Mathematics

The department provides courses for students anticipating employment or graduate work in mathematics, statistics, or mathematics education. In addition, we offer courses for students wishing to use mathematics or statistics in support of another major or simply to learn something new and quantitative.

About the Major

The major begins with calculus and moves to intermediate courses that lay the foundation for further exploration of mathematics. One is required to take a theoretical course in analysis or algebra and also a course (or one can demonstrate proficiency) in computer programming. From there, the department offers a rich collection of advanced mathematics courses that prepare students for a variety of career options.

Related Minors

Think Big

Students work one-on-one with faculty in independent studies and directed readings to study topics outside of the regular curriculum. Research opportunities also are available through the Summer Science Research Program and the NSF-funded REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates).

Recent topics of independent studies include operations research, computer graphics, neural networks, quality control, design of experiments, multivariate statistical analysis, object-oriented programming languages, calculus of variations, partial differential equations, and advanced linear algebra.

Research & Independent Study

Combining Math, Art, & Computer Science

In their team-taught course Generative Art, professors Craig Jackson (math & computer science), left, and Jeff Nilan (photography), right, created a digitally controlled Jacquard loom. The customized, computerized device creates intricate fabrics by using up to 400 miniature motors to control the warps and wefts of the weaving process. The loom can be used to create generative art, in which artists deliberately cede control over a significant aspect of their work to an external agent.

Improving How Data Are Estimated

Hanna Cao '22 studied "Estimation and Inference for Correlation Under Censoring" under the mentorship of Mathematics Professor Scott Linder. In certain industrial and clinical settings, censoring occurs, for example, when measurements larger than a specified value are not observed. Researchers know the observation is greater than this detection limit, but they don't know how much greater. These conditions impose mathematical constraints on the probabilistic underpinnings of statistical methods, rendering traditional methods inappropriate. Cao says,"I am measuring the impact of incorrectly ignoring the presence of censoring, and I hope to come up with a way to improve estimation methods in accounting for censoring."

Braid Group Representations

In his senior research project, Khanh Le '16 explored Lawrence representations of the braid groups at roots of unity.

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Math & DNA

Nam Tran Hoang '16 constructed and characterized a mathematical model to assess abnormal numbers of repeating segments of DNA. He worked with Prof. Craig Jackson.

Summer Research

Kamali Jones '16 presents the findings from his summer research project.

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Go Global

From your first year on campus, you can get off campus with Travel-Learning Courses and other OWU Connection opportunities. Journey to a distant land and immerse yourself in another landscape and culture.

Mathematics students have recently conducted research in China, Alaska, and the Virgin Islands through Connection grants and travel-learning.

Travel-Learning Courses

Math & Marine Biology

In 2017, Mathematics Professor Craig Jackson and Zoology Professor Amy Downing taught a class on marine biology and mathematical modeling, and led the class in field work in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Modeling Global Climate

A 2014 Travel-Learning Course took mathematics students to the Matanuska Glacier in Alaska to study mathematical models of climate.

Get Real

Apply your classroom learning to real problems and build your connections to the professional world with internships. Work with the Career Connection Office to explore internship opportunities. You can also apply for Career Grants to fund internship, externship, and career exploration experiences. OWU's mathematics majors have interned in a variety of business, government, and academic organizations across the country.

Career Connection Office Career Grants

Summer Internship in Cleveland

Math and Computer Science Elijah Adams '23 worked as a software implementation assistant during a Summer on the Cuyahoga internship to help a Cleveland company utilize new computer programs to monitor operations to continuously improve efficiency.

Highlights

Summer Research

In the 10-week Summer Science Research Program, students work with a faculty mentor on a topic of mutual interest. The research findings are presented at the all-campus Patricia Belt Conrades Summer Science Research Symposium.

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Signature Projects with Faculty

The department encourages creativity, initiative and discipline by offering credit to students who wish to do independent work with a faculty member. This is an excellent way to pursue a topic in greater depth than would be possible in the classroom setting.

Math & Computer Science Competitions

OWU students have several opportunities every year to compete in their areas of expertise (computer programming or mathematics) with students at peer institutions.

Honors Program

Especially strong students are invited to participate in the departmental honors program. Students work for a year on an independent study, write and present a paper, and take a comprehensive examination. This experience is appropriate for students preparing to enter graduate school. Recent honors graduates have attended Cornell University, University of Wisconsin, Rice University, and others.

Graduate Outcomes

Ben Letson '14

A double major in Mathematics and Physics, Ben earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh, and he now is Director of Healthcare & Life Sciences at SFL Scientific in Boston.

Pathway to Grad School

Professional Organizations

The department has affiliations with the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, the Association for Women in Mathematics, and the Association for Computing Machinery. Student members are afforded resources for staying current in their field and learning about career opportunities after graduation.

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Department Contact Info

Location

Schimmel/Conrades Science Center
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
P 740-368-3907
F 740-368-3999

Department Contact

Chair: Craig Jackson
Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 384
740-368-3659
chjackso@owu.edu

Academic Assistant: Judy Arlington
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 201
740-368-3907
jaarlington@owu.edu