Departmental Goals:
The primary goals of the Mathematics Department are to provide students with a sound understanding of basic mathematical concepts, principles, and processes, and to develop within students attitudes and skills needed for lifelong learning. Students will learn to pose and solve problems, communicate mathematics effectively, and use technology for solving problems.
Why Major in Mathematics?
Mathematics is an academic discipline that serves both as a set of tools for many related disciplines and as a subject of study in its own right. It is a foundation for quantitative and logical thinking, and for problem-solving skills used by virtually everyone. A person who likes thinking about how things work, who likes to solve knotty problems, who can appreciate the satisfaction of a well-crafted argument, might want to consider a major in Mathematics.
Why Viterbo?
Viterbo University is proud of its liberal arts approach to education. A Mathematics major at Viterbo will have ample opportunity to explore the arts, literature, history, science, and other subjects she or he might find of interest. Our students graduate as well-rounded persons who have focused on Mathematics but who have not been limited in their studies.
A Mathematics major at Viterbo will find himself or herself in small classes, especially in upper division courses. We can guarantee that our majors do not fall through the cracks, that our dedicated faculty – dedicated both to the discipline of Mathematics and to their students – will come to know our students well and will make themselves available to help our majors work their way through the program. Our students also develop relationships with their fellow math majors which will make their time at Viterbo the sort of intellectual and emotional home they will reflect on throughout their lives.
What Are My Career Options?
Many of our majors choose the Math-Education route, and at present about 40% of our recent graduates are teaching mathematics in a high school, many in the vicinity of La Crosse. But the list of various other careers is fascinating: Cray Computers, Thrivent Financial Services, Air National Guard, State Teachers’ Union, data analyst for Lutheran Hospital, Sentry Insurance analyst. A number of our majors have also gone on to graduate school, some in Mathematics and some in a more applied field, such as science or statistics or business.
Some majors, such as Nursing or Business or Elementary Education, offer training that is specific to, and in large part limited to a specific career. On the other hand, a major in Mathematics develops the sort of thinking and problem-solving skills which can lead to a very satisfying career in any one of a surprisingly large number of positions.
The experience of our graduates is that a degree in Mathematics is very marketable; employers are looking for people with good skills in thinking and problem solving, and the ability to understand mathematical approaches to problems requiring quantitative analysis.
Features of Our Curriculum
As a Mathematics major at Viterbo University, you will take the traditional sequence of Calculus courses, and will then focus on logic and proof, leading to a collection of upper-division courses in mathematics, including areas like statistics and geometry, and other areas of study which are less commonly known. This wide range of branches of Mathematics will prepare you to think about a variety of problems in a creative manner. Our major includes most of the main branches of Mathematics and should give you a well-rounded background for your work as a mathematician.
We offer two primary directions, a Mathematics major with an education track – preparing to teach Mathematics at the high school level – and a major without the education track.
Questions?
Department Chair: Richard Maresh, rjmaresh@viterbo.edu
Admissions Counselor: Elisabeth Montemurro, eamontemurro@viterbo.edu