This is an old web page. It is replaced by information at
http://wumath.wustl.edu/undergraduate
Handbook
for Math
Majors/Minors
2010-2011
Mathematics has always had a central position in the
liberal arts. It has also come to play a prominent role in society at large. Mathematical analysis and modeling are
involved in more and more fields, not just the “hard” sciences and engineering.
This fact is reflected in the diversity of the students who study at least some
mathematics during their time at Washington University, as well as in concerns expressed regularly in the
media about the need for a mathematically educated population in a world that
is more and more technological.
Students major in
mathematics for many different reasons. Some are planning academic careers in
mathematics, involving teaching or research. Others plan to work as actuaries, or at other
jobs in industry or government. Some
plan careers in secondary education. Many
majors do not intend to become “mathematicians” at all, but simply realize that
quantitative training is a valuable asset in many work situations. Still others
simply view mathematics as an interesting concentration in their liberal arts
education, even though they plan to enter such professional fields as medicine
or law.
The Department uses e-mail to keep majors up to date with important
announcements, upcoming events and other items of interest. Faculty also use e-mail to communicate with
advisees and students, so please check your e-mail regularly. In addition, each major should also have a mail folder in the Math Office (Cupples I, Room
100).
Please bookmark the
department’s Undergraduate
Program web page in your browser: you
can access it from the Math Department home page at www.math.wustl.edu. There is an “Undergraduate Notes” section
that is a sort of “bulletin board” of announcements and news items for majors. We do keep it up to date, so take a quick look
at Undergraduate Program page each week. There are also links to a lot of other useful
information, including the online version of this Math Major/Minor
Handbook. The online version is always up-to-date;
this printed version is only revised once a year, during the summer; in
addition, the online version contains a lot of useful hyperlinks.
The Ross Middlemiss
Undergraduate Math Lounge is located in Cupples I, Room 222. It is intended as a space for majors to study
or just hang out while in the building. It
contains study tables, chalkboards, some undergraduate math texts for use while
working in the lounge, comfortable furniture, a fridge, a microwave, a phone, a
computer, a printer and a wireless transmitter. We try to remember to give this
combination to each student when the major is declared. But if you’ve forgotten and you’re a declared
major, you can get the combination for the lock on the door from Professor Ron
Freiwald, or from the receptionist in the Math Office.
There is also a Bulletin
Board for Majors at the west end of the second floor hall in Cupples I, next to
the Undergraduate Lounge. News items as
well as information about things like fellowships, REUs, job opportunities are posted there whenever we get
them.
If
you find errors in this handbook or have questions, please send an e-mail to
Professor Ron Freiwald (rf@math.wustl.edu)
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