Chair: Timothy Feeman, Ph.D.
Office Location: 305 Saint Augustine Center
Telephone: 610-519-4850
Website
About
The Department of Mathematics & Statistics offers a standard course of study for a mathematics major to provide the student with an introduction to the major branches of mathematics as an academic discipline within the context of a comprehensive education in the liberal arts and sciences. Students who complete the Mathematics program will be prepared for a broad range of opportunities in business, government, and service industries, as well as being prepared to undertake graduate study in mathematics and related disciplines.
PRIMARY MAJOR (122 credits)
Required Major Courses (59 credits)
The program leading to a degree of Bachelor of Science with a Mathematics major is designed to introduce students to the major aspects of contemporary mathematics.
By selecting appropriate electives students may become well prepared either for positions in industry or for graduate study in mathematics and related disciplines. The mathematics major can prepare one for a career in actuarial science, operations research, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, mathematical physics, or any of many other areas which use mathematics.
Program Notes:
- A student pursuing a double major in mathematics and some other field may petition to have an approved upper-division course from their other major count as one of the four math electives. The course must have substantial mathematical content and may not significantly overlap with any of the other courses that the student is counting towards the major. A student pursuing a double major in mathematics and a closely related field such as computer science or engineering may petition to have two approved upper-division courses from their other major count as math electives.
- MAT majors may only count one course outside of the MAT and STAT subject code toward their elective credit within the major.
MAT Upper-Level Analysis
Choose an approved upper-level analysis course from the list below(3 cr).
- Note: MAT 5700 and 8400 are inactive courses that satisfy this requirement.
Mathematics & Statistics Electives
12 credits in MAT or STAT courses numbered 3000 or higher.
MAT Natural Science Elective
Choose a two-semester sequence of natural science courses with lab at the science-major level from those listed below (8 cr minimum).
Astronomy Sequence
Chemistry Sequence
Environmental Science Sequence
Physics Sequence, Option 1
Physics Sequence, Option 2
Additional Math Science Elective
Choose one additional science course at the science-major level with lab if appropriate (4 cr minimum).
Biology Selection 1
Select 1 class:
Environmental Science Section 1
or 1 class:
Chemistry Selection 1
or 2 classes in:
Chemistry Selection 2
or 2 classes in:
Chemistry Selection 3
Or 2 classes in:
Physics Selection 1
or 2 classes in:
Physics Selection 2
or 2 classes in:
Core Curriculum Requirements (33 credits)
Mathematics Majors meet the following core requirements in the major and therefore are omitted from the summary below:
- Core Math (3 cr)
- Natural Science (8 cr)
Literature and Writing Seminar (1 course)
All students take a thematic literature and writing seminar course. Courses designated with the Core Lit & Writing Sem attribute fulfill the requirement.
History (1 course)
This requirement is met by taking a specifically designed course designated by the Core History attribute.
Social Sciences (2 courses)
Students satisfy the requirement by taking two courses designated by the Core Social Sciences attribute.
Students majoring in Cognitive and Behavior Neuroscience, Criminology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology fulfill the Core Social Science requirement through the regular program of study in their major.
Fine Arts (1 course)
The requirement is met by taking a course that focuses either on the creative processes that go into making a work of art, or on analysis and interpretation of the products of that artistic creativity. All courses designated with the Fine Arts Requirement attribute fulfill the Core Curriculum requirement.
Upper-Level Theology (1 course)
The upper division Theology and Religious Studies Core Curriculum requirement develops the theme of faith seeking understanding, engaging culture from a specific disciplinary perspective. Students must take THL 1000 before taking an upper division course designated by the Core Theology attribute.
Language Requirement
Courses that fulfill language requirements may be used to fulfill other requirements (i.e., primary major, core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives).
Students may satisfy the Core Curriculum Language requirement in one of the following ways:
Option A: Start or Continue a Language Offered through Villanova
Start or continue a language through the required ‘exit’ course indicating that the requirement has been met. Students must begin their language studies to fulfill the Core Curriculum Language requirement no later than sophomore year. Students continuing language studies should begin their first year and continue without interruption.
Students must complete the exit course or higher depending on placement.
- American Sign Language - ASL 1112/1152*
- Ancient Greek - GRK 1112
- Arabic - ARB 1112
- Chinese - CHI 1112
- French - FFS 1122
- German**
- Irish - IS 1112
- Italian - ITA 1122
- Japanese - JPN 1112
- Latin - LAT 1122
- Russian - RUS 1112
- Spanish - SPA 1122
- Swahili - SWA 1112
*Students who entered Villanova fall of 2023 or later, may select this option to satisfy their language requirement.
**German is offered through a partner institution and is only available upon discussion/approval with the Office for Undergraduate Students
Option B: Petition for Exemption from the Core Language Requirement
Documented Language Proficiency
Students who can provide acceptable documentation of proficiency (e.g., TOEFL score, transcript from high school in a language not offered through Villanova) may petition for a language exemption. See the Office for Undergraduate Students for more information.
Native speakers of languages other than English who do not have documentation of language proficiency may satisfy the Core Language requirement by satisfactorily passing a proficiency exam administered by Villanova or another accredited institution and completing a Petition for Exemption. See the Office for Undergraduate Students for more information.
Documented Learning Difference
Students who have documentation supporting an accommodation for differences that affect language acquisition, may be granted a language waiver and may fulfill the Core Language requirement by taking two approved ‘world culture’ courses. Students must submit documentation to Learning Support Services (lss@villanova.edu) or the Office of Disability Services (ods@villanova.edu), depending on the nature of their difference.
NOTES:
- Placement tests are used to place students only and are not to be confused with a proficiency exam.
- Those who begin their language study in the intermediate or advanced levels, satisfy the requirement through demonstration of proficiency, or receive a language waiver for documented learning differences that affect language acquisition, must still complete the total number of required credits for degree completion.
- Additional questions regarding the Core Curriculum Language requirement should be addressed to a student’s faculty advisor or to the Office for Undergraduate Students in SAC 107.
Diversity Requirement (2 courses)
Diversity Courses
Courses that fulfill Core Diversity requirements may be used to fulfill other requirements (i.e., primary major, core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives).
Overview
Consistent with the University’s Mission Statement and its implementation of the new Core Curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences, students will take at least two courses designated as “diversity.” Learning to see through the eyes of other peoples and cultures is essential to becoming a citizen of the world. Beyond introducing students to the contextual study of diverse groups, diversity education must foster understanding of how individuals are affected within systems of power, oppression, deprivation, marginalization, and privilege.
Students are required to select two courses, covering two out of the three areas below:
Diversity 1: Courses that focus on populations (often named as non-dominant, minority, or impoverished groups) in the U.S. or Western Europe, and the systems or mechanisms that give rise to the experiences of power, privilege, and marginalization.
Diversity 2: Courses that focus on women’s experiences and/or highlight the relationship between gender, culture, and power.
Diversity 3: Courses that focus on the culture, economics, politics or ecology of societies and nations other than those of Western Europe and the United States and that emphasize power, privilege, and marginalization or a critical analysis of how these cultures define and express themselves.
NOTES:
- Service-learning courses, internships, and other experiential or community-based learning courses may be applied toward the Diversity requirement, provided they include a significant reflective component and have been pre-approved for diversity course credit.
- Study abroad courses may be applied toward this requirement; such courses will be assessed the same way as Villanova courses.
- Although some courses have more than one Diversity attribute, all students must take two different courses; a single course with multiple attributes may not be used to fulfill both Diversity course requirements.
- The Diversity Requirement cannot be fulfilled by independent study or a senior thesis.
- Language courses cannot fulfill the requirement, although literature courses in another language may fulfill the requirement if they are designated with a Diversity attribute.
- A student may fulfill one Diversity course requirement (DIV 1) by taking three 1-credit IGR workshops.
Free Elective Requirement (30 credits)
Students with a Mathematics primary major have thirty (30) required free elective credits.
Degree Credit Summary
- Major Credits: 59 credits
- Core Credits: 33 credits
- Free Electives Credits: 30 credits
- Total Required Credits: 122 Credits
Note: The above credit totals are based on the minimum number of required credits in each degree area. The minimum number of required credits in each area listed above must be met. Credits taken beyond the required minimum for one area may not be applied to another area.
SECONDARY MAJOR
Students who declare Mathematics as a secondary major must complete the Required Major Courses to achieve this major. Students are able to count any eligible course taken in their primary major, the core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives toward these requirements.