Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024

Mathematics, Bachelor of Arts (528P, 528)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/math


Program Coordinator

Ngoc B. Nguyen, ngoc.nguyen@wku.edu, (000) 000-0000

This major is for students that intend to pursue a graduate degree in mathematics, and/or intend to pursue employment in business and industry.  This major does not lead to teacher certification.

Concentrations

  • Fundamental Analysis & Discrete (MAAD)
  • Fundamentals of Applied Mathematics (MAAM)
  • Fundamentals of Math Studies (MAMS)

Admission Requirements

To be fully admitted to the majors in mathematics with reference number 528, students must complete the following admission requirements:

  • Earn a “C” or better in each of the following courses: MATH 136MATH 137, and MATH 307 (or MATH 310).
  • Have an overall GPA of at least 2.4 in the mathematics program courses completed prior to admission (MATH 136MATH 137, and MATH 307 (or MATH 310)).
  • Note: If a course is repeated, then the second grade is used to compute the GPA. If a course is repeated multiple times, then the average of all grades after the first attempt is used to compute the GPA. Students can earn a grade in a course a maximum of three times.

Program Requirements (51 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

A major in mathematics provides a Bachelor of Arts degree and requires either a minimum of 36-39 semester hours for a general major with a minor or second major or a minimum of 51 semester hours for an extended major. Note: All mathematics courses listed as prerequisites for other mathematics courses must have been completed with a grade of “C” or better.

Students who wish to declare a 528 mathematics major will initially be designated as “seeking admission” until the following requirements have been satisfied:  

  • Complete MATH 136MATH 137, and MATH 307 or MATH 310, with a grade of “C” or better in each course.
  • Have an overall GPA of at least 2.4 in mathematics program courses (MATH 136 and above) completed prior to admission.

Students in the extended major (528) are required to satisfy a computational requirement by completing two courses chosen from CS 180CS 290STAT 330MATH 371PHYS 316, or PHYS 318. [If MATH 371 is selected to fulfill this requirement, it cannot also be used as an elective in the extended major (528).] 

To prepare for graduate study in mathematics, the student must complete a minimum of 51 hours of mathematics with the following requirements:

Core Courses
MATH 136Calculus I4
MATH 137Calculus II4
MATH 237Multivariable Calculus4
MATH 307Introduction to Linear Algebra3
MATH 310Introduction to Discrete Mathematics3
MATH 317Introduction to Algebraic Systems3
MATH 337Elements of Real Analysis3
MATH 431Intermediate Analysis I3
MATH 498Senior Seminar1-3
Total Hours28-30

Select one of the following concentrations:

B1: Fundamentals of Analysis and Discrete Mathematics
MATH 417Algebraic Systems3
MATH 439Topology I3
MATH 450Complex Variables3
Select two of the following:6
Theory of Numbers
Geometry I
Algebra and Number Theory
Geometry II
Introduction to Graph Theory
Select six elective hours from the following:6
Introductory Topics in Mathematics (up to 3 hours)
Introductory Probability and Applied Statistics
Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
Theory of Numbers
Geometry I
Differential Equations
Applied Techniques in Mathematics
Advanced Computational Problem Solving (provided MATH 371 was not used to satisfy the computational requirement)
Probability and Statistics I
Seminar (up to 3 hours)
Numerical Analysis I
Numerical Analysis II
History of Mathematics
Algebra and Number Theory
Geometry II
Partial Differential Equations
Introduction to Operations Research
Introduction to Graph Theory
Selected Topics in Mathematics (up to 6 hours)
Probability and Statistics II
Total Hours21
B2: Fundamentals of Applied Mathematics
MATH 331Differential Equations 13
MATH 370Applied Techniques in Mathematics 13
MATH 382Probability and Statistics I 13
MATH 405Numerical Analysis I 13
Select two of the following: 16
Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
Numerical Analysis II
Partial Differential Equations
Introduction to Operations Research
Probability and Statistics II
Select three credit hours of the following:3
Introductory Topics in Mathematics
Introductory Probability and Applied Statistics
Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
Theory of Numbers
Geometry I
Advanced Computational Problem Solving (provided MATH 371 was not used to satisfy the computational requirement)
Seminar
Numerical Analysis II
History of Mathematics
Algebra and Number Theory
Algebraic Systems
Geometry II
Partial Differential Equations
Topology I
Complex Variables
Introduction to Operations Research
Introduction to Graph Theory
Selected Topics in Mathematics
Probability and Statistics II
Total Hours21
B3: Fundamentals of Mathematical Studies
MATH 450Complex Variables3
Select two of the following:6
Numerical Analysis I
Numerical Analysis II
History of Mathematics
Algebra and Number Theory
Algebraic Systems
Geometry II
Partial Differential Equations
Topology I
Introduction to Operations Research
Introduction to Graph Theory
Probability and Statistics II
Select twelve elective hours of the following:12
Introductory Topics in Mathematics (up to 3 hours)
Introductory Probability and Applied Statistics
Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
Theory of Numbers
Geometry I
Differential Equations
Applied Techniques in Mathematics
Advanced Computational Problem Solving (provided MATH 371 was not used to satisfy the computational requirement)
Probability and Statistics I
Seminar (up to 3 hours)
Numerical Analysis I
Numerical Analysis II
History of Mathematics
Algebra and Number Theory
Geometry II
Partial Differential Equations
Introduction to Operations Research
Introduction to Graph Theory
Selected Topics in Mathematics (up to 6 hours)
Probability and Statistics II
Total Hours21
1

Students may take certain 500-level mathematics courses for undergraduate credit in place of courses listed in items B1i, B1ii, B2i, B2ii, B3i, or B3ii with the approval of the mathematics department chair. No minor or second major for the extended major is required.

Finish in Four Plans

Fundamentals of Analysis & Discrete Mathematics Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 1364MATH 1374
CS 1804CS 290, STAT 330, or MATH 3713-4
ENG 1003COMM 1453
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3-5HIST 101 or HIST 1023
 Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Science3
 14-16 16-17
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3073MATH 2374
MATH 3103Math upper-division Elective3
ENG 2003Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab3
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3Colonnade - Writing in the Disciplines3
World Language Requirement or General Elective3General Elective3
 15 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3173MATH 3373
Math upper-division Elective3MATH 4173
Colonnade - Social & Cultural3Colonnade - Local to Global3
Colonnade - Systems3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 4313MATH 4503
MATH 4393MATH 4983
Math upper-division Elective3Math upper-division Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective2General Elective3
 14 15
Total Hours 120-123

Fundamentals of Applied Math Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 1364MATH 1374
CS 1804CS 290, STAT 330, or MATH 3713-4
ENG 1003COMM 1453
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3-5HIST 101 or HIST 1023
 Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Science3
 14-16 16-17
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3073MATH 2374
MATH 3103MATH 3313
ENG 2003Math upper-division Elective3
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab3
World Language Requirement or General Elective3Colonnade - Writing in the Disciplines3
 15 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3173MATH 3373
MATH 3823MATH 3703
MATH 4053Colonnade - Local to Global3
Colonnade - Social & Cultural3Colonnade - Systems3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 4313MATH 4983
Math upper-division Elective3Math upper-division Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective2General Elective3
 14 15
Total Hours 120-123

Fundamentals of Math Studies Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 1364MATH 1374
CS 1804CS 290, STAT 330, or MATH 3713-4
ENG 1003COMM 1453
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3-5HIST 101 or HIST 1023
 Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Science3
 14-16 16-17
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3073MATH 2374
MATH 3103Math upper-division Elective3
ENG 2003Math upper-division Elective3
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab3
World Language Requirement or General Elective3Colonnade - Writing in the Disciplines3
 15 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3173MATH 3373
Math upper-division Elective3MATH 4503
Colonnade - Local to Global3Math upper-division Elective3
Colonnade - Social & Cultural3Colonnade - Systems3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 4313MATH 4983
Math upper-division Elective3Math upper-division Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective2General Elective3
 14 15
Total Hours 120-123