can handle intellectually challenging problems and that this ability transfers to the work environment.
• Prepares you for any career where quantitative reasoning and clear, creative, and logical thinking are valued.
• You will more easily grasp statistical ideas, be more at home with computer software, and be better equipped to communicate with technically trained people.
• Even if you move from your degree in mathematics to a career in business, the social sciences, humanities, or education, your mathematics background will give you the edge over your non-mathematical associates.

Completing a major in mathematics is generally recognized as a significant achievement even by those employers who may not be looking specifically for a mathematically trained person..

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Fourteen (14) courses are required: ten (10) core courses and four (4) additional electives.

CORE COURSES

• MAT 111 Calculus I
• MAT 112 Calculus II
• MAT 140 Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
• CMS 167 Introduction to Computing
• MAT 211 Calculus III
• MAT 219 Probability & Statistics
• MAT 230 Linear Algebra
• MAT 330 Proof and Abstraction
• MAT 455 Analysis I or MAT 475 Abstract Algebra I
• MAT 485 Senior Seminar

ELECTIVES

• MAT 301 Non-Euclidean Geometry
• MAT 305 Ordinary Differential Equations
• MAT 310 Applied Discrete Mathematics
• MAT 340 Models and Algorithms in Graph Theory
• MAT 370 Mathematical Statistics I
• MAT 390 Other 300-level Courses Periodically Offered
• Transformations and Geometries
• Operations Research: Deterministic Models
• MAT 440 Coding Theory
• MAT 455 Analysis I
• MAT 460 Complex Variables
• MAT 475 Abstract Algebra I
• MAT 490 Other 400-level Courses Periodically Offered
• Applied Combinatorics
• Operations Research: Probabilistic Models
• Graph Theory II
• Topology
• MAT 499 Independent Study

Recommendations for students interested in Pure Mathematics

• MAT 301 Non-Euclidean Geometry
• MAT 340 Models and Algorithms in Graph Theory
• MAT 390 Other 300-level Topics Courses
• Transformations and Geometries
• MAT 440 Coding Theory
• Take both MAT 455 Analysis I and MAT 475 Abstract Algebra I
• MAT 490 Other 400-level Courses
• Graph Theory II
• Topology

Recommendations for students interested in Applied Mathematics

• MAT 305 Ordinary Differential Equations
• MAT 310 Applied Discrete Mathematics
• MAT 340 Models and Algorithms in Graph Theory
• MAT 370 Mathematical Statistics I
• MAT 390 Other 300-level Topics Courses
• Operations Research: Deterministic Models
• MAT 490 Other 400-level Topics Courses
• Operations Research: Probabilistic Models
• Applied Combinatorics
• Mathematical Statistics II
• CSM 170 Computer Science Principles I

Recommendations for students interested in Secondary Education

• MAT 301 Non-Euclidean Geometry
• MAT 370 Mathematical Statistics I
• MAT 390 Topics in Mathematics
• Transformations and Geometries
• CSM 170 Computer Science Principles I

Sample Course Plans