Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023

Mathematics, Bachelor of Arts (728P, 728)

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


Program Coordinator

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

This major is intended for students that are pursuing a basic math major for employment purposes and/or are interested in mathematics as part of a degree with two majors.  Students pursuing teacher certification will also major in Science and Mathematics Education (774)

Concentrations

  • Teacher Education (TCHR)
  • Non-Teacher Certifiable (MATN)

Admission Requirements

To be fully admitted to the majors in mathematics with reference numbers 728 or 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 (36-39 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. 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 728 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.

The general major (728) offers two options:

  1. Non-teacher Certifiable Major in Mathematics
  2. Major Certifiable for Teaching Secondary Level Mathematics.

Option 1 students in the general major (728) are required to satisfy a computational requirement by completing either one course chosen from CS 180PHYS 316, or PHYS 318. Option 2 students are required to complete either CS 170 or CS 180.

Option 1: Non-Teacher Certifiable Major In Mathematics-39 hours

The student must complete a minimum of 39 hours of mathematics with a minor or second major giving a total of at least 59 hours (53 unduplicated) with the following requirements:²

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 498Senior Seminar1-3
Select two courses from the following: 16
Numerical Analysis I
Numerical Analysis II
Algebra and Number Theory
Algebraic Systems
Geometry II
Intermediate Analysis I
Partial Differential Equations
Topology I
Complex Variables
Introduction to Operations Research
Introduction to Graph Theory
Probability and Statistics II
Select six hours from the following: 16
Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
Theory of Numbers
Geometry I
Differential Equations
Applied Techniques in Mathematics
Advanced Computational Problem Solving
Probability and Statistics I
Seminar ((up to 3 hours))
Numerical Analysis I
Numerical Analysis II
Algebra and Number Theory
Algebraic Systems
Geometry II
Partial Differential Equations
Topology I
Complex Variables
Introduction to Operations Research
Selected Topics in Mathematics ((up to 3 hours))
Probability and Statistics II
Introductory Probability and Applied Statistics
Total Hours37-39

Option 2: Major Certifiable for Teaching Secondary Level Mathematics (General Certifiable Major)-36 hours

The student must complete a minimum of 36 hours of mathematics with a second major in Science and Mathematics Education (reference number 774) with the following requirements:

Required Courses: 3
MATH 136Calculus I4
MATH 137Calculus II4
MATH 237Multivariable Calculus4
MATH 304Functions, Applications and Explorations3
MATH 307Introduction to Linear Algebra3
MATH 310Introduction to Discrete Mathematics3
MATH 317Introduction to Algebraic Systems3
MATH 323Geometry I3
MATH 498Senior Seminar1-3
STAT 301Introductory Probability and Applied Statistics3
Select a 400-level mathematics course from the following:3
Numerical Analysis I
Numerical Analysis II
History of Mathematics
Algebra and Number Theory
Algebraic Systems
Problem Solving for Secondary Teachers
Geometry II
Intermediate Analysis I
Partial Differential Equations
Topology I
Complex Variables
Introduction to Operations Research
Probability and Statistics II
Total Hours34-36

Finish in Four Plans  

Non-Teacher Certifiable Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 1364MATH 1374
CS 1804General Elective3
ENG 1003COMM 1453
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3-5HIST 101 or HIST 1023
 Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Science3
 14-16 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3073MATH 3103
MATH 2374Minor Elective3
Minor Course3Colonnade - Social & Cultural3
ENG 2003Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab3World Langauge Requirement or General Elective3
 16 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3173MATH 3373
Math upper-division Elective3Math upper-division Elective3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
Colonnade - Local to Global3Colonnade - Systems3
Colonnade - Writing in the Disciplines3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Math upper-division Elective3MATH 4983
Minor Course3Math upper-division Elective3
Minor Course or General Elective3Minor Course3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective2General Elective3
 14 15
Total Hours 120-122


Teacher Education Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 1364MATH 1374
SMED 1013SMED 1022-3
CS 180 or CS 1703-4COMM 1453
ENG 1003HIST 101 or HIST 1023
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3-5Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Science3
 16-19 15-16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3073MATH 3103
MATH 2374MATH 3043
SMED 3103SMED 3203
ENG 2003Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab3World Language Requirement or General Elective3
 16 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 3173STAT 3013
MATH 3233Math Elective (400 level)3
SMED 3403SMED 3603
Colonnade - Writing in the Disciplines3General Elective3
Colonnade - Local to Global3Colonnade - Systems3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MATH 4983SMED 4893
SMED 4703SEC 49010
Colonnade - Social & Cultural3 
General Elective3 
General Elective3-5 
 15-17 13
Total Hours 120-126