Majors Offered

The department offers two majors:  mathematics and mathematics/statistics.  The department graduates 20-25 majors each year, of which approximately two-thirds are double majors with another field.  In addition approximately 15 minors in mathematics graduate from Luther College each year.  To learn more about the mathematics courses offered, please refer to the course offerings.

There may be a no more versatile major than mathematics.  Long regarded as both queen and handmaiden of the sciences, mathematics has become the language and modus operandi of modern technological civilization, yet its roots in western culture are as deep as those of any classical discipline.

Statistics is the science of reasoning from uncertain empirical data.   Statisticians build mathematical models to solve problems in business, the natural sciences and the social sciences.  The intent of the mathematics/statistics major is to cover the undergraduate mathematics necessary for an understanding of statistics.

For purpose of advising students, advanced courses may be classified as follows: 235, 245, 253, 351, 462 are called applicable; 365, 454, 456, 471, 472 are called foundational; and 321, 322, 327 are called statistical.  Mathematics 463 (Advanced Statistics) is for the mathematics/statistics major only.

Suggested patterns for majors planning careers in the following areas:

1.    Graduate study in mathematics:  Plan I including 253, 351, 321, 322, 454, 456, 459, 471, 472.
2.    Statistics:  A mathematics/statistics major.
3.    Actuarial science:  A mathematics/statistics major plus economics 247, 248; management 353; and courses in computer science.
4.    Computing:  245, 351, 322, 462, 471.
5.    Management (accounting, economics):  235, 253, 321, 322, 327, 454.
6.    Science:  from 253, 351, 321, 322, 327, 454, 462, 456, 471.

First Year and Transfer Student Placement:

Students who are well prepared in high school mathematics should begin the calculus sequence - 151, 152.  Students who have taken calculus in high school may begin with 152 or, in special cases, 240.  A student who begins with an advanced course will receive credit for the preceding calculus course(s) on completion of the advanced course with a grade of C or better.  Placement for first year and transfer students will be suggested on the basis of high school records, scores on ACT or SAT test, and our on-line placement assessment.

Please refer to our complete list of course offerings for course names and descriptions.

 
Return to Luther Mathematics Department Homepage