Mathematics

The mathematics program at PLU is designed to serve five main objectives:

(a) to provide mathematical background for other disciplines,
(b) to provide a comprehensive pre-professional program for those directly entering the fields of teaching and applied mathematics,
(c) to provide a nucleus of essential courses that will develop the breadth and maturity of mathematical thought for continued study of mathematics at the graduate level,
(d) to develop the mental skills necessary for the creation, analysis, and critique of mathematical and quantitative topics, and
(e) to provide a view of mathematics as a humanistic endeavor.

Beginning Classes

Majors in mathematics, computer science, and other sciences usually take MATH 151 and MATH 152, if they have not placed above them. MATH 151 is also appropriate for any student whose high school mathematics preparation is strong. Those who have had calculus in high school may omit MATH 151 (see the Advanced Placement section) and enroll in MATH 152 after consultation with a student success advisor or a mathematics faculty member. Those who have less mathematics background may begin with MATH 140 before taking MATH 151. MATH 115 provides preparation for MATH 140.

Business majors may satisfy the requirement for the business degree by taking MATH 128, 151, or 152 (MATH 115 provides preparation for MATH 128).

Elementary education majors may satisfy the requirement for the education degree by taking MATH 123 and MATH 124 (MATH 115 provides preparation for MATH 123). Those majoring in a different area but planning to apply to PLU’s Master of Arts in Education elementary program need to take MATH 123 only.

For students who plan to take only one mathematics course, a choice from MATH 105, 107, 123, 128, 140, or 151 is advised, depending on the student’s interests, preparation and mathematics placement results.

Mathematics Placement Evaluation

A Math Placement test is required before registering for any math course at PLU unless one of the following holds:

1. the course prerequisites have been successfully completed at PLU,
2. the student has transferred in credits for courses equivalent to the course prerequisites, or
3. PLU has received AP or IBHL scores for the student that earn the student credit for the course prerequisites.

Students should take the Math Placement test as early as possible. The test can be accessed online by selecting the “Math Placement Evaluation” link through Self-Service Banner (bss.plu.edu). A student may take the placement test up to five times.

Note: Mathematics placement results are windows, not ceilings. A student cannot take classes at a level below their placement without permission of the department.

The policy of the Department of Mathematics regarding mathematics credit for students who have taken the AP Calculus exams (AB or BC) or the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Mathematics Exam (IBHL) is as follows:

*Consult with instructor if planning to take MATH 152.

If a student has taken calculus in high school and did not take an AP exam or IBHL exam, then the student may enroll in MATH 152 after consultation with a student success advisor or a mathematics faculty member. In this case, no credit is given for MATH 151.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

PLU does not have a mathematics entrance requirement. However, we strongly recommend that students applying to PLU should have taken at least two years of college preparatory mathematics before arrival and that students planning to major in a quantitative field should have taken three to four years of college preparatory mathematics before arrival.

Mathematics and General Education Program Elements

The following mathematics courses will satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning (QR) element of the General Education Program: 105, 107, 115, 123, 124, 128, 140, 145, 151, 152, and 242. At least 4 semester hours are needed

Required Prerequisite Grades

A grade of C or higher is required in all prerequisite courses.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Major in Mathematics

32 semester hours of mathematics, plus 4 semester hours of supporting courses

• 32 semester hours of mathematics: MATH 152, 242, 253, 317 or 318 or 319, 331, 433, 455, 499A, 499B
• 4 semester hours of computer science: CSCI 144
• Strongly recommended (but not required): one course from: CSCI 371, ECON 344, or PHYS 153/163 Lab

Bachelor of Science Degree

Major in Mathematics

36-40 semester hours of mathematics, plus 8 to 13 semester hours of supporting courses

• 32 semester hours of required mathematics courses: MATH 152, 242, 253, 317 or 318 or 319, 331, 433, 455, 499A, 499B
• 8 additional semester hours of electives from MATH 317, 318, 319*, 342, 348, 351**, 356, 381, 422, 480, or PHYS 354
  (*At most, one of MATH 317, 318, and 319, not already used in the bullet point above, can be used towards the 8 additional semester hours of electives needed.
  **Only one course from either MATH 351 or PHYS 354 may be used)
• 8 or 9 semester hours of supporting courses: CSCI 144 and one course from: CSCI 371, ECON 344, or PHYS 153/163 Lab

Major in Applied Mathematics

36-40 semester hours of mathematics/statistics, plus 8 to 13 semester hours of supporting courses

• 24 semester hours of required mathematics courses: MATH 152, 253, 318, 331, 422, 499A, 499B
• 4 semester hours of statistics from: MATH/STAT 145, STAT 231, or MATH/STAT 242
• 12 semester hours of electives from: MATH/STAT 342, MATH/STAT 348, either MATH 351 or PHYS 354, MATH 356, either MATH 433 or MATH 455, CSCI 330, CSCI 367, CSCI 371, CHEM 341, ECON 301, or ECON 344
  • At least 8 semester hours of these must be taken from mathematics or statistics
• 4-5 semester hours of supporting courses from: CHEM 115, CSCI 270, ECON 101 or PHYS 153/163
• 4 semester hours from CSCI 144 or DATA 133
  • MATH 356 or another approved 300-level or 400-level mathematics course may be substituted for this requirement if a student is completing the Data Science minor

A maximum of eight (8) credits at the 300+ level may be double-counted for other major requirements and a maximum of eight (8) credits may be double-counted for other minor requirements. Petitions to substitute courses may be submitted to the department chair to address double-counting constraints. Students minoring in statistics may not use any of their “8 additional semester hours of statistics” toward the Applied Mathematics major.

Major in Mathematics Education

36 semester hours of mathematics, plus 8 to 9 semester hours of supporting courses

• 36 semester hours of mathematics: MATH 152, 242, 253, 317 or 318, 319, 331, 433, 499A, 499B, and MATH/EDUC 446
• 4 semester hours of education: EDUC 205
• One course (4-5 semester hours) from: PHYS 125/135 Lab, PHYS 153/163 Lab, or CHEM 115
• Strongly recommended (but not required): MATH 455

A minimum of 128 semester hours must be completed with a GPA of 2.50 or higher. MATH/EDUC 446 must be completed with a B- or higher. MATH 433, 499A, and 499B must be completed with grades of C- or higher. All other mathematics courses counted toward a mathematics education major must be completed with grades of C or higher.

Note: The B.S. degree with a major in mathematics education together with a master’s degree in education provides a path to teacher certification in secondary mathematics in Washington State. Passing the NES exam in mathematics is required for teacher certification in secondary mathematics. Completion of the required math courses listed for the degree gives adequate preparation for the NES exam.

Minors

Actuarial Science

A minimum of 24 semester hours, chosen from the following courses:

• BUSA 302, 335, 437, 438
• ECON 101, 301, 313, 337, 344
• MATH 331, 342, 348, 356
• At least 12 semester hours must be taken from mathematics and at least 4 semester hours from economics

Also strongly recommended: MATH 253, DATA 133

A maximum of 8 credit hours can simultaneously count towards both an actuarial science minor and a mathematics major. Courses taken for the actuarial science minor cannot be simultaneously used to satisfy a mathematics or statistics minor.

Mathematics

16 semester hours of mathematics courses, including:

• MATH 152 and either 245 or 253; and 8 semester hours of upper-division mathematics courses (excluding MATH/EDUC 446) and PHYS 354*.

*Only one course from either MATH 245 or MATH 318 may be used; only one course from either MATH 351 or PHYS 354 may be used.

Statistics

16 semester hours, to include:

• CSCI 144 or DATA 133
• STAT 231, 232, or 233; or MATH/STAT 242
• And at least: 8 additional semester hours of statistics selected from BUSA 467, ECON 344, PSYC 242, MATH/STAT 342, MATH/STAT 348.
  (Additional courses may be approved by the chair of the Department of Mathematics. See the Statistics section of this catalog for more details.)

A maximum of 8 credit hours can simultaneously count towards both a statistics minor and a mathematics major. Courses taken for the statistics minor cannot be simultaneously used to satisfy a mathematics or actuarial science minor.