2019-2020 BSC Catalog

96 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Mathematics
Bachelor of Science
Jeffrey T. Barton, Catherine Cashio, Bernadette Mullins, Allie D. Ray, Douglas A. Riley,
Brett Stiefel
Students often encounter mathematics as a finished product laid out neatly in a
textbook. At Birmingham-Southern College students experience mathematics as a
process that relies on curiosity, intuition, critical thinking, and effective communication
to produce important and useful results. Through taking both theoretical and applied
courses and working closely with faculty, students develop their skills as questioners,
critical thinkers, and communicators of technical material, all abilities valued by
employers in a variety of fields.
The mathematics major welcomes and attracts students with diverse interests and
career goals, and mathematics majors find that they have many options available to
them once they graduate. Many continue their education by attending medical school,
law school, or mathematics graduate school. Some have pursued graduate degrees in
fields ranging from engineering to business administration to biostatistics, while
others have begun their careers in fields including actuarial studies and education with
employers such as NASA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Alabama Power, and many others.
Upon completion of the mathematics major, students will be able to
• use mathematical methods to solve quantitative problems
• write a valid proof of a mathematical statement
• present a coherent explanation of mathematical work to a group of peers
Major Requirements
The following courses are required (13 units):
MA 231
MA 232
MA 310
MA 311
MA 335
MA 451 or MA 455
MA 458 or MA 461
MA 470
MA 472 or MA 499
four additional units from the following, at least three of which must be in MA, at
least one of which must be at the 300 or 400 level:
CAC 170
MA 207
MA 240
MA 305
MA 317
MA 320
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2019-2020