Program Overview

Introduction to the Mathematics Program

The Mathematics program at Western Washington University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of mathematical concepts and principles. Mathematics reveals hidden patterns that help us understand the world around us, and it is a diverse discipline that deals with data, measurements, and observations from science, inference, deduction, and proof.

Why Consider a Mathematics Major?

The special role of Mathematics in education is a consequence of its universal applicability. The results of Mathematics - theorems and theories - are both significant and useful; the best results are also elegant and deep. Through its theorems, Mathematics offers science both a foundation of truth and a standard of certainty. Empowered with the critical thinking skills that Mathematics develops, recent Mathematics graduates from Western have obtained positions in a variety of fields, including actuarial science, cancer research, computer software development, business management, and the movie industry.

Student Resources

• Department website: Mathematics
• Department advising: Visit the Advisors section of the Mathematics website
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample Careers:
  • Actuary
  • Research Analyst
  • Statistician
  • Biostatistician
  • Math Teacher
  • Demographer
  • Database Administrator
  • Information Scientist
  • Modeler

How to Declare

Students who intend to complete a major in Mathematics are urged to declare the major formally at an early point in their Western career so that a program of study can be planned carefully in collaboration with a departmental advisor.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements

The Mathematics program requires 70 credits in mathematics plus 18-21 credits in supporting courses. The requirements include:

• Choose either:
  • MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
  • MATH 125 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
  • or
  • MATH 134 - Calculus I Honors
  • MATH 135 - Calculus II Honors
  • or
  • MATH 138 - Accelerated Calculus
• MATH 204 - Elementary Linear Algebra
• MATH 224 - Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I
• MATH 225 - Multivariable Calculus and Geometry II
• MATH 226 - Limits and Infinite Series
• MATH 304 - Linear Algebra
• MATH 312 - Proofs in Elementary Analysis
• One course from:
  • MATH 302 - Introduction to Proofs Via Number Theory
  • MATH 309 - Introduction to Proof in Discrete Mathematics
• No fewer than 31 additional approved credits in mathematics or math-computer science, including at least two of the following pairs:
  • MATH 302 - Introduction to Proofs Via Number Theory
  • together with one of:
    • MATH 405 - Algebraic Geometry
    • MATH 451 - Number Theory
  • One course from:
    • MATH 303 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations II
    • MATH 331 - Ordinary Differential Equations
  • together with one of:
    • MATH 415 - Mathematical Biology
    • MATH 430 - Fourier Series and Applications to Partial Differential Equations
    • MATH 431 - Analysis of Partial Differential Equations
    • MATH 432 - Systems of Differential Equations
  • The following pair:
    • MATH 341 - Probability and Statistical Inference
    • MATH 342 - Statistical Methods I
  • The following pair:
    • MATH 360 - Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometry
    • MATH 463 - Geometric Topology
  • The following pair:
    • MATH 401 - Introduction to Abstract Algebra
    • MATH 402 - Introduction to Abstract Algebra
  • The following pair:
    • MATH 421 - Metric Spaces
    • MATH 422 - Analysis on Euclidean Spaces
  • The following pair:
    • MATH 441 - Probability
    • MATH 442 - Mathematical Statistics
  • The following pair:
    • M/CS 335 - Linear Optimization
    • M/CS 435 - Nonlinear Optimization
  • The following pair:
    • M/CS 375 - Numerical Computation
    • M/CS 475 - Numerical Analysis

Supporting Courses

• At least 19 credits from 400-level courses in mathematics or math-computer science except MATH 483, and including at most one of MATH 419 or MATH 420
• One of:
  • CSCI 140 - Programming Fundamentals in C++
  • CSCI 141 - Computer Programming I
  • MATH 307 - Mathematical Computing
• One of the following sequences:
  • PHYS 161 - Physics with Calculus I
  • PHYS 162 - Physics with Calculus II
  • PHYS 163 - Physics with Calculus III
  • or
  • CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 163 - General Chemistry III
  • or
  • CHEM 175 - General Chemistry I, Honors
  • CHEM 176 - General Chemistry II, Honors
  • CHEM 225 - General Chemistry III, Honors
  • or
  • CSCI 141 - Computer Programming I
  • CSCI 145 - Computer Programming and Linear Data Structures
  • CSCI 241 - Data Structures
  • CSCI 301 - Formal Languages and Functional Programming
  • and one of:
    • CSCI 305 - Analysis of Algorithms and Data Structures I
    • CSCI 330 - Database Systems
    • CSCI 345 - Object Oriented Design
    • CSCI 401 - Automata and Formal Language Theory
  • or
  • ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics
  • ECON 207 - Introduction to Macroeconomics
  • ECON 306 - Intermediate Microeconomics
  • and one of
    • ECON 333 - Introduction to Game Theory
    • ECON 375 - Introduction to Econometrics
    • ECON 470 - Economic Fluctuations and Forecasting
    • ECON 475 - Econometrics

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement