Ross Crocker '12
While Hendrix College has a great math department, it is
focused mostly on the area of pure mathematics. This is a problem for students
like me who want to study math but are not interested in further study of pure
mathematics. I loved Calculus 1 and 2, Multivariable Calculus, Differential
Equations, etc., but over the last two years I have come to realize that
courses involving heavy emphasis on proofs simply do not interest me as much as
courses such as those listed above. As such, I feel that it would be more
beneficial for me to focus on courses that place emphasis on applied
mathematics. I am therefore proposing an interdisciplinary major in Applied
Mathematics so that I may continue to study math at Hendrix while also pursuing
an area of interest to me.
The Applied Mathematics major that I am proposing is
actually not very different from the Mathematics major currently offered at
Hendrix. Three courses would be added and two courses in the regular major
would be replaced with what I feel better fits an Applied Mathematics major.
The added courses would be PHYS 230 General
Physics I (Calculus-Based), PHYS 240 General
Physics II (Calculus-Based), and CSCI 150 Foundations of Computer Science I. The physics courses would add
more substance to the major, since physics is very much involved in the
application of mathematics. The course in computer science would serve to
provide an introductory knowledge of programming, which would be helpful in the
study and application of mathematics. The courses that would be omitted are the
two-course sequence of either MATH 320 Algebra and MATH 420 Seminar in Algebra
or MATH 350 Real Analysis and MATH
450 Seminar in Analysis. Since
Hendrix does not offer upper-level courses in applied math, I would replace
this sequence with a two-course sequence of MATH 4305 Applied Mathematics I and MATH 4306 Applied Mathematics II at the University of Central Arkansas. These
courses would serve to enhance my skills in applied math and better prepare me
for work and further study in the field of applied math. Essentially, the added
and replaced courses would help me to gain a much vaster knowledge of the area
in which I want to be involved.
The Capstone experience for this major would be the MATH 497
Senior Seminar course required of all
Hendrix Mathematics majors. I believe that this capstone logically fits the
proposed major, since a senior research project in applied math could be
developed in much the same way projects for pure math are.
If l pursue this major, I feel that I will be graduating
from Hendrix College with a much stronger background in applied mathematics
than is currently available to me, along with a strong introductory background
in pure mathematics. In general, I know that this major would contribute to a
more enjoyable Hendrix experience for me and would better prepare me for the
type of work I hope to pursue in the future.
The courses included in the proposed major in Applied
Mathematics are as follows:
- MATH 130 Calculus
I
- MATH 140 Calculus
II
- CSCI 150 Foundations
of Computer Science I
- PHYS 230 General
Physics I (Calculus-Based)
- PHYS 240 General
Physics II (Calculus-Based)
- MATH 230 Multivariable
Calculus
- MATH 240 Discrete
Mathematics
- MATH 260 Differential
Equations
- MATH 290 Introduction
to Advanced Mathematics
- MATH 310 Mathematical
Probability and Statistics
- MATH 340 Combinatorics
- One of the following:
- •MATH 490 Advanced
Topics in Mathematics
- •An upper level math course taken at UCA numbered
3000 or higher
- A two-course sequence taken at UCA consisting of
- •MATH 4305 Applied
Mathematics I and
- •MATH 4306 Applied
Mathematics II
The senior capstone experience is the year-long MATH 497
Senior Seminar course.
These courses also satisfy the normal math major
requirements, which require MATH 130, MATH 140, MATH 240, and MATH 290 as well
as two math courses numbered 230 or higher (see MATH 230 and MATH 260) and
three math courses numbered 300 or higher (see MATH 310, MATH 340, and either
MATH 490 or MATH 3000+).
See the original document.