Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences

Minor in Mathematics

Overview

Mathematics is important for its practical applications, for increasing the student's capacity for rigorous and logical argument, and for its intrinsic beauty.

The role of the minor is to (1) provide adequate mathematical background; (2) expose the student to some core ideas and problems of the field; and (3) expose the student to the allied fields of statistics, computing, finance, and economics.

The minor will provide rigorous conceptual and technical training that prepares students either to start working as professional quantitative analysts or to study towards graduate degrees in Economics, Finance, Business Analytics, Logistics, and related disciplines. Links to the allied fields of Statistics, Finance, Computing, and Economics are central to this highly interdisciplinary area.

Aside from the more obviously applied courses, the curriculum of the minor is designed to also support broad achievement in pure mathematical thinking, and computation. Since there are only two required courses, students have ample opportunity to design a minor that is more theoretical or more practical, in line with their interests and aspirations for employment or graduate study.

Pursuing a Minor in Mathematics makes students more "fluent" in another, universal language. Furthermore, studying pure and applied mathematics enables students to develop very valuable (and sought-after) analytical and problem-solving skills.

Students who successfully complete the minor will be able to:

  • Gain practical skills in problem solving with multivariable calculus;
  • Apply concepts from linear algebra and other fundamental areas of modern mathematics;
  • Follow complex mathematical arguments and develop their own mathematical arguments.

Requirements for the Minor 

Six courses distributed as follows:

  • MA 299 Calculus II (prerequisite: MA 198 with a grade of C- or higher)
  • MA 209 Statistics II (prerequisite: MA 208 with a grade of C- or higher)
  • Four additional courses to be chosen from any 300- or 400-level MA courses. One such course may be substituted with one of the following courses: CS 160 Programming Concepts and Applications or CS 320 Advanced Programming: Python.

It is highly recommended that MA 299 and MA 209 be completed prior to taking all the other courses. 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MINORS 

  • No more than one grade of lower than a C- will be accepted in courses applying to the minor.
  • In the case of multiple minors, no course may apply to more than one minor.
  • No more than three classes may apply to both the major and minor.
  • At least four courses must be taken in residence at John Cabot.
  • Requirements for the minor must be completed by the time of graduation.
  • Courses without specific coding (prefix and number) cannot be applied towards minors.