Program mission statement
Mathematical principles underpin four of the original seven liberal arts
(arithmetic, geometry, logic, and astronomy). The mission of the Saint
Martin's University mathematics department is to continue this tradition by
emphasizing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a quantitative
framework to enhance our students’ decision-making abilities. Courses in the
mathematics department are tailored to meet the needs of a wide variety of
students. In particular, our courses will provide mathematics majors with a
strong foundation in traditional mathematical skills, content knowledge in
core areas of mathematics, methods of making rigorous arguments with
axiomatic systems, and applying analytic, algebraic, and algorithmic
solutions to applied problems; provide science and engineering majors with
the mathematical and statistical backgrounds required for their fields of
study; provide business majors with courses to give them a foundation in
applied calculus and statistics which demonstrate the utility and necessity
of quantitative reasoning for success in business; and, provide liberal arts
majors with an appreciation of the role in mathematics in modern society.
Program goals, objectives and outcomes
The student will:
Knowledge
Demonstrate content knowledge in at least three of the following core
areas of mathematics:
- Matrix manipulations, vector spaces, linear transformations and
eigenvalues.
- Construction of probabilistic axioms and distributions; theory and
application of statistical principles.
- Axiomatic systems (e.g., groups and rings).
- Algebraic, order and completeness properties of the real number
system.
Skills
Master traditional mathematical skills including:
- Algebraic representation and manipulation.
- Pattern recognition.
- Problem solving.
- Quantitative reasoning.
Application
Demonstrate application of analytic, algebraic and algorithmic techniques
to solve applied problems
- Include techniques from several areas such as differential
equations, linear transformations, series of functions, statistics,
linear algebra and calculus.
- Use appropriate technology.