2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Mathematics [MAT]


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The liberal arts program in the Mathematics Department  provides broad background in both pure and applied mathematics. The B.S. option is more appropriate for students interested in scientific and technical applications of mathematics. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Identify the analytical tools of calculus and be able to use them to recast real-world problems in a mathematical setting and solve them.
  2. Understand the concept of a set and be able to state and prove theorems concerning sets using formal definitions.  This understanding should extend to knowledge of functions, mappings, relations, and cardinality.
  3. Recognize mathematical structures such as vector spaces and groups, and their properties, both as mathematical constructions and as abstractions of real-world objects.
  4. Appreciate the language of mathematics and be able to use it to state hypotheses and prove mathematical statements with a variety of techniques.
  5. Understand the richness and interconnectedness of all branches of mathematics by solving problems using a variety of mathematical approaches.

Career Potential

  • Actuary
  • Cryptologist
  • Computer analyst
  • Statistician

A. Required MAT and MCS Courses: 27 credit hours


B. Additional MAT or MCS electives:


  • For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.):  Nine credit hours of any MAT or MCS courses at the 300 level or above.
  • For the Bachelor of Science (B.S.):  15 credit hours, (nine credit hours of any MAT or MCS courses at the 300 level or above; and six credit hours of MAT or MCS excluding the following: MAT 101, 102, 105, 111, 115, 201 or 499). 

C. Additional Requirements (for the B.S. only): 7-11 credit hours


  • Foreign Language: 0-3 credit hours. Foreign language through the 101 level is required in earning the B.S.
  • Physical Science Courses: 7-8 credit hours
    A minimum of seven credits must be chosen from the CHE/GLY/PHY courses listed below. These courses may also simultaneously satisfy the requirements for the General Education Natural Science Category, providing seven additional elective credit hours.

D. Additional Requirements (for the B.A. only): 0-12 credit hours


  • Foreign Language Courses: 0-12 credit hours. Foreign language through the 202 level is required in earning the B.A.

E. Additional General Education Courses: 30-37 credit hours


F. Free Electives or Minor


G. Other Requirements


In addition to the College's residency requirement (see Degree Requirements ), at least half of the credit hours in areas A and B must be successfully completed at Cortland.

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 120


Example of the B.S. in Mathematics over four years


 General Education (GE); Foreign Language

First Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 17


First Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester 17


Second Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester 17


Second Year Spring


  • (3 cr. hr.)
  • MAT elective 300 level (3 cr. hr.)
    GE course (3. cr. hr.)
    GE course (3 cr. hr.)
    Elective (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester 15


Third Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester 15


Third Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester 15


Fourth Year Fall


MAT elective (3 cr. hr.)
Minor (3 cr. hr.)
Minor ( 3 cr. hr.)
Elective (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester 12


Fourth Year Spring


MAT elective (3 cr. hr.)
Minor (3 cr. hr.)
Elective (3 cr. hr.)
Elective (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester 12


Mathematics Department Course Retake Policy


  • For the purpose of this policy, "course" refers to any course offered by the Mathematics Department that is used to satisfy the requirements of any major or minor offered by the department [MAT], [AEM], [APM].
  • A student may repeat a course to replace a failing grade, grade of X (withdrawal from course) or to improve the student's grade point average when the first enrollment resulted in a passing grade.
  • A student may enroll in a course twice. A third or subsequent enrollment in that course shall be with the approval and by action of the Mathematics Department only. Such approval shall be given on a case by case basis and is not guaranteed. However, unless exceptional circumstances justify otherwise, a student shall not be allowed a third or subsequent enrollment in the same course if their total number of retakes in courses required for the major or minor is four or more. All retakes of the same course count towards this four-course threshold.
  • Students who are unable to earn the required grade after their allowable attempts will be blocked from further registration in the course. As such, if this course is required for the major/minor, the student will not be able to complete their program of study and will need to pursue a different major or minor.
  • Courses that are dropped during the add/drop period (the first week of classes) do not count as enrollments in this retake policy.

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