The curriculum in the Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics with a Biological Sciences emphasis explores the application of analytical problem-solving tools to problems in biology, medicine, and the environment. Students in the Biological Sciences emphasis investigate techniques in applied and pure mathematics and pursue electives in biology and other sciences that demonstrate how mathematics models phenomena in the life sciences.
A student completing this program is prepared for a career in applications of mathematics to the life sciences. Furthermore, this degree program is designed to contain the coursework required for students interested in medical school, and it is recommended for pre-med students interested in pursuing a mathematics degree. With the appropriate electives chosen, the student is also prepared to enter quantitatively oriented graduate programs, including PhD programs in Applied Mathematics or Mathematics. A minor in biology is well suited to students in this program. All advising for this degree option is done through the Undergraduate Program Office in the Department of Mathematics.
Biological Science Emphasis: Consult with departmental advisor.
Plan of Study Grid First Year |
Fall |
BIOL 111 | Introductory Biology I | 4 |
CHEM 119 | Fundamentals of Chemistry I | 4 |
ENGL 104
| Composition and Rhetoric
or Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
MATH 171 | Calculus I | 4 |
1,4 | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring |
BIOL 112 | Introductory Biology II | 4 |
CHEM 120 | Fundamentals of Chemistry II | 4 |
ENGL 203
| Writing about Literature
or Technical and Professional Writing | 3 |
MATH 172 | Calculus II | 4 |
1,4 | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Second Year |
Fall |
| 3 |
CHEM 227 & CHEM 237 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
MATH 221 | Several Variable Calculus | 4 |
MATH 300 | Foundations of Mathematics | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
Spring |
| 3 |
CHEM 228 & CHEM 238 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
MATH 308 | Differential Equations | 3 |
MATH 323 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
2,5 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Third Year |
Fall |
BICH 410 | Comprehensive Biochemistry I | 3 |
MATH 409 | Analysis on the Real Line | 3 |
PHYS 206 & PHYS 226 | Newtonian Mechanics for Engineering and Science and Physics of Motion Laboratory for the Sciences | 4 |
STAT 312 | Statistics for Biology | 3 |
2 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring |
MATH 411 | Mathematical Probability | 3 |
MATH 469 | Introduction to Mathematical Biology | 3 |
PHYS 207 & PHYS 227 | Electricity and Magnetism for Engineering and Science and Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory for the Sciences | 4 |
2 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 13 |
Fourth Year |
Fall |
3 | 6 |
| The Mathematics of Interest | |
| |
| 4 |
| Programming I | |
| Introduction to Computer Science Concepts and Programming | |
| Structured Programming in C | |
2 | 3 |
2 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring |
MATH 442 | Mathematical Modeling | 3 |
| 3 |
| The Mathematics of Interest | |
| |
2 | 3 |
2 | 3 |
4 | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 13 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
Maximum of 3 hours of MATH 300 or CSCE 222/ECEN 222 may be used in this degree program.
Maximum of 3 hours of MATH 411 or STAT 414 may be used in this degree program.
Maximum of 4 hours of MATH 417, MATH 437 or CSCE 442 may be used in this degree program.
If a grade of D or F is earned in any of the following courses, MATH 151/MATH 171, MATH 152/MATH 172, MATH 221/MATH 251/MATH 253, MATH 300, MATH 323 or MATH 308, this course must be immediately retaken and a grade of C or better earned. The department will allow at most two Ds in upper-level (325-499) courses. If a third D is earned, one of the three courses in which a D was earned must be retaken and a grade of C or better earned.
Students desiring teacher certification should consult the requirements for certification before registering for electives.
Graduation requirements include a requirement for 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity courses and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse courses. A course satisfying a Core category, a college/department requirement, or a general elective can be used to satisfy this requirement. See academic advisor.