Mathematics

What is so exciting about Mathematics?

Our Mathematics (B.A./B.S.) program offers students coursework in both pure and applied mathematics, research opportunities, and personalized mentorship by outstanding faculty. Additionally, our students are provided with free mathematics tutoring and a modern computing facility that includes access to software including Maple, SAS, R, and Matlab.  

Many undergraduate research projects have been supported by faculty grants. Faculty expertise ranges over a wide variety of subjects including statistics, graph theory, mathematical finance, number theory, mathematical biology, image processing, and more.

Where are they now?

Our graduates apply their mathematics degrees in a variety of ways, including:

  • Teaching mathematics at the high school, undergraduate, and/or graduate levels
  • Research in industry (e.g., Pixar) and academia (e.g., Clemson)
  • Actuarial science (Lincoln National)
  • Financial analysis (Xerox)
  • Corporate tax services (Ryan LLC)
  • Finance (PNC and BNY Mellon)

Skill in mathematics is also valued in today's work world. Many Duquesne mathematics graduates with dual degrees in education are employed as teachers at the secondary level. Math students who also have studied business now work in finance, actuarial science and corporate tax services at Xerox, Liberty Mutual and other organizations. There are infinite possibilities with a Mathematics degree from Duquesne University!

 

Program Type

Major

Degree

Bachelor's

Duration

4-year

Required Credit Hours

33-39

Learning Resources

We'll walk alongside you to help ensure you're successful in mathematics or statistics at Duquesne. Our small class sizes allow students to get frequent evaluation and assistance on an individual basis. As long as you like solving quantitative problems, and apply diligence to your studies, you should be able to succeed as a student of mathematics.

Mathematics students have access to many resources outside the regular classroom. You can:

  • receive free peer tutoring in introductory courses;

  • be mentored one-on-one by a mathematics faculty member;

  • become involved in faculty research;

  • enroll in specialized mathematics courses through cross-registration with Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, two world-renowned research institutions;

  • utilize advanced mathematical software in both our classroom and homework labs, including Maple, MATLAB, SAS, R, JMP, SPSS, and more.

  • access a high-performance cluster computer for running computationally intensive mathematical programs.

Program Requirements

All Mathematics majors are required to complete a Math & Computer Science core. From there, the remainder of their program will be determined by whether you are on the B.A. or B.S. track.

  • MATH 115 Calculus I
  • MATH 116 Calculus II
  • MATH 215 Calculus III
  • MATH 250 Foundations of Higher Mathematics
  • MATH 310 Linear Algebra
  • MATH 411W Abstract Algebra I
  • MATH 415W Real Analysis I
All Mathematics majors must take a 3-credit programming course chosen from one of the following. 
  • COSC 150 Computer Programming: C++
  • COSC 160 Computer Programming: Java
  • COSC 170 Computer Programming: Python
  • 9 additional MATH credits at the 300 level or above
15 additional MATH credits at the 300-400 level or above that adhere to the following guidelines:

Applications component - at least one course chosen from:

  • MATH 301 Probability and Statistics I 
  • MATH 308 Numerical Analysis 
  • MATH 314 Differential Equations 

Theoretical component -  at least two courses chosen from:

  • MATH 410 Advanced Linear Algebra
  • MATH 412W Abstract Algebra II
  • MATH 416W Real Analysis II
  • MATH 420W Complex Variables
  • MATH 423W Topology

Science Requirement: All Math B.S. majors must take at least 8 credits in science coursework that includes one sequence (and corresponding labs) chosen from: BIOL 111-112, BIOL 115-117, CHEM 121-122, or PHYS 211-212.  

Minor in Mathematics

The minimum requirements for a minor in mathematics are:

  • MATH 115 Calculus I
  • MATH 116 Calculus II
Nine additional credits of mathematics courses at the 200 level or above, with at least three of these nine credits at the 300 level or above.
  • These nine credits could also include MATH 135 (if it is not combined with MATH 250), and PHYS 350.