The department of mathematical sciences offers a variety of programs to fit individual interests and needs of students preparing for graduate study, teaching, or a career in business or industry.
Logical analysis, precise measurements, forecasting trends and engineering problems of all sorts have a common thread—mathematics. And math has become an even more powerful tool with today's computers.
"In my student days, the environment here allowed me to think through questions and form my own values and perspectives. This was such an important part of my formative years that it became a major reason for me to return as a professor."
Deirdre Smeltzer
Professor of Mathematics and
Chair of the Mathematics Department
Mathematics is the language of problem solving and the analytical skills of a mathematics major compliment EMU's shared global village curriculum to give students the foundation to pursue graduate study or enter fields as diverse as actuarial science, operations research, statistics, cryptography, and systems analysis.
Computers have been used by scientists for over half a century, but in the last decade their influence has expanded from the lab and office to become a part of our everyday lives. A computer science major is a good choice for students interested in devising new ways to use computers, manage computer and network systems, or develop computer programs ranging from payroll systems to climate simulators.
The pre-engineering program is designed for those students interested in both engineering and a Christian liberal arts education. One or two years of study at EMU will give a strong academic base for future study at an engineering school while experiencing the small class size and personal attention available at a small school.
The department also offers minors in mathematics, computer science, and physics.
A mathematics education major jointly administered with the education department provides licensure for secondary teaching. Add-on teaching endorsements in physics and computer science are also available.
In the mathematical sciences department, you'll find professors who are accessible. Most of the major courses have fewer than 15 students, so students know their professors individually, in a way that could not happen at a larger school. Professors teach valuable skills, of course, but they also make special efforts to relate it to life—and to God's call for Christian service.
The faculty offices, labs and classrooms are located in the Suter Science Center.
