When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Learning goals
- Students acquire sufficient knowledge of fundamental mathematical concepts, methods, and language to support further postgraduate study or a career in areas that require a mathematical background.
- Students develop the ability to communicate mathematical ideas clearly and accurately.
Requirements for the Major in Mathematics
Students complete the equivalent of 55 or 58 semester hours as described.
4 MATH-112 Calculus II
4 MATH-180 Statistical Methods
4 MATH-201 Linear Algebra
4 MATH-211 Multivariate Calculus
4 MATH-221 Discrete Structures
2 MATH-231 Foundations of Analysis
4 MATH-321 Abstract Algebra
4 MATH-353 Differential Equations
4 One 300-level or above mathematics course or PHYS-405 Mathematical Physics
8 Two 400-level mathematics courses
1 or 4 MATH-500 Senior Colloquium
4 CSCI-181 Principles of Computer Science
8 Select one of the following two options:
CSCI-281 Data Structures and one 300-level or above computer science course
PHYS-204 Introductory Physics I (Calculus-based) and PHYS-206 Introductory Physics II
Teacher Certification
Coursework required by the state of Pennsylvania for admission to the teacher certification program includes successful completion of ENGL-100 Writing and Thinking or equivalent course, at least 3 semester hours in British or American literature, at least 6 semester hours of mathematics coursework (or other courses which satisfy the Central Curriculum Analytical Thought requirement), and at least one 40-hour externship.
Education course requirements for secondary education are EDUC-101 Introduction to Education and Society, EDUC-250 Educational Psychology, EDUC-260 Introduction to Special Education, EDUC-270 Instruction of Exceptional Students, EDUC-330 Technology in Education, EDUC-350 English Language Learners: Theory and Instruction, EDUC-380 Instructional Design, EDUC- 423 Methods of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in Teaching Mathematics, EDUC-479 Principles of Learning and Teaching in Secondary Education, EDUC-483 Differentiated Instruction and Classroom Management in Secondary Education, and the EDUC-500 Student Teaching package (EDUC-501, EDUC-502, EDUC-503, and EDUC-600).
In addition, secondary education mathematics students complete all of the usual requirements for the mathematics major. They must satisfy the “one 300-level or above mathematics course” requirement by taking MATH-331 Geometry.
Interdisciplinary Options
Mathematics majors can easily complete a minor in another department. Areas such as accounting, business, computer science, biology, chemistry, physics or a modern language are natural choices. The department also sponsors a business-related minor in actuarial science.
Self-designed major
Highly motivated students whose interests cross traditional departmental lines may also consider a self-designed major. This option provides an integrated program of study from courses in several departments and is described in the majors and minors section.
Capstone
The capstone requirement may be satisfied by the four-semester-hour version of MATH-500 Senior Colloquium. Students need not fulfill the capstone requirement in their major, but they usually do.