Mathematics

Learning Goals & Mission

Mission

Quantitative literacy and critical thinking are necessary for the grounding in the liberal arts that our diverse community of learners experience as preparation for them to excel intellectually … in our ever-changing urban and global environment. Mathematics has a rich history of providing the language for understanding natural phenomena, including occurrences of both permanence and change in the world. The precise communication of mathematics, in any medium, is a challenging example of expressing thoughts.

Learning Goals

(These may be read as completions of the sentence “The student, upon completion of the major, will be able to…”)

  1. think logically and analytically
  2. demonstrate a strong level of mathematical maturity
  3. solve problems creatively
  4. apply technology in solving problems
  5. produce concise and rigorous mathematical proofs
  6. appreciate the history of mathematics as a human endeavor
  7. recognize the interconnection of various fields in mathematics
  8. construct mathematical models
  9. apply mathematical content to other disciplines
  10. transfer mathematical thinking (logic, analysis, creativity) beyond cognate fields
  11. access relevant resources when posing and answering mathematical questions
  12. read and assimilate technical material
  13. produce cogent mathematical exposition
  14. communicate technical material effectively at an appropriate level
  15. succeed in mathematics graduate study, K-12 mathematics instruction, or other careers requiring computational or analytic skills