• home
  • Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

BA in Mathematics | BS in Mathematics | BS in Mathematics with Teacher Certification | BA in Mathematics with Secondary Certification (2 Teaching Fields) | Minor in Mathematics | Minor in Statistics | Mathematics Course Descriptions | Statistics Course Descriptions


Chair: Brian Loft   (936) 294-1563    

Coordinators: Rebecca Garcia (Mathematics), Max Coleman (Mathematics Education), Steve Scariano (Statistics), Mary Lou Shelton (Developmental Mathematics)

Faculty: John Alford, Ferry Butar, Scott Chapman, Max Coleman, Beth Cory, Brandy Doleshal, Rebecca Garcia, Luis Garcia-Puente, Cecil Hallum, Damon Hay, Melinda Holt, William Jasper, Dustin Jones, Jodie Kirk, Mark Klespis, Brian Loft, Martin Malandro, Ananda Bandulasiri Manage, Taylor Martin, Joseph O’Brien, Steve Scariano, Valerie Sharon, Jon Short, Ken Smith, Mary Swarthout, Edward Swim, Jianzhong Wang, Linda Zientek

Website: www.shsu.edu/academics/mathematics-and-statistics/

Mathematics is a powerful tool for solving practical problems, combining logic and precision with intuition and imagination. The basic goal of mathematics is to reveal and explain patterns - whether the pattern appears as electrical impulses in an animal’s nervous system, as fluctuations in stock market prices, or as fine detail of an abstract geometric figure.

Mission

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics provides an environment that is conducive to and promotes the understanding of mathematics and statistics by all students, encourages community and institutional service, and encourages and supports continued faculty development and scholarship.

Academic Programs

Highlights

  • Host for annual mathematics conference on teaching of mathematics
  • Home of Reeves Center for Mathematics Education
  • Direct a variety of undergraduate research programs
  • Provide undergraduate student presentations at MAA meetings
  • Coordinate numerous grants with government and education agencies

Career Opportunities

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Computer Programming
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Management and Related Positions
  • Actuarial
  • Computer Systems Analysis
  • Engineering
  • Statistics
  • Mathematics
  • Operations Research
  • Modeling
  • Academic Positions - High School or College

Suggested Minors

  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Music
  • Physics
  • Pre-Med/Biology
  • Statistics

Student Organizations

  • Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
  • Pi-Mu-Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society
  • Ruth Lane Math Society

Internships

Possible internships exist with NASA, National Security Agency, Actuarial Firms, Oil Industry.

Scholarships

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers several scholarships each year and Sam Houston State University offers additional, university-wide scholarships. Additional fellowships are available for students engaged in undergraduate research. For information on departmental scholarships, contact the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Information on University scholarships may be obtained at Office of Academic Scholarships or by telephone (936) 294-1672.

Program Specific Requirements

Anyone considering a degree in Mathematics should consult an advisor in the Mathematics department prior to registering for any courses.

Curriculum

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Mathematics

The following courses can only be used as required advanced electives by students who are seeking elementary/middle school teacher certification: MATH 3380, MATH 3381, MATH 3383, MATH 3384, MATH 3386, and MATH 3387. The following courses can only be used as required advanced electives by students who are seeking secondary teacher certification: MATH 4384 and MATH 4385.

Students should use the minor and advanced general electives to complete the 42-advanced hour requirement for graduation.

In order to satisfy Component Area 3 (Natural Science, Not in Department of Physics), the student must take classes from the following: BIOL 1411, BIOL 1413, BIOL 2401, CHEM 1411, CHEM 1412, Any lab course from Geology or Geography.

Bachelor of Science, Major in Mathematics

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

The following courses can only be used as required advanced electives by students who are seeking elementary/middle school teacher certification: MATH 3380, MATH 3381, MATH 3383, MATH 3384, MATH 3386, and MATH 3387. The following courses can only be used as required advanced electives by students who are seeking secondary teacher certification: MATH 4384 and MATH 4385.

Students should use the minor and electives to complete the 42-advanced hour requirement for graduation.

In order to satisfy Component Area 3 (Natural Science, Not in Department of Physics), the student must take classes from the following: BIOL 1311/BIOL 1111, BIOL 1313/BIOL 1113, BIOL 2401, CHEM 1311, CHEM 1312/CHEM 1112, Any lab course from Geology or Geography.

Bachelor of Science, Major in Mathematics with Teacher Certification

For students selecting a Minor as a Second Teaching Field
The requirements include COSC 1436 or approved substitute, MATH 1420, MATH 1430, MATH 2440, MATH 3363, MATH 3300, MATH 3377, MATH 3379, MATH 4377, MATH 4384, and MATH 4385.

For students who do not select a Minor

The requirements include those above, and one of the following options:  
OPTION 1: (Analysis Emphasis) MATH 4361, MATH 4367, and an upper level mathematics course.
OPTION 2: (Statistics Emphasis) STAT 3380, STAT 4370, and MATH/STAT 4371.

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Mathematics with Secondary Certification With Two Teaching Fields

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Minor in Mathematics with Teacher Certification


Middle School Level Certification

Plans must include MATH 1384, MATH 1385, MATH 2384, MATH 2385, MATH 3380, MATH 3383, MATH 3384, MATH 3386 and MATH 3387 or approved substitutes.

The following certifications are available for students who wish to teach in middle school: 4-8 Mathematics and 4-8 Mathematics/Science. Detailed four-year plans are located in the College of Education section of this catalog.

Secondary Level Certification

Plans must include MATH 1420, MATH 1430, MATH 3363 , MATH 3300, MATH 3377, MATH 3379, MATH 4384, MATH 4385 and COSC 1436 or approved substitutes.

Teacher Certification

In addition to the listed degree requirements, the following courses must be completed for teacher certification. Several of these courses may be taken as electives or to partially complete existing degree requirements. CISE 3374, CISE 3383, CISE 4364, CISE 4380, CISE 4394, CISE 4396, and CISE 4397, READ 4320.

Minor in Mathematics without Teacher Certification

Minors in mathematics must include MATH 1420, MATH 1430 and one of the following: MATH 2440 and 6 semester hours of advanced mathematics (no more than 3 hours of courses cross listed with STA), or 10 semester hours of advanced mathematics (no more than 3 hours of courses cross listed with STA). Prerequisites should be carefully noted. The following courses can only be used as required advanced electives by students who are seeking elementary/middle school teacher certification: MATH 3380, MATH 3381, MATH 3383, MATH 3384, MATH 3386, and MATH 3387. The following courses can only be used as required advanced electives by students who are seeking secondary teacher certification: MATH 4384 and MATH 4385.  A student’s major program of study may also impose requirements on a minor in mathematics. Thus, the selection of courses for a mathematics minor should be made with the counsel of both the major advisor and a mathematics advisor.

Minor in Statistics

Requirements are adjusted to accommodate program emphases.

Minor in Statistical Theory
STAT 3379, STAT 4371, STAT 4372, and three courses elected from STAT 3380, STAT 3381, STAT 4370, STAT 4373, and STAT 4374.

Minor in Statistical Method
STAT 3379, STAT 3380, STAT 4374, and three courses elected from STAT 3381, STAT 4370, and STAT 4373 which includes special topics choices from Bayesian Analysis, Quality Control, Time Series, Survival Modeling, and Biostatistics.

A concentration of twelve semester hours is appropriate for students who need an understanding of statistics to augment study in another field but who do not require a minor in statistics. A typical concentration might consist of STAT 3379 and STAT 3380 with two additional courses selected from STAT 3381, STAT 4370, STAT 3371, STAT 4372, STAT 4373, and STAT 4374.

 


Sam Houston State Logo

Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas 77341 | (936) 294-1111 | (866)BEARKAT Member TSUS
© Copyright Sam Houston State University | All rights reserved. | Contact Web Editor