Department of Mathematics

Department of Mathematics

Location: 200 Lucas Building

Phone: (409) 880-8792

Chair: Jacqueline Jensen-Vallin

Email: math@lamar.edu

Administrative Coordinator: Dorothy Beckett Rideaux

Program Educational Objectives

Except for one’s native language, mathematics is central to more fields than any other. Whether one studies computer science, economics, engineering, science, social sciences, or the liberal arts, mathematics is the language of any educated person. The Department of Mathematics offers a full range of courses in applied and pure mathematics, mathematics education for elementary and secondary school certification, and statistics. All departmental courses are taught with the goal of transforming students’ thinking and imagination. Foundational courses are designed to empower mathematics majors to handle situations in industry, graduate school, education, or other areas they may choose to pursue. Our professors are passionate about both teaching and research. As a result, mathematics majors not only find teachers who are thoughtful and caring, but they also find professors who are active researchers and seek to engage majors in research opportunities and research seminars.

All mathematics degree programs allow mathematics majors and minors the flexibility to select courses suited to a variety of interests and career goals. Advising plays an integral role in achieving these objectives. Consequently, each mathematics major is assigned an advisor to assist with scheduling and career planning.

The department offers the following B.A., B.S., M.S., and ancillary programs:  

  • Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics: General, Teacher Certification  
  • Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Concentrations: General, Theoretical Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Mathematics Education
  • Post-Baccalaureate Specialization in Mathematics
  • Minor in Mathematics, Statistics
  • Double Major in Mathematics
  • Dual Degree in Mathematics
  • Master of Science in Mathematics

All degrees emphasize traditional mathematics, both as basic science and as a major tool in solving problems, and include a range of electives tailored to meet the needs of the individual student. Careers such as cryptology, actuarial science, biomathematics, mathematical finance, and university research are open to our graduates because of a proper selection of courses and research opportunities.   

In the twenty-first century, mathematics finds itself in an enviable position. Our culture is discovering the power and the beauty of mathematics. Many exciting areas of mathematics are interdisciplinary. The study of knot theory has found applications in the study of DNA. Number theory, an esoteric study until recent times, finds application in cryptology, a field essential to national security. The department’s established faculty are able to offer possibilities in these new, exciting areas of mathematics.

A minor or double major in mathematics can considerably enhance the undergraduate experience for a variety of students, strengthen their resumes, and lead to more satisfying careers. Students are encouraged to seek advice from mathematics faculty early in their decision-making stages. For students who wish to pursue baccalaureate degrees in mathematics, the department offers seven degree plans. Among these plans, the Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics (General) allows flexibility for both general electives and mathematics electives, while the language and minor requirements of this degree ensure a well-rounded education. The Bachelor of Arts with Teaching Certification is specifically designed for those planning to teach mathematics at the secondary (middle and high school) level. The Bachelor of Science in Mathematics offers five areas of concentration. Students with any of the B.S. or B.A. degrees may choose from specialized graduate programs or careers in government, teaching, or industrial job markets

Minimum Degree Requirements

General Education Core Curriculum Requirement. See the Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures for the requirements related to courses in communication, mathematics, life and physical sciences, language, philosophy and culture, creative arts, American history, government and political science, and social and behavioral sciences. The total number of hours required is 42, of which 4 hours are in mathematics and 8 hours are in lab science as listed below. For the Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics (General or Teacher Certification), the communication requirement is to be filled by SPAN 1311 Beginning Spanish I or FREN 1311 Beginning French I. Certain elementary mathematics courses that satisfy the General Education Core Curriculum Requirement do not count toward a degree in mathematics.

Minimum Grade Requirement

A student earning a math major must earn a minimum GPA  of 2.0 with no more than one grade of "D"  in their mathematics courses. The same requirement is applied to any transfer credit. The prerequisites of any course or external exam must also be satisfied with a grade of "C" or better.  Students earning a math minor must a grade of "C" or better in all of their math courses. 

Lab Science Requirement

A student graduating with a baccalaureate degree in Mathematics is required to take 6 hours (preferred 8 hours) of lab science courses chosen from BIOL 1406 General Biology I (Majors) and BIOL 1407 General Biology II (Majors), GEOL 1403 Geology I: Physical Geology and GEOL 1404 Geology II: Historical Geology, or PHYS 2425 University Physics I and PHYS 2426 University Physics II. This requirement is listed as life and physical sciences in the General Education Core Curriculum for B.S. and B.A. Degree Programs below.

Computer (COSC) Science Requirement

A student graduating with a baccalaureate degree in mathematics is required to take at least one programming course chosen from COSC 1336 Programming Fundamentals I or COSC 3306 UNIX/C++. This requirement is listed as COSC in the B.S. and B.A. degree programs. COSC 3306 UNIX/C++ is recommended for majors who have considerable programming experience. COSC 1336 Programming Fundamentals I requires COSC 1173 Programming Lab as a co-requisite. Students who pursue the Applied Mathematics Concentration are encouraged to consider more advanced computer programming courses. Students who are considering mathematics courses with programming components (such as MATH 3321 Discrete Structures or MATH 4315 Introduction to Numerical Analysis) are encouraged to contact the instructor of the course in advance. A student seeking a double major in mathematics, whose original department has a computer science requirement different from the courses listed above, may submit a request for a waiver to the Chair.

Minor or Secondary Area Requirement

A student who pursues a B.A. or B.S. in mathematics must choose a minor in consultation with his or her advisor. Those who pursue teacher certification will have pedagogy as their minor. A student who pursues a B.S. degree may choose a coherent group of courses from several departments as his or her secondary or professional area in consultation with his or her advisor. A minor or secondary area requires a minimum of 21 hours, of which at least 12 hours must be at the junior or senior level.

General Electives Requirement

Each degree plan includes general electives; students will select these courses in consultation with their advisors.

Mathematics Core Requirement

All B.S. and B.A. degrees in mathematics require the satisfactory completion of the following courses (24 hours). Of these, 4 hours are counted toward the General Education Core Curriculum Requirement, while the other 20 hours are noted as Mathematics Core Requirements in each degree plan.

Mathematics Electives Requirement

Students who pursue a degree in mathematics have a certain number of hours of mathematics electives from specified areas depending on their chosen concentration. The approved electives are listed below.

  • B.A. (General): Take any four mathematics electives from any area below.
  • B.A. (Math Education Concentration): No mathematics electives.
  • B.S. (General): Take any five mathematics electives from any area below. 
  • B.S. (Math Education Concentration): Take any one mathematics elective from any area below.

The following is the list of approved electives for B.S., B.A. (general), and double major in mathematics

General Area

Theoretical Math Area

  • MATH 3350 Modern Algebra - Groups or MATH 3351 Modern Algebra - Rings (one must be used for course requirement and the other can be used as an elective)
  • MATH 4310 Introduction to Complex Variables 
  • MATH 4326 Analysis II 
  • MATH 4330 Advanced Linear Algebra 
  • MATH 4340 Introduction to Topology

Applied Math Area

Statistics Area

  • MATH 4313 Introduction to Linear Regression Analysis  
  • MATH 4319 Introduction to Design and Analysis of Experiments 
  • MATH 4380 Intermediate Theory of Statistical Inference 

Programs