2024-2025 General Catalog [Current]
Department of Mathematics
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Overview of Programs
The Department of Mathematics at Southern Utah University offers the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education;in Mathematics with an emphasis in Actuarial Science, Pure Mathematics, or Applied Mathematics; and in Data Science. Our highly qualified faculty are committed to supporting student learning and have expertise in a wide range of mathematical specialties. Small class sizes, especially in upper-division courses, lead to a personalized learning environment where students can develop their problem solving, quantitative reasoning, and logical reasoning skills. Students have access to the latest mathematical software and have many opportunities for employment as teaching assistants or as tutors in the SUU Tutoring Center, and top students can be invited to participate in undergraduate research with faculty mentors. Our programs are designed to prepare students for employment in business, insurance companies, government agencies, and multiple educational settings. Students may choose to carry their studies forward at the postgraduate level. Several careers offered through the Department of Mathematics are among the top rated as per the 2024 US News and World Report, such as Data Scientist (#8), Actuary (#9), Statistician (#13), and Operations Research Analyst (#13). In addition, Mathematics majors have the highest scores on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and high admissions rate to graduate programs in Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, Economics, and Physical Sciences. Graduate students in math or statistics programs can generally earn their way through graduate school on teaching or research assistantships.
Mission
The Department of Mathematics is committed to helping students and faculty increase their knowledge of mathematics, its applications, and its pedagogy. Our faculty are devoted to supporting student learning through innovative quality educational experiences in general education courses, service courses, and major courses. We provide opportunities for students to develop their problem solving, quantitative reasoning and logical reasoning skills in a supportive and rigorous learning environment. Our curriculum is designed to help individuals grow intellectually, professionally, and personally while pursuing their academic goals.
Department/Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Mathematics and Mathematics Education programs will have an ability to:
- Use standard mathematical techniques to solve computational problems.
- Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental mathematical concepts and results in the core content areas.
- Use content knowledge to solve applied and real-world mathematical problems.
- Communicate mathematics effectively using proper notation and terminology.
- Use logical reasoning to construct clear and concise mathematical proofs.
Other Information
Math Course Placement
Developmental Math Courses: Math courses numbered below 1000 prepare students for college-level mathematics. Students with questions about these classes should contact the Director of Developmental Math.
Other College-Level Math Courses: The Department of Mathematics offers a variety of courses to match student interests and backgrounds, including multiple courses satisfying the General Education Quantitative Literacy (QL) requirement. Students should contact their Student Success Advisor to identify the appropriate General Education course for their major and interests. It is strongly encouraged that students satisfy their General Education QL requirement as soon as possible after entering college.
Placement into mathematics courses is based on several factors, including satisfactory performance in previous math courses, an adequate ACT math score, or an adequate score on the ALEKS PPL math placement test. Incoming students are strongly encouraged to attempt placement via ALEKS. Students are allowed five (5) placement attempts in a six-month period for a single fee. While the ALEKS assessments may be completed online without proctoring, only proctored exams will be used for course placement. Proctored ALEKS math placement exams are available through the SUU Testing Center. Following the initial ALEKS placement attempt, students are guided into an online, targeted learning module. Studying in this module before repeating the exam can significantly improve a student’s placement. The Department of Mathematics offers a course, MATH 0800 - Math Prep for Placement Success , specifically to help students review mathematics and score higher on ALEKS in order to skip many prerequisite classes that students may otherwise need to take.
Prerequisites for each course are listed under “Course Descriptions” in the SUU Catalog. Students wishing to challenge their course placement may submit a request to add a course through their mySUU Portal. These requests go to the Mathematics Department Chair who makes a decision on course placement. Waivers to the two-year expiration of prerequisites may be granted when the delay is due to military service, church service, or other approved reasons. Prerequisites must be satisfied for placement in a specific math course. A student’s graduation timeline needs will not guarantee a waiver.
Minimum Grade & Assessment
All courses to be counted in the major and minor (Mathematics and Mathematics Education) must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better. Students will take a comprehensive exam, called the Exit Exam, during their senior year to assess their learning and to help Math faculty assess their effectiveness.
ProgramsBachelor’s DegreeAcademic Certificate (Undergraduate)Minor
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Department Chair
