Mathematics

Steven Ziebarth, Chair
Main Office: 3319 Everett Tower
Telephone: (269) 387-4510
Fax: (269) 387-4530

Patrick Bennett
Christine Browning
Jon Davis
Andrzej Dudek
Clifton E. Ealy Jr.
Kirsty Eisenhart
Theresa Grant
Terrell Hodge
Ok-Kyeong Kim
Kathleen Kline
Melinda Koelling
Yuri Ledyaev
Mariana Levin
Jane-Jane Lo
D. Steven Mackey
Niloufer Mackey
John Martino
Tabitha Mingus
Annegret Paul
Dennis Pence
John Petrovic
David Richter
Jeffrey Strom
Jay Treiman
Laura Van Zoest
Jay Wood
Ping Zhang
Qiji Zhu

The Mathematics Department offers a wide variety of courses and programs in both theoretical and applied areas. There are three majors available: Applied, General, and Elementary and Secondary Teaching. Minors available include the General Mathematics Minor, Secondary Teaching of Mathematics Minor, the Elementary and Middle School Teaching Minor, and the Actuarial Science Minor. These major and minor programs incorporate emphasis on use of computing techniques, mathematical modeling, and problem solving.

The various mathematics majors (and most minors) all require two semesters of calculus. Students may take either the MATH 1220/1230 sequence or the MATH 1700/1710 sequence, with the recommendation that they pick the last sequence if they will be taking a physics course soon. Students may begin this course work while deciding on a branch of mathematics in which to specialize from the options below.

During the first year, interested students should contact Steve Culver, student advisor/assistant to the chair, through the Mathematics Department. Phone (269) 387-4510 or write: Mathematics Department, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. All majors should contact a faculty advisor in mathematics once a year and must contact a faculty advisor in mathematics during their second year of study. All minors, except General Mathematics minors, must contact an advisor.

At most one course with a grade below “C” can be applied toward a major or minor in Mathematics.

Undergraduates with junior status and 12 hours of work in mathematics and statistics may enroll in 5000-level courses with prior approval of the department chair.

Honors in Mathematics

Qualified students may plan a program to graduate with honors in mathematics. The following are the requirements for graduation with Honors in Mathematics:

Grade point average of at least 3.7 in mathematics and statistics courses
Overall grade point average of at least 3.25
Completion of two of the following:
- an honors seminar (can be the Putnam Seminar)
- an upper-level theoretical course
- an approved independent study project leading to a paper or presentation

Interested students should see the Curriculum Coordinator in their junior year or early in their senior year to plan an “honors program.”

Putnam Seminar

The Putnam Seminar is a problem-solving seminar offered under the course number MATH 3900. Under the direction of a faculty member students practice techniques for solving very challenging problems. Students in the seminar may participate in the William Lowell Putnam national intercollegiate mathematics competition.