WFU Mathematics & Computer Science

Undergraduate Program in Mathematics

I. Description of the Field

Mathematics is one of the oldest and most basic of the sciences; its origins can be traced to the ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations. Mathematics provides the common language for all sciences and is also an important discipline in its own right. It is an art as well as a science; creative mathematical research has even been compared to poetry.

Students majoring in mathematics should be persistent, patient, logical, and most of all, interested in the subject; they should also possess strong problem solving skills. The best students usually are very creative and are comfortable with abstract concepts. Mathematics not only helps the student develop analytical skills, but also less direct problem solving skills involving the detection of patterns and hidden similarities to other problems.

II. Specialization within the Field: Graduate School Opportunities

Specialization within mathematics may be described from two perspectives: (1) from the perspective of a career, the mathematics student may enter teaching (intermediate or secondary), may seek employment in government or industry, or may continue studying mathematics or related fields in graduate school; (2) from the perspective of mathematical content, mathematics is traditionally divided, not precisely to be sure, into pure and applied mathematics. The central areas of pure mathematics are usually classified as analysis (including the many subjects derived from calculus), algebra (including number theory), and topology (including geometry). Applied mathematics includes statistics, numerical analysis and other computer related mathematics, operations research, actuarial science, economics, and others, in addition to the traditional applications in the physical and engineering sciences. It should be noted that advanced work in these applied areas builds heavily on an adequate background in the traditional pure areas, although the student may take beginning courses in these applied areas as an undergraduate. Actuarial science requires the selection of specific courses and serious study in preparation for the actuarial exams.

Graduate level education in all areas of pure and applied mathematics has mushroomed in the last twenty years. The number of excellent graduate schools has grown proportionally. In recent years, the declining interest among students nationwide in entering graduate school has actually made admission to some of the better graduate schools less competitive.

Here at Wake Forest in recent years, approximately twenty percent of mathematics majors have entered graduate or professional school, mostly in traditional areas of mathematics, computer science, or business. Mathematics majors also attend law school, medical school, and the seminary.

III. Entry-level Positions

Mathematics majors who do not attend graduate or professional schools usually are employed in one of the following areas:

computer related positions in industry or government (programmer, systems analyst, salesperson);
teaching positions (intermediate and secondary);
actuarial positions;
accounting or business positions;
banking positions;
professional positions at government agencies and laboratories (National Security Agency, U.S. Navy Research Laboratory).

IV. Employment Outlook

Students who avail themselves of all the opportunities while attending Wake Forest to strengthen their positions in the job market will find themselves in attractive situations when they begin the process of looking for a job.

Some of the specific factors which enhance students' positions as job-seekers are the following:

a strong academic record;
a strong minor in a related area, or at least the inclusion in their program of study of some applied and related courses (e.g. accounting, business, economics, science);
summer employment in the area of interest;
participation in extra-curricular activities and professional organizations such as the Mathematics Club and the Mathematical Association of America;
becoming acquainted with some faculty members who then will be able to write more informative and specific letters of recommendation;
pursuing the desired position with zeal and fervor.

Students who are mindful of the fact that there is always a demand for top people in mathematics and who work hard to insure that they are included in the top group will find fulfilling employment.

V. Special Opportunities

The Department of Mathematics, like most departments in the University, offers superior students the option of doing an honors project during the senior year, the successful completion of which leads to graduation with the designation "Honors in Mathematics". Details may be found in the University catalog.

Some students choose the option of independent study which does not require the attainment of any particular grade point average, but does require the agreement of the upper division advisor and a faculty supervisor that such independent study is appropriate.

Students in the department compete nationally in mathematical and mathematical modeling contests. Each year the department has teams that compete in the Putnam Examination sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America and in the COMAP Mathematical Contest in Modeling.

In addition, the Department of Mathematics in cooperation with the Department of Economics and with the Calloway School of Business and Accountancy offers joint majors in Mathematical Economics and Mathematical Business, respectively.

VI. Other Resources

Professional Associations:

American Mathematical Society, P. O. Box 6248, Providence, RI 02940
American Statistical Association, 806 15^th St., NW, Washington, DC 20005
Association for Computing Machinery, 1133 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036
Mathematical Association of America, 1225 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1609 Association Drive, Reston, VA 27091
Operations Research Society of America, 428 East Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202
Society of Actuaries, 208 South LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60604
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, 33 South 17^th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103