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2019-2020 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

Emphasis Areas

Students majoring in mathematics must choose one of the following emphasis areas:

  • Theoretical Mathematics
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Elementary Certification
  • Secondary Certification

B.S. and B.A. Degree Program Requirements

Completion of MTH 201, 202, and STA 312 satisfies the B.S. degree program requirements for all mathematics majors. Students completing a B.A. degree must complete these courses plus the foreign language requirement for a B.A.

Requirements for a Major in Mathematics with Theoretical Mathematics emphasis

Students planning a major in mathematics with theoretical mathematics emphasis must complete the following.

Mathematics Course Requirements

All students with a major in mathematics with theoretical mathematics emphasis must complete the following courses:

Additional Mathematics Course Requirements

Take additional courses from the following list for a total of 12 courses in mathematics (with at least one additional 400-level course besides the required courses):

Mathematics Cognate Requirements

All students seeking a major in mathematics with theoretical mathematics emphasis must complete the following courses to satisfy the mathematics cognate requirements:

And one course from the following:

Preparation for Graduate Work in Theoretical Mathematics

Majors who plan to complete graduate work in mathematics are encouraged to (1) take as many upper-division mathematics courses as possible from the courses listed in additional mathematics courses; (2) take MTH 450 or MTH 409 as one additional 400-level course; and (3) consult with their advisor about other courses that might be appropriate for their interests and about procedures for applying to graduate school.

Requirements for a Major in Mathematics with Applied Mathematics Emphasis

Students planning a major in mathematics with applied mathematics emphasis must complete the following.

Mathematics Course Requirements

All students with a major in mathematics with applied mathematics emphasis must complete the following courses:

Additional Mathematics Course Requirements

Take additional courses from the following list for a total of 13 courses in mathematics. So, students choosing the recommended MTH 204 + MTH 304 option in the required courses, must take 2 additional courses from the following list, while the students choosing only MTH 302 must take 3 additional courses from the following list:

Mathematics Cognate Requirements

All students seeking a major in mathematics with applied mathematics emphasis must complete the following courses to satisfy the mathematics cognate requirements:

Requirements for a Major in Mathematics with Elementary Certification Emphasis

The mathematics major with elementary certification emphasis must be completed with a GPA of 2.7 for admission to the College of Education. Students planning a major in mathematics with elementary certification emphasis must complete the following:

Mathematics Course Requirements

All students with a major in mathematics with elementary certification emphasis must complete the following courses:

Mathematics Cognate Requirements

All students seeking a major in mathematics with elementary certification emphasis must complete the following courses to satisfy the mathematics cognate requirements:

And one course from the following:

College of Education Requirements

To be approved for student teaching, students must complete at least 24 credit hours in the major, including:

And at least two of the following:

In addition, students need to be aware of the College of Education requirements for admission to the elementary certification program.

Requirements for a Major in Mathematics with Secondary Certification Emphasis

The mathematics major with secondary certification emphasis must be completed with a GPA of 2.7 for admission to the College of Education. Students planning a major in mathematics with secondary certification emphasis must complete the following.

Mathematics Course Requirements

All mathematics majors must complete the following courses:

Mathematics Elective Requirement

All mathematics majors with secondary certification emphasis must also complete one elective course from the following list. The elective course must be different than the Capstone course.

Mathematics Cognate Requirements

All students seeking a major in mathematics with secondary certification emphasis must complete the following courses to satisfy the mathematics cognate requirements:

And one course from the following:

College of Education Requirements

To be approved for student teaching, students must complete at least 24 credit hours in the major, including:

In addition, students need to be aware of the College of Education requirements for admission to the secondary certification program.

A student who has graduated from another accredited institution with a completed major or minor in mathematics and who now seeks only teaching certification in mathematics from Grand Valley must satisfy the following criteria:

  • Transfer or complete at Grand Valley all mathematics and cognate courses required for the certification major or minor.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale) in mathematics courses from the accredited institution.
  • Completion of the College of Education requirements for certification.

Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Mathematics

The following sample mathematics schedules assume the student is in contact with an advisor for appropriate general education requirements and has a strong mathematics background. Students who do not begin with MTH 201 will need to make appropriate changes.

Mathematics Majors with Theoretical Mathematics Emphasis

First Year

  • Appropriate courses in general education

Second Year

  • Mathematics elective course
  • Computer science cognate course
  • Appropriate courses in general education

Third Year

  • Cognate courses in the major
  • Appropriate courses in general education
  • Mathematics elective course

Fourth Year

  • 400-level mathematics elective course
  • Capstone course

Mathematics Majors with Applied Mathematics Emphasis

First Year

  • Appropriate courses in general education

Second Year

  • Computer science cognate course
  • Appropriate courses in general education

Third Year

  • Mathematics elective course
  • Appropriate courses in general education

Fourth Year

  • Mathematics elective course
  • Capstone course

Mathematics Major with Elementary Certification Emphasis

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Mathematics Major with Secondary Certification Emphasis

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

  • Elective in the major
  • Student assisting
  • Cognate course for major
  • Appropriate courses in general education

Fourth Year

Click here for the program description.


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