Mathematics & Computer Science

Muskingum's mathematics department became the mathematics and computer science department in 1974, emphasizing the College's commitment to a strong mathematics curriculum as an essential part of a liberal arts program and the appropriateness of computing systems study in such a program. The department offers majors in both mathematics and computer science. Interdisciplinary majors with other fields are also available. The department offices, a departmental assistants' room, and many of the College's computing facilities are located in the Boyd Science Center.

Computer science is a part of many changes in our society. Muskingum provides its students with a sound technical education that includes topics from a number of emerging areas, such as artificial intelligence, color graphics and robotics. At the same time, the department faculty believe that a liberal arts school should have a special mission. These new areas should include discussions of the effects of this technology within our society and in other countries.

The department provides a personal, friendly environment for students. Majors in the department come from many countries and backgrounds. There is ample opportunity for discussion with other students with both similar and dissimilar backgrounds. Students can choose electives to tailor their course of study to fit their personal career goals.

Academic Programs

Major in Mathematics

A mathematics major consists of a minimum of 18 hours on the 300-400 level, including algebraic structures and analysis. Since most students start the program with beginning calculus, the requirement generally amounts to 30 hours.

Major in Computer Science

Students majoring in computer science complete 4 computer science core courses, 3 or more elective computer science courses, beginning calculus, linear algebra, multivariate calculus and differential equations, and discrete mathematics, programming project and a seminar. An internship may be substituted for the programming project and seminar.

Opportunities for Involvement

The department sponsors two student organizations - a national chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Ohio Zeta chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon (KME), a national mathematics honor society. Both organizations meet monthly and sponsor special events and speakers. The ACM chapter sends a team to a regional programming contest each fall. KME sponsors an annual Freshman Mathematics Achievement Award.

The department and computer center employ qualified students as departmental assistants. Their duties include supervision of computer laboratories, tutoring, grading coursework, and assisting in the computer center. These valuable positions provide salaries and important experience for many students each year.

Students may also obtain internships with industry. These internships, which often lead to employment after graduation, carry academic course credit and usually provide financial support.

Faculty

The department faculty have a special set of credentials. Some have international experience in teaching; others have wide experience in industry research and development. Several serve as consultants to industrial and research firms. Publications by departmental staff are many. Members are active in state, national and international professional organizations, often presenting talks at organization meetings and conferences.

Computer Facilities

Muskingum recently completed a major computer and communications project for the students on the campus. All students can now connect to the campus fiber-optic network by using their own computers in dormitory rooms. Several new computer laboratories have been created, including a UNIX laboratory of SUN/SPARC2 color workstations, a color 486 DOS/Windows laboratory, and a color Macintosh IIci laboratory. All of the laboratory machines are equipped with ethernet communication facilities and connect with the campus network. In addition to the laboratories, students can use color plotters, optical scanners, MIDI-music computer/synthesizers, CD-ROM and videodisc players, and a variety of other types of equipment and computers. The College just added a DEC Alpha 4000 central computer.

Numerous languages and software packages are used in coursework and in student research projects. Mathematics, Pascal, Modula-2, Ada, and C++ are used in core coursework, and language courses are offered in BASIC, COBOL, and FORTRAN-77. More advanced coursework uses LISP, PROLOG, special graphics packages, compiler generators, and database systems. A number of simulation packages are also available.

Muskingum is connected to the Internet, which is an international computer network connecting academic institutions, corporations, and government agencies. Students can use the Internet during coursework to access facilities and people at thousands of institutions around the world. This network connection supports faculty and student research at Muskingum by connecting people with researchers at large universities and major corporations. Also, several networks are available within the campus for interconnecting computer systems.

The department has ongoing research in several areas, and seniors can develop their own research for course credit. Equipment is available for a wide variety of student projects, including studies in artificial intelligence, expert systems, robotics, color graphics, network configurations, novel language and compiler design, and user interface design. Because of the background of the faculty and close ties with local computer firms, the department is able to offer a balance of projects in the areas of software applications, hardware and systems applications, and theoretical computer science.

Career Paths

Most of the department's recent graduates have successfully pursued one of three paths: industrial employment, elementary or secondary school teaching, or graduate school. Graduates have obtained positions with firms such as Argonne Laboratories, Battelle Laboratories, DEC, IBM, MIT Laboratories, Motorists Insurance, NASA, NCR and TRW. Graduates are in great demand in secondary and elementary schools throughout the east and midwest.

Those choosing to continue their studies have entered a number of excellent graduate schools: Bowling Green, Carnegie-Mellon, Clemson, Cornell, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Miami, MIT, North Carolina, Ohio State and Pittsburgh. They have had successful graduate careers and embarked on teaching and research careers.

In addition, graduates have often combined their background in mathematics or computer science with other coursework to develop careers with an interdisciplinary flavor. These backgrounds have been used as entry into such fields as accounting, business, economics, music, psychology and religion.

Curriculum

Mathematics

110  Fundamental Mathematics
120  Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers
130  Elementary Functions
140  Statistics
150  Liberal Arts Mathematics
210  Beginning Calculus
220  Intermediate Calculus
225  Discrete Mathematics
235  Linear Algebra and Applications of Calculus
315  Multivariate Calculus and Differential Equations
330  Algebraic Structures
340  Mathematical Statistics
350  Numerical Analysis
360  Geometry
410  Analysis
420  Complex Analysis
430  Applied Mathematics
490  Topics in Mathematics
495  Mathematics Seminar

Computer Science

100  Introduction to Computing
111  Computer Science I
120  Computer Applications
211  Computer Science II
220  Applied Computer Programming
260  Database Management
310  Assembly Language Programming
320  Data Structures
330  Simulation
340  Programming Languages
350  Computer Architecture
360  Artificial Intelligence
400  Programming Projects
440  Compiler Construction
450  Operating Systems
490  Advanced Topics in Computer Science
495  Computer Science Seminar

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