Mathematics Department member Terrie Short (left) and some of her students.
Reproduced from "Pathways to the Future," CSU Stanislaus, 1999.
The University
California State University, Stanislaus, is located in the northern San Joaquin Valley. The modern, well-kept campus is in a rural setting midway between the San Francisco Bay Area and Yosemite National Park. The University considers good teaching to be the primary duty of its faculty. The University has an excellent modern library, and all students have easy access to the entire library collection. There are up-to-date computer facilities for all students. There are rich and varied cultural programs throughout the entire year. There are also a large variety of extracurricular and athletic programs.
The Department Of Mathematics
The programs of the Department of Mathematics are fully accredited and have a reputation for quality. One important measure of the reputation and quality of our programs is the fact that over the years our graduates have been very successful in entering the careers of their choices. Another important measure of the reputation and quality of our programs is the number of graduate fellowships given to our graduates by many of the best known mathematics departments in the country.
We emphasize personal attention for our students.
- Courses for mathematics majors taught by regular faculty only,
- Generous access to faculty for help outside of class time,
- Small class sizes, and
- Tutoring services available to all students.
We use no teaching assistants. All courses for mathematics majors are taught by our regular full-time faculty. Our lower division courses for mathematics majors almost always have 35 or fewer students. Our upper division courses for mathematics majors almost always have 25 or fewer students. Most of the courses in the other departments of the University are also taught by regular faculty members and have small class sizes.
Bachelor Of Arts In Mathematics
Preparation For Careers Teaching Mathematics
Job Prospects
There has been an acute shortage of mathematics teachers at the high school and junior high school levels for several years. Since a large proportion of the mathematics teachers are reaching retirement age, there should be an even greater shortage in the years to come. It is expected that within the next few years there will also be a great shortage of mathematics teachers at the community college and university levels. A large proportion of the community college faculty are reaching retirement age. An even larger proportion of the university faculty are reaching retirement age, and our graduate schools have not been producing enough mathematicians with doctor's degrees to replace those who are about to retire. Consequently, it is expected that there will be good job opportunities for teachers of mathematics at all levels for many years to come.
The Rewards Of A Career Teaching Mathematics
- The excitement of seeing a student begin to understand a concept that you have been explaining,
- The satisfaction of seeing your students master what so many find difficult to understand,
- Job security and good fringe benefits,
- Long vacations to pursue other interests.
Preparation For A Career Teaching Mathematics
Complete the degree Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. To teach at the high school or junior high school level, complete an approved mathematics subject matter preparation program as part of the bachelor of arts degree. Then enter a credential program to obtain a single subject teaching credential for mathematics. To teach at the community college level follow the bachelor of arts degree with a master's degree that qualifies for a community college teaching credential. To teach at the university level obtain a doctor's degree in mathematics.
Preparation For Advanced Study In Mathematics And Its Applications
Job Prospects
It is expected that there will be good opportunities in the years to come for persons with advanced degrees in mathematics. The job prospects for teaching at the community college and university levels are described above. It is also expected that there will be good opportunities for research mathematicians because so many in this profession are also reaching retirement age.
The Rewards Of Careers Requiring Advanced Degrees In Mathematics
The rewards of teaching careers are described above. Research mathematicians have many of the same rewards as teachers of mathematics. They also have the thrill of discovery and the satisfaction of creative invention. The discoveries and inventions of mathematicians have frequently made possible significant advances in science and technology.
Preparation For Careers Requiring Advanced Degrees In Mathematics
Complete the degree Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. Then enter an appropriate master's or doctor's degree program in mathematics or its applications.
Bachelor Of Science In Mathematics
Preparation For Careers In Industry, Business, And Government
Preparation For Careers In Conjunction With Engineering And Science
Job Prospects
The Federal government has been predicting that there will be an acute shortage of trained scientific and technical personnel, especially those with strong mathematics backgrounds. A large proportion of the people in these professions are getting close to retirement age. Many are taking advantage of their years of experience to move into management positions in the scientific, engineering, and technical industries. At the current time, the United States is not producing enough scientific and technical personnel to replace these people. As the economy of the United States restructures in the post cold war era, new high tech industries are expected to develop increasing the demand for highly trained scientific and technical personnel. The Federal government is spending millions of dollars each year on educational programs to head off this impending shortage.
The Rewards Of Careers In Applied Mathematics
- The satisfaction of helping to develop new or improved goods or services for industry, business, government, or consumers.
- The satisfaction of helping to improve the efficiency of the production or delivery of goods or services for industry, business, government or consumers.
- The excitement of being among the first to apply new discoveries in science and technology to the development, production, or delivery of new goods or services.
- Well paid jobs with good fringe benefits and opportunities to move up into management.
Preparation For Careers In Applied Mathematics
Complete the degree Bachelor of Science in Mathematics selecting appropriate electives and appropriate complementary courses in other disciplines.
Subject Areas in The Bachelor Of Science Degree Program
Mathematical Computing
Mathematical Computing is the study of mathematical algorithms and their
computer implementation, which are used to solve problems in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and many other areas. For example, one important application of mathematical computing is the design of aircraft. The differential equations which describe the air flow over a wing are well known, but are not solvable by analytical methods. Approximation methods must be used. Algorithms are designed to approximate the solution to a specified degree of accuracy, and computer programs are written to do the computations.
There are many problems which can be solved by approximation methods. Some of these are weather prediction, the analysis of seismic data for oil exploration, the design of computer chips, and fluid dynamics. The design of a successful computer program permits computer experiments which are far cheaper and faster than physical experiments. For example, modern aircraft design and testing is done almost exclusively by computer rather than using a wind tunnel. Other experiments are possible only on a computer: for example, the study of radioactive fallout from a nuclear disaster.
The most important part of mathematical computing is numerical analysis, which is the study of the design and analysis of algorithms. The design of an algorithm is generally based on a mathematical process encountered in calculus or linear algebra. The goal is to approximate the solution to a specified degree of accuracy with a finite number of arithmetic operations. After an algorithm is found it must be analyzed for accuracy, efficiency, and other properties that would make it practical. Then a computer program to implement the algorithm must be written, analyzed for computational efficiency and accuracy, and tested. A successful solution of the original problem is one that has addressed both the mathematics and the computational aspects of the problem.
Many important practical problems have been solved or partially solved, but many remain unsolved. Their solutions will require the discovery of new algorithms and possibly more advanced computers. Our society will continue to need solutions to complex problems which can only be solved by the methods of mathematical computing. Consequently, those who study mathematical computing can expect interesting and rewarding career opportunities.
Operations Research
Operations research is a relatively new branch of mathematics that deals with the problems of the optimal allocation of resources. Various techniques of operations research have been developed over the past sixty years to deal with the increasingly complex problems involved in the manufacturing of products and their distribution, designing the structure of an organization, and the delivery of services. Operations research is used extensively for decision making in industry, business, the military, government agencies, and other large organizations.
Operations research is used to solve a variety of inventory problems: for example, when to reorder the various items in an inventory so as to minimize the chances of running out or any item while simultaneously reducing the total cost of maintaining the inventory. Operations research is used to solve many scheduling problems: for example, determining optimal overhaul schedule for engines which would virtually eliminate any chance of engine failure while simultaneously minimizing the total cost of the maintenance of the fleet of aircraft. Operations research is used to solve many mix problems: for example, how much of each ingredient on the market should be bought so that the mixture would provide the cattle all the needed nutrients at the least possible cost.
Job opportunities in operations research have grown steadily over the years. The current restructuring of American industry and business for greater efficiency promises to provide more job opportunities in operations research in the near future.
Statistics
Statistics is the branch of mathematics used to help make decisions when there is uncertainty or incomplete information. Statistics uses data from past experiences to make predictions about the future and assess the reliability of those predictions.
Statistics is used to assess the potential impact of various activities and materials on our environment. Statistics is used to determine if new medical procedures and new drugs are both safe and effective. Statistics is used in manufacturing to maintain quality control and to determine the reliability both the products themselves and the process by which they are manufactured. Statistics is used in the insurance industry to determine the rates to be charged for the various policies and to insure that the insurance companies will be able to pay all legitimate claims that they might receive. Statistics is used in government to assess the potential impact of new laws. Statistics is used in business to determine if financial reports are accurate. Statistics is also an important tool in operations research. An example of this is determining where to locate the ambulances in a large city so as to minimize the average response time to emergency calls.
Job opportunities for statisticians have been steady over the years. Statistician have always been among the best paid scientific and technical personnel in the United States.
Our Address And Telephone Numbers
Viji Sundar, Chair
vsundar@csustan.edu
Department of Mathematics
California State University, Stanislaus
One University Circle
Turlock, CA 95382
Telephone: (209) 667-3461
FAX: (209) 667-3848
Katherine E. Cravinho, Adminstrative Support Coordinator
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