Welcome to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics
“An innumerate citizen today is as vulnerable as the illiterate peasant of Gutenberg’s time.”
–Lynn Arthur Steen (Editor), Why Numbers Count: Quantitative Literacy for Tomorrow’s America, New York, NY: The College Board (1997)
The extent to which numeracy or numerical literacy is a required tool for effective citizenship is increasing exponentially (in fact you need a certain level of numeracy to understand this sentence). The Department of Mathematics and Statistics provides students opportunities to increase their level of numerical literacy and to develop further mathematical and statistical skills needed for a vast array of careers today (http://www.mathclassifieds). One of the largest departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate courses in mathematics (MTH courses), applied mathematics (APM courses), operations research (MOR courses) and applied statistics (STA courses). The department offers programs leading to undergraduate, Masters, and Ph. D. degrees in all phases of the pure and applied mathematical sciences. Our undergraduate programs include the degrees Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistics. Either of the two degrees in mathematics can be coupled with secondary teaching certification through the STEP (Secondary Teacher Education Program). A program leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Actuarial Science has received approval from the College of Arts and Sciences and is now being considered by the University Senate. The department also offers a wide range of graduate programs. At the Ph. D. level we offer a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Mathematical Sciences with one of the following associated specializations: Applied Continuous, Applied Statistics, and Applied Discrete. At the Masters level we offer Master of Arts in Mathematics, Master of Science in Industrial Applied Mathematics, and Master of Science in Applied Statistics, and we also offer a Graduate Certificate in Statistical Methods.
The department serves a large support role for virtually all of the departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Computer Science, the School of Education and Human Services, and the School of Business Administration.
The faculty of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics comprises scholars and educators with national and international reputations. External funding from the National Science Foundation supports ongoing research in Hurricane Storm Damage, international conferences and a program in Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). Our faculty are involved in ongoing research in mathematical modeling of biological systems, problems in discrete mathematics, problems in classical algebra and algebraic geometry, studies of differential and partial differential equations, classical functional analysis, scientific computing, least squares finite element problems and theory, design of experiments, model selection, multivariate analysis, Bayesian inference, and quality control. Two members of our faculty have been chosen outstanding Mathematics Professor in the state of Michigan awarded by the Michigan Section of the Mathematical Association of America, and one has won the Professor of the Year Award from the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan.
Jack Nachman
Chairperson