Mathematics at Whittier College
Abi Fattahi, Chair
Sharad Keny
Jeff Lutgen
Jeff Miller
Greg Miller
R. Fritz Smith
Eric Sundberg
Mathematics is one of the original liberal arts and serves as the foundation underlying much of modern science and engineering. It is a rigorous discipline, but one in which a creative mind can flourish and excel. Graduates with a mathematics major generally work in business or industry, teach, or pursue graduate studies in mathematics or operations research. The Mathematics Department offers courses designed to prepare majors for their pursuits and courses designed to serve the needs of non-mathematics majors. Given their reputation for improving one’s logical reasoning abilities, mathematics courses attract many non-mathematical majors.
All new students, except those with AP calculus scores of 4 or higher, must take the Mathematics Placement Examination to determine their mathematical preparation for placement in Whittier College mathematics courses.
The Liberal Education Program mathematics requirement can be satisfied by taking MATH 75, 85, 139A, 141A, 141B, 241 or by advanced placement credit.
Students in Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, or Pre-Engineering should begin the calculus sequence in the freshman year. Those not prepared to do so during the first term should begin with 76 or 85, or 139A, depending on their preparation.
The department also participates in an interdisciplinary Mathematics-Business major.
Guidelines for a Major in Mathematics
In addition to the Major in Mathematics, the department offers a Major in Mathematics with Teaching Credential Emphasis for students who plan to teach high school mathematics. Teaching Credential students should contact the Department of Education and Child Development for more information on obtaining an appropriate California teaching credential.
Students who plan to enter a graduate program in mathematics should take more than the minimum number of mathematics courses; these students should work closely with an advisor from the Department of Mathematics to choose appropriate additional mathematics courses.
Core courses for both options:
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, MATH 141A or Integrated Precalculus/Calculus, 139A,B, 4--7 credits
Calculus and Analytic Geometry II, MATH 141B, 4 credits
Calculus and Analytic Geometry III, MATH 241, 4 credits
Abstract Thinking, MATH 280, 3 credits
Linear Algebra, MATH 380, 3 credits
Senior Seminar, MATH 491, 3 credits
I Major in Mathematics
In addition to the core courses, this option requires seven additional mathematics courses, five of which must be at the 300 level or higher. These seven courses must include at least one course from each of groups A, B, and C below.
A. Analysis and Geometry Courses (at least one)
Advanced Geometry, MATH 320, 3 credits
Complex Variables, MATH 344, 3 credits
Differential Equations I, MATH 345A, 3 credits
Differential Equations II, MATH 345B, 3 credits
Point Set Topology, MATH 360, 3 credits
Introduction to Analysis I, MATH 440A, 3 credits
Introduction to Analysis II, MATH 440B, 3 credits
B. Algebra and Discrete Mathematics Courses (at least one)
Discrete Mathematics, MATH 220, 3 credits
Number Theory, MATH 305, 3 credits
Modern Algebra I, MATH 480A, 3 credits
Modern Algebra II, MATH 480B, 3 credits
C. Applied Mathematics Courses (at least one)
Probability and Statistics, MATH 315, 3 credits
Numerical Analysis, MATH 350, 3 credits
Mathematical Modeling, MATH 354, 3 credits
Quantum Mechanics, PHYS 350, 3 credits
or another upper-division Mathematics course or an upper- division course in another department. This course must be for at least 3 credits, involve an application of mathematics to another field, and be approved by the Mathematics Department faculty.
In addition, at least two of these seven courses must be on the list of Abstract Courses below.
Abstract Courses (at least two of the above must be from this list)
Advanced Geometry, MATH 320, 3 credits
Point Set Topology, MATH 360, 3 credits
Introduction to Analysis I, MATH 440A, 3 credits
Introduction to Analysis II, MATH 440B, 3 credits
Modern Algebra I, MATH 480A, 3 credits
Modern Algebra II, MATH 480B, 3 credits
II Major in Mathematics with Teaching Credential Emphasis
In addition to the core courses, this option requires the following eight courses:
Programming I, COSC 120, 3 credits
Discrete Mathematics, MATH 220, 3 credits
Number Theory, MATH 305, 3 credits
Probability and Statistics, MATH 315, 3 credits
Advanced Geometry, MATH 320, 3 credits
History of Mathematics, MATH 400, 3 credits
Introduction to Analysis I, MATH 440A, 3 credits
Modern Algebra I, MATH 480A, 3 credits
Guidelines for a Minor in Mathematics
A minor in mathematics requires 20--23 credits: MATH 139A,B or MATH 141A; MATH 141B; MATH 280; and 9 credits of upper-division Mathematics courses.
Course Descriptions
220* Discrete Mathematics
Sequences; recursion and recurrence relations; finite-state automata; elementary set theory; graphs and trees; elementary probablility and combinatorics. One semester, 3 credits
280 Abstract Thinking
Designed to bridge the gap between lower-and upper-division mathematics courses. Deals with sets, applications of logic, propositional and predicate calculus, techniques of mathematical proofs, relations, functions, number systems, mathematical induction, algebraic structures. Prerequisite: 141A,B. One semester, 3 credits.