Silhouette of Mathematics student pointing at computer screen using Wolfram Mathematica

Mathematics

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  3. Mathematics

Math is the universal language. It’s spoken in science, business, medicine, engineering, national security, and cybersecurity. It's all around us, serving as the integral thread to how and why so much in our world functions.

Degrees & Offerings
  • B.S.
Location
  • Bloomsburg
  • Lock Haven
  • Mansfield
Department
College
Program Contact
Chair and Professor of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Digital Forensics
Illustration of Mountain

Galaxies, planets, and light move through space according to the metric tensors of differential geometry. Finance and investment models are built upon calculus. Drug resistance in cancers is described by differential equations, and cellular division follows the rules set by the mathematics of entropy. Distribution of energy in the modern world requires advanced integrals from calculus. Code breakers and cryptologists use a broad array of mathematics to make our electronic communications safer and more secure.

Adapt and grow to meet the world’s demands

The growing demands of science, business, medicine, and engineering require new mathematical ideas. Businesses, governments, and universities all around the world employ mathematicians to solve urgent problems. As our understanding of the universe, the world, and the human body grows, the need for creative new mathematical ideas also grows. Be an important member of the problem-solving communities in industry, government, science, and mathematics research.

Course Delivery Format

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Courses and Curriculum

The mathematics program provides you with the background and preparation needed to succeed in graduate school, while also developing your logical and problem-solving skills which are needed for upper-level jobs in business and industry. This program has courses in all of the major areas of mathematics to prepare you for graduate studies, including some nontraditional offerings like theory of computation and modern geometry.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

The applied mathematics concentration provides you with the mathematical and analytical skills needed for success in upper-level jobs in business and industry, while also providing you the opportunity to choose your applied courses based on your interests. Some common choices are data science, finance, computer science, education, physics, engineering, digital forensics, cybersecurity, chemistry, economics, and business. This program offers the full breadth of applied classes for the modern world, including machine learning, cryptography, biostatistics, and actuarial science.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

Sample Course Maps

Course Lists

Prerequisite Charts

  • Knowledge of Mathematics: Students will be able to solve problems in areas of calculus, algebra, and discrete mathematics.
  • Reasoning: Students will be able to reason through and prove mathematical statements through logical arguments.
  • Communication: Students will be able to communicate mathematical principles and ideas with clarity and coherence.
  • Application: Students will be able to apply mathematical knowledge, computations, and techniques to solve real-world problems in various fields of study.

The Commonwealth Difference

33%
Job Growth Expected
Businesses will need mathematicians and statisticians to analyze the volumes of digital and electronic data generated in today's environment.
College of Distinction
College of Distinction
Commonwealth University has earned national recognition as a College of Distinction, honored for its quality and high-impact practices.
$110k
Median annual wage for a mathematician with a master's degree
Top employers of CU grads are: The Vanguard Group, Geisinger Health System, Comcast, and more.

Careers

Our Mathematics program provides students with the knowledge and problem-solving skills necessary for success in graduate school. Our Applied Mathematics program offers a 9-credit sequence in the student’s desired application area so that students can combine their mathematical skills with their area of interest. Most of our graduates choose one of the occupations listed below.

Potential Job Opportunities

  • Mathematician
  • Physicist
  • College Professor
  • Actuary
  • Data Scientist
  • Software Engineer
  • Statistician
  • Financial Analyst
  • Operations Research Analyst
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Engineer
  • Economist
  • Astronomer
  • Accountant
  • Math Teacher
  • Insurance Underwriter
  • Cost Estimator
  • Database Administrator
  • National Security Agency
  • Department of Defense
Eric Zalewski sitting on a bench on the campus of Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg

I can’t say enough good things about our math department. The classes are rigorous and have taught me all of the math-based skills I need to succeed. I’m very happy I’m a pure math and stats major (rather than) someplace else where I could be an actuarial science major.

Eric Zalewski '20
Mathematics
Eric Zalewski sitting on a bench on the campus of Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg

A lot of models use price of a policy as the main input. For a model to be 100% verified in its reporting methods, one would have to know every single price change that occurred in the last five to ten years, depending on how far back the model is being extended.

Eric Zalewski '20
Mathematics
Eric Zalewski sitting on a bench on the campus of Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg

Math and stat programs require a lot more in advanced mathematics and computer coding, while actuarial science programs substitute some of these classes with insurance and business classes, I was actually put on projects this summer due to my experience in SAS and SQL. I noticed that it’s much easier in both the work environment and on the actuarial exams to teach yourself the business and insurance definitions than it is to teach yourself the math theory.

Eric Zalewski '20
Mathematics
Eric Zalewski sitting on a bench on the campus of Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg
Eric Zalewski sitting on a bench on the campus of Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg
Eric Zalewski sitting on a bench on the campus of Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg
Profile photo of Andrew Clickard

Several Recent Math Graduates choose to pursue a Ph.D.

Andrew Clickard graduated in the spring of 2022 with a B.S. degree in mathematics. He was awarded a graduate assistantship from Temple University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in mathematics. While at Bloomsburg, he published a paper titled "Synthetic Geometry in Hyperbolic Simplices" in the journal Involve. He gave presentations at several regional and national math conferences and won the "Outstanding Student Paper Presentation Award" at the 2021 Mathfest for the Mathematical Association of America. "My work at Bloomsburg prepared me well for graduate school." — Andrew Clickard '22

Career Options
Profile photo of Aaron Butters

Actuaries in high demand, Open doors for math graduates

Aaron Butters graduated in 2021 and is currently working as an actuary at the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. While majoring in mathematics at Mansfield University, Aaron passed the P, FM, IFM, and SRM actuarial exams. "The coursework I completed at Mansfield gave me a solid foundation in calculus, statistics, and business to be able to pass the exams supplemented with online study guides for exam specific concepts. I would highly recommend other students pursue a similar path majoring in mathematics and using exam specific study guides." — Aaron Butters

Career Options
James Sharpe and Chris Lynd show their published math research

Collaborative research gets published in widely read math journal

James Sharpe, a senior mathematics major at Bloomsburg University, and Chris Lynd, an associate professor of mathematics, recently had their research published in the latest edition of The American Mathematical Monthly. This is the most widely read math journal in the world.

Student Research
Luke Vuksta shows award from math competition.

Math major a finalist in national math competition

Drawing from more than 400 colleges and universities, the Mathematics Association of America national Problem Solving Competition features some of the best math students in the country. And Luke Vuksta, a junior Bloomsburg University mathematics major, was among them. Vuksta advanced to the finals and earned a sixth place medal this past summer.

Student Awards
Students from Mathematics Club pose at bowling alley.

Math majors have lots of options with student clubs and campus activities

Students can take advantage of an active social life. You can join the Math Club, become a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon (the honor society in mathematics), help support the Math Contest, and become a member of a Learning Community where you join a cohort with students who have similar majors and interests.

Student Life

Program Contacts

William

William Calhoun

  • Chair and Professor of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Digital Forensics
  • Bloomsburg
CommonwealthU University Employee

Charles Morgan

  • Professor/Chair of the Mathematics Department
  • Lock Haven

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