About the Major
Mathematics continues to be a vibrant and growing
discipline. At Ramapo College students can find a mathematics program
that is challenging, up-to-date, and tailored to meet their career
needs. Students are offered the choice between a traditional major
and one concentrating on teacher education. A blend of pure and applied
mathematics courses is offered to provide students with a firm and
diverse foundation. This gives the student the opportunity to pursue
graduate study, to teach at the secondary or elementary school level,
or to seek employment in industry or government.
Students are expected and encouraged to become familiar with emerging
technologies. Mathematics is no longer simply a traditional subject
of instruction, it is also an important tool in developing these new
technologies. Mathematics majors at Ramapo College take at least one
semester of computer science, use graphing calculators in the Calculus
sequence, and continue to develop their technological skills in higher
level mathematics courses. This incorporation of computers and graphing
calculators helps students develop the skills necessary to meet the
challenges of the technology age.
Mathematics education is facing new and important challenges. The need for mathematics teachers is currently strong and expected to grow. The mathematics
program at Ramapo College prepares students for careers in education.
Through the
teacher education concentration within the mathematics major. This
program is tailored to provide the background and insights needed
for a career in secondary education. In addition to the standard calculus-analysis
sequence, students receive instruction in algebra, geometry, number
theory, probability, statistics, and the history of mathematics. Mathematics
majors intending to pursue a career in elementary education will also
benefit from the diversity of courses offered in the teacher education
concentration. Students receive additional instruction in the practices
and methods of teaching education. In their senior year, they spend
a semester student teaching in area schools.
A knowledge of mathematics offers students a diversity of job opportunities.
Someone who has completed a major in mathematics has developed a strong
set of quantitative and analytical skills. A person possessing such
skills, along with experience in computer science, is well-qualified
to pursue a career in such areas as actuarial science (primarily in
the insurance industry), quantitative analysis (a growing field in
the financial industry), market research, scientific programming,
biomedical statistics, cryptography (one of the nation's largest employers
of mathematicians is the National Security Agency) and diverse other
fields.
Employment opportunities for mathematics graduates exist in the computer
industry, on Wall Street (all trading firms employ people with a mathematics
background), in business, and in science. Many companies today do
large-scale modeling projects which require sophisticated mathematical
analysis.
Students in mathematics can also continue their education in graduate
or professional school. Someone who has pursued a graduate degree
will have, in addition to the opportunities mentioned above, the possibility
of a career in research (many such positions exist in both industry
and government) or in teaching at the college or university level.
Mathematics is a language which is spoken worldwide. The need for
understanding analytical and quantitative concepts is universal. An
education in the mathematical sciences opens the door to a rich, challenging,
and beautiful realm of knowledge.
The faculty in the mathematics program at Ramapo College consists
of dedicated, experienced, and caring instructors. The knowledge of
this faculty encompasses a wide spectrum of the mathematical cosmos.
Whether a student has an interest in mathematical analysis, abstract
algebra, probability and statistics, topology, Fourier analysis, or
graph theory, there will be a faculty member to share that interest.
The ever-increasing importance that the computer plays in our world
is recognized by the mathematics faculty. This faculty has the knowledge
to assist and instruct students in mathematics, computer science,
and the interaction between the two fields.
The mathematics major is offered by the School of Theoretical and
Applied Science and leads to a B.S. degree.
The mathematics minor is an excellent complement to a wide range of
majors.
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