Mathematics is a vital function in everything from aviation to medicine to finance to computer science, and the B.S. in Mathematics program at Marshall University in West Virginia provides a broad scope of disciplines and opportunities to apply them to real-world challenges.
As a basis for other sciences — such as physics, chemistry and biology — as well as business, engineering, education, and forecasting and analytics in any field, a degree in mathematics can prepare you for a vast array of career options. We at Marshall University strive to offer our mathematics students opportunities to stretch themselves in applied mathematics and statistics, exploring new mathematics areas and having opportunities to present their research nationally or even internationally. Our mathematics students also apply their knowledge to community-based projects here in the Huntington, West Virginia, region, in partnership with local agencies.
Study mathematics to not only to understand the workings of the world, but to prepare for an impactful and fulfilling career.
Why study Mathematics at Marshall University?
The B.S. in Mathematics at Marshall is taught by experienced faculty with have extensive research and awards of their own. They know the excitement of mathematics and statistical challenges and they provide their students with chances to seek grant opportunities for research projects, as well as chances to travel from the Huntington, West Virginia, campus and showcase their findings at mathematics-related conferences, where they network with experts and peers in the field. Our faculty also give students personalized attention to tailor their academic schedules to their interests and help them seek chances to get their mathematics and statistical research published.
Students in the Department of Mathematics here at Marshall University have the opportunity to take deep dives into a variety of mathematics disciplines, with coursework in:
Students earning a B.S. in Mathematics also have had make a real difference in the state of West Virginia and the Huntington area, as they apply their knowledge to finding solutions to real-life situations through the specialized hands-on learning project.
The Mathmatics department takes pride in its highly credentialed and dedicated faculty, with a majority holding terminal degrees in their research specialties. Mathematics students benefit from the department’s robust commitment to quality academic and career advising.
Marshall also is home to one of, if not the nation’s only, publicly accessible Differential Analyzer Laboratory. A differential analyzer is a mechanical device that solves differential equations by simulating them on physical components. They were used extensively in the early 20th Century, before digital computers were able to solve differential equations.
Career Outlook for Applied Mathematics Majors
Earning a B.S. in Mathematics is a foundation for many advanced and well-paying careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for mathematicians in 2019 was $105,030, and the median pay for statisticians in 2019 was $91,160. The expected job growth for 2018-2028 was 30%.
Mathematics jobs include the following and many more:
Mathematics also applies to jobs in the fields of engineering, education, research, business, medicine, data mining and much more.
Opportunities for Applied Mathematics Majors
Marshall University works hard to give students earning a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for exposure in the field.
Real-world learning
The university established the Preparation for Industrial Careers in Mathematics project to get students involved in finding solutions for community-based mathematics questions. Examples of studies that students have worked on as part of the PIC project include “Optimizing Refuse Collection in Huntington,” and “Optimizing Ambulance Service in Wayne County, West Virginia.” Both projects improve the efficiency of how taxpayer dollars are spent while improving service.
Travel and exposure
Our students also have traveled to the national Mathematics Association of America conference to present their research, some of them earning awards and stipends for their efforts. Some examples of Marshall mathematics students’ award-winning or grant-earning projects include “Explicit Construction of Regular Polygons,” and “On the Existence of Primitive Cycle Systems.”
Having earned a National Science Foundation grant, Marshall mathematics students traveled to Singapore in 2018 to present their own research at the international Conference on Combinatorics and its Applications. Their presentations included, “On Primitive Cycle Decompositions of Complete Graphs” and “On Monochromatic Sets of Cardinality 2 of Nondecreasing Diameter.” Marshall faculty presented research their as well, “On Erasure Batch Codes.”
Such experiences help students gain confidence in their abilities and be exposed to some of the country’s and the world’s finest mathematicians.
On-campus activities
Mathematics students also can participate in the Marshall chapter of the national mathematics honor society Pi Mu Epsilon, as well as benefiting from colloquium presentations about various math topics. The Department of Mathematics also hosts the Advanced Research Initiative series, for which a distinguished speaker comes to campus to discuss two different mathematics-related subjects.
Four Year Plan
- General Education Course
- Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| ENG 101
|
Beginning Composition | 3 |
| MTH 229
|
Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) | 5 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CS 110 | Computer Science I | 3 |
| MTH 230
|
Calculus/Analytic Geom II | 4 |
| Core I Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| CMM 103
|
Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| Core II Social Science | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MTH 231
|
Calculus/Analytic Geom III | 4 |
| MTH 300 | Intro to Higher Math | 4 |
| ENG 201
|
Advanced Composition | 3 |
| Core II Physical/Natural Sicence | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MTH 331 | Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MTH 335 | Ordinary Diff Equations | 3 |
| COS Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MTH 427 | Advanced Calculus I | 3 |
| STA 445 | Probability & Statistics I | 3 |
| Multicultural or International | 3 | |
| COS Physical/Natural Science | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MTH 428 | Advanced Calculus II | 3 |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| 300/400 MTH or STA Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MTH 443 | Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| MTH 450 | Modern Algebra I | 3 |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MTH 452 | Modern Algebra II | 3 |
| MTH 490
or MTH 491
|
Internship in Mathematics or Senior Seminar |
2 |
| 300/400 MTH or STA Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- General Education Course
A mastery-based course that will prepare students for college algebra.
An abridged mastery-based course that will prepare students for College Algebra.
Pre-req: MTH 098 with a minimum grade of CR or MTH 100 or MTH 121B or MTH 121 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 100.
Concepts and Applications (CT)3 Credit hours Critical thinking course for non-science majors that develops quantitative reasoning skills. Topics include logical thinking, problem-solving, linear modeling, beginning statistics and probability, exponential and logarithmic models, formula use, and financial concepts. Critical thinking course for non-science majors that develops quantitative reasoning skills. Topics include logical thinking, problem-solving, linear modeling, beginning statistics and probability, exponential and logarithmic models, formula use, and financial concepts.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 19 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 460 or MTH 0XX or Placement Math with a score of 100 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 101 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 241 or Math Workshop-UC with a score of 100 or WMTH 002 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 099 with a minimum grade of CR or MTH 102 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 100 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 102B with a minimum grade of C or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 510.
Cncpts & Apps-Expanded (CT)4 Credit hours Critical thinking course for non-science majors that develops quantitative reasoning skills. Topics include logical thinking, linear modeling, statistics and probability, exponential and logarithmic modeling, and financial concepts, with arithmetic review.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 23 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 540.
Plane Trigonometry3 Credit hours Definitions of circular functions; graphs of the trigonometric functions, trigonometric identities, and applications.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 22 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 520 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 540 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 103 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 257 or MTH 127 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 130 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C.
College Algebra-Expanded5 Credit hours A brief but careful review of the main techniques of algebra. Polynomials, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Graphs, equations and inequalities, sequences.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 17 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 400 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 460 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 101 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 237 or MTH 0XX or Placement Math with a score of 100 or Math Workshop-UC with a score of 100 or WMTH 002 or MTH 099 with a minimum grade of CR or MTH 102 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 102B with a minimum grade of C.
College Algebra3 Credit hours Polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Graphs, equations and inequalities, sequences.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 21 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 500 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 530 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 102 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 250.
Precalculus with Sci Applica5 Credit hours Functions used in calculus including polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric. Systems of equations and inequalities, conic sections, polar and parametric equations, sequences and series, Binomial Theorem. Functions used in calculus including polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric. Systems of equations and inequalities, conic sections, polar and parametric equations, sequences and series, Binomial Theorem.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 24 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 560 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 570 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 104 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 263 or MTH 127 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 130 with a minimum grade of C.
Applied Calculus3 Credit hours A brief survey of calculus including both differentiation and integration with applications.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 24 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 560 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 570 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 104 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 263 or MTH 127 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 130E with a minimum grade of C or MTH 130 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 130H with a minimum grade of C or MTH 132 with a minimum grade of C.
Applied Calculus Honors3 Credit hours A brief survey of calculus including both differentiation and integration with applications. This honors course will also introduce topics from differential equations with applications.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 24 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 560 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 570.
Applied Math Reasoning (CT)5 Credit hours A critical thinking course in applied mathematical reasoning. Topics include logic, problem solving, linear modeling, beginning statistics and probability, exponential and logarithmic modeling, formula use.
Pre-req: SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 400 or ACT Math with a score of 17 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 460 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 101 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 237 or MTH 099 with a minimum grade of CR or MTH 102 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 102B with a minimum grade of C or MTH 127 with a minimum grade of C.
Discrete Structures3 Credit hours Sets, relations, directed and undirected graphs, monoids, groups, lattices, Boolean algebra, and propositional logic.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 27 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 610 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 630 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 105 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 276 or MTH 132 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 140 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 229 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 229H with a minimum grade of C.
Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT)5 Credit hours An introduction to calculus and analytic geometry, emphasizing critical thinking. Limits, derivatives, and integrals of the elementary functions of one variable, including transcendental functions.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 27 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 610 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 630 or Placement Math After SP17 with a score of 105 or Placement Math SP20 with a score of 276 or MTH 132 with a minimum grade of C.
Calculus I Honors (CT)5 Credit hours An introduction to calculus and analytic geometry for honors students, emphasizing critical thinking. Limits, derivatives, and integrals of the elementary functions of one variable, including transcendental functions.
Pre-req: ACT Math with a score of 27 or SAT Mathematics Before Mar. 16 with a score of 610 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE with a score of 630.
Calculus/Analytic Geom II4 Credit hours A study of the conics and transcendental functions, techniques of integration, improper integrals, indeterminate forms and infinite series.
Pre-req: MTH 229 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 229H with a minimum grade of C.
Calculus/Analytic Geom III4 Credit hours Analytic geometry of two and three dimensions, partial differentiation, and multiple integrals. Analytic geometry of two and three dimensions, partial dif- ferentiation, and multiple integrals.
Pre-req: MTH 230 with a minimum grade of C.
A transition between elementary calculus and higher mathematics with emphasis on techniques of proofs.
Pre-req: MTH 230 with a minimum grade of C.
Systems of linear equations, matrices and determinants, vector spaces, linear transformations, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and applications. Systems of linear equations, matrices and determinants, vector spaces, linear transformations, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and applications.
Pre-req: MTH 229 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 229H with a minimum grade of C.
Vector spaces, matrices and determinants, linear transformations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and applications.
Pre-req: MTH 300 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C.
A study of differential equations, their solutions, and applications to physical systems, emphasizing closed-form solving methods. Laplace transforms, orthogonal functions, approximation and numerical methods with applications.
Pre-req: MTH 230 with a minimum grade of C.
An introductory survey of complex numbers, analytic functions, properties of elementary functions, integrals, series, residues and poles, with a focus on practical applications.
Pre-req: MTH 231 with a minimum grade of C.
A course in n-dimensional calculus: the derivative, the integral, and applications. Coordinate-free methods are emphasized.
Pre-req: MTH 231 with a minimum grade of C.
Emphasis on the language of Modern Elementary Algebra. Recommended for pre-service elementary teachers and for elementary and secondary in-service teachers. May not be used for either a degree offered by the Department of Mathematics or for a 7-9 or 7-12 mathematics specialization. Emphasis on the language of Modern Elementary Algebra. Recommended for pre-service elementary teachers and for elementary and secondary in-service teachers. May not be used for either a degree offered by the Department of Mathematics or for a 7-9 or 7-12 mathematics specialization.
Pre-req: MTH 130 with a minimum grade of C.
Informal development of geometry. Recommended for preservice elementary teachers and for elementary and secondary inservice teachers. May not be used for either a degree offered by the Department of Mathematics or for a 7-9 or 7-12 mathematics specialization.
Pre-req: MTH 130 with a minimum grade of C or MTH 127 with a minimum grade of C.
Content and content-specific pedagogy for secondary mathematics education majors. Content and content-specific pedagogy for secondary mathematics education majors.
Pre-req: Admitted to Teacher ED with a score of 5.
A study of the history of mathematics from the time of the ancient Greeks to the end of the nineteenth century. A study of the history of mathematics from the time of the ancient Greeks to the end of the nineteenth century.
Pre-req: MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C.
Students work in teams to construct mathematical models of various real-world situations. Problems to be modeled are drawn from diverse areas of application and use a wide range of undergraduate mathematics. Students work in teams to construct mathematical models of various real-world situations. Problems to be modeled are drawn from diverse areas of application and use a wide range of undergraduate mathematics.
Pre-req: MTH 231 with a minimum grade of C.
Differential equations. Heat Equation, Laplace's Equation, separation of variables, Fourier series, vibrating strings, eigenvalue problems, finite differences, Bessel functions, Legendre polynomials. Differential equations. Heat Equation, Laplace's Equation, separation of variables, Fourier series, vibrating strings, eigenvalue problems, finite differences, Bessel functions, Legendre polynomials.
Pre-req: MTH 331 with a minimum grade of C and MTH 335 with a minimum grade of C.
Differential equations are studied qualitatively. Topics include the existence and uniqueness of solutions and the behavior of solutions including stability of nonlinear systems, periodic solutions, and approximation using pertubation methods. Differential equations are studied qualitatively. Topics include the existence and uniqueness of solutions and the behavior of solutions including stability of nonlinear systems, periodic solutions, and approximation using pertubation methods.
Pre-req: MTH 300 and MTH 335.
The number system, limits, sequences, partial differentiation with applications, maxima and minima of functions of several variables. Theory of definite integrals, multiple integrals, line and surface integrals, improper integrals, infinite series.
Pre-req: MTH 231 with a minimum grade of C and MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C.
The number system, limits, sequences, partial differentiation with applications, maxima and minima of functions of several variables. Theory of definite integrals, multiple integrals, line and surface integrals, improper integrals, infinite series.
Pre-req: MTH 427 with a minimum grade of C.
First course in topology. Basics of point-set topology: metric and topological spaces, continuity, connectedness, compactness, products, quotients. Surfaces and simplicial complexes, Euler characteristics.
Pre-req: MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C.
First course in algebraic topology. Homotopy, fundamental group, simplicial homology.
Pre-req: MTH 430 with a minimum grade of C and MTH 450 with a minimum grade of C.
This course is designed to introduce students in mathematical sciences to the theorems, techniques, and applications of graph theory and combinatorics. This course is designed to introduce students in mathematical sciences to the theorems, techniques, and applications of graph theory and combinatorics.
Pre-req: MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C.
Direct and iterative methods for numerical solution of linear systems of equations. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Error Analysis and norms. Related topics.
Pre-req: MTH 331 with a minimum grade of C.
The theory and technique of numerical computation involving the difference calculus, the summation calculus, interpolation methods, solution of systems of equations, and methods of solution of ordinary differential equations.
Pre-req: MTH 331 with a minimum grade of C.
Finite geometrics, basic background material for the modern development of Euclidean Geometry, other geometries. Finite geometrics, basic background material for the modern development of Euclidean Geometry, other geometries.
Pre-req: MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C.
Projective Geometry using both synthetic and algebraic methods. Projective Geometry using both synthetic and algebraic methods.
Pre-req: MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C.
Structure of the abstract mathematical systems; groups, rings, fields, with illustrations and applications from number theory.
Pre-req: MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C and MTH 331 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C.
Continuation of MTH 450.
Pre-req: MTH 450 with a minimum grade of C.
A survey of some basic properties of the integers: divisibility (prime numbers, factorization, perfect numbers), congruences (modular arithmetic, linear and quadratic congruences, the Chinese Remainder Theorem), and Diophantine equations.
Pre-req: MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C.
Internship in Mathematics2-12 Credit hours A supervised internship in an area of mathematics, applied mathematics, or statistics. By permission only.
Pre-req: MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C.
Senior Seminar2 Credit hours Capstone experience in reading, doing writing and speaking mathematics. Student will explore topics related to a theme chosen by the instructor.
Pre-req: MTH 300 with a minimum grade of C.