Mathematics and Statistics

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science offers courses satisfying the Core Curriculum Requirements in Mathematics, required courses for other majors, and a Minor in Mathematics.

NDNU offers PC, Mac, and Unix labs.

The Mathematics and Statistics curriculum at Notre Dame de Namur University provides solid preparation to meet career and life goals. Students in mathematics and statistics classes build their analytical and computational competences and engage in active learning as they learn to link mathematical and statistical concepts with practical problems. While they enhance their abilities to analyze and solve problems, organize data, and understand number relationships, students are developing their critical thinking skills and creativity.

All undergraduate students must satisfy the Core Curriculum Requirement in Mathematics and many students have additional mathematics and statistics requirements in their majors. Before enrolling in any Mathematics or Statistics course, except MA001, all students must demonstrate appropriate preparation. See Placement and Diagnostic Tests: Mathematics for further information.

Minor Requirements: Mathematics

Required Courses		Units
MA020A	Calculus I	4
MA020B	Calculus II	4
MA030	Calculus III	4
Plus two courses chosen from the following:		7-8
CS155	Computer Graphics (3)
MA119	Discrete Mathematics (4)
MA122	Probability and Statistics (4)
MA150	Linear Algebra (4)
MA189	Research/Project in Mathematics/Statistics (4)
Total All programs must be approved by the Department Chair.		19-20

Mathematics and Statistics Courses

MA003 Pre Algebra (3)

Topics include: Whole numbers; multiplying and dividing fractions; adding and subtracting fractions; decimals; ratio and proportion; percent; measurement and units; geometry; basic algebra; real number system; equations, inequalities and applications; graphs of linear equations and inequalities in two variables; exponents and polynomials; foil, rational expressions and applications.  Note: Does not fulfill a Core Curriculum requirement; units do not apply toward the baccalaureate degree.  Pass/Not Pass Grading.

MA005 Mathematics and Life (3)
Prerequisite: Math Placement Level 1or MA 003 with a grade of C or higher.
This is an informal course for nonscience majors designed to introduce students to the role and usefulness of mathematics in everyday life. The focus is on understanding the process of applying mathematical analysis to current and real problems. With only simple mathematical tools, students get a glimpse of the power of mathematical thinking. Satisfies the Core Curriculum Mathematics Requirement.

MA011 Statistical Concepts (3)
Prerequisite: Math Placement Level 1 or MA 003 with a grade of C or higher.
This is a one semester course covering basic statistical concepts leading to an understanding of experimental design, mean, median, and mode, standard deviation, correlation, and regression analysis. Also gives an introduction to hypothesis testing. Satisfies the Core Curriculum Mathematics Requirement.

MA011E Excel for Statistical Concepts (1)
Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in MA011 or instructor's permission
Offers hands-on learning of Excel procedures for solving basic statistical problems. Topics are compatible with MA011 content: experimental design, mean, median, and mode, standard deviation, correlation and regression analysis, and an introduction to hypothesis testing.

MA012 Beginning Algebra (3)

Prerequisite: Math Placement Level 1 or MA003 with a grade of C or higher. 

Topics include: sets of real numbers, intervals, absolute values, linear equations and functions, inequalities, polynomials, factoring, and rational expressions.

Note: Does not satisfy the Core Curriculum Mathematics requirement; units do apply toward a Bachelor degree.

MA014/414 College Algebra (3)
Prerequisite: Math Placement Level 2 or MA012 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.
Includes a brief review of intermediate algebra: sets of real numbers, intervals, absolute value, quadratic equations, and inequalities. College algebra topics include: functions and their inverses, techniques of graphing functions, linear and quadratic functions, polynomial and rational functions, min-max problems, exponential and logarithmic functions, properties of logarithms, and exponential growth and decay. Emphasis is placed on developing conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills.

MA016/MA416 Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry (4)

Prerequisites: Math Placement Level 3 or MA014 or equivalent with grade of C or higher. 

Covers functions, exponentials, logarithms, trigonometric functions of angles and real numbers, graphs of trigonometric functions, trigonometric equations and inequalities, inverse trigonometric functions, the law of sines and cosines, basic analytic geometry, conic sections, vectors in the plane, polar coordinates, systems of equations, binomial theorem. Additional topics if time permits: remainder and factor theorems for polynomials, division of polynomials, mathematical induction, sequences and series, complex numbers.

MA020A/420A Calculus I (4)
Prerequisites: Math Placement Level 4 or MA016 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.
Functions, limits, continuity, rates of change, derivatives and their applications, the mean value theorem, curve sketching, min-max problems, antiderivatives, finite sums and sigma notation, double and triple finite sums, and arithmetic and geometric series and sums are studied. The course also includes sequences and limits of sequences, definite integrals, the fundamental theorem of calculus, and integration by substitution. Intended for students with a strong precalculus background.

MA020B/420B Calculus II (4)
Prerequisites: MA020A or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.
Covers applications of definite integrals, areas and volumes, derivatives and integrals of transcendental functions, techniques of integration, and improper integrals. The course also includes more on sequences and limits of sequences, overview of simple, double, and triple finite sums, arithmetic and geometric series, induction method, infinite series, series of functions, power series, and Taylor and Maclaurin series.

MA022 Applied Calculus (4)
Prerequisites: Math Placement Level 3 or MA014 or equivalent with grade of C or higher.
This course is designed for students in social or life sciences or business. Covers basic notions of derivative and integral, along with standard techniques of differentiation and integration with a focus on application rather than theory and rigor.

MA030 Calculus III (4)
Prerequisites: MA020B or equivalent with a grade of C or higher; PH004A/B recommended.
Covers parameterized curves and polar coordinates, vectors and 3-D analytic geometry, cylindrical and spherical coordinates, and topics in functions of two or more variaentiability, partial derivatives, directional derivatives, gradient vectors, tangent planes, min-max and saddle points, and Lagrangebles, including continuity, differ multipliers. Double and triple integrals in various systems of coordinates and substitutions in multiple integrals are included.

MA102/402 Statistics (3)
Prerequisites: Math Placement Level 2 or MA012 with a grade of B or higher; MA014 with a grade of C or higher or Math Placement Level 3 recommended.
Studies descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability concepts, normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals and hypothesis tests, chi-square procedures, correlation and regression, and analysis of variance. Emphasis is on understanding statistical concepts and their use in analyzing and interpreting data. Cross-listed with EC102 (15 weeks).

MA102E/MA402E Excel for Statistics (1)
Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in MA102 or EC102 or MA402 or instructor's permission
Offers hands-on learning of Excel procedures for solving statistical problems. Topics are compatible with MA102/EC102/MA402 content: descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability concepts, normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals and hypotheses tests, chi-square procedures, correlation and regression, and analysis of variance. Cross-listed with EC102E.

MA106A Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I (3)
Prerequisite: Math Placement Level 3 or MA014 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.
This is the first of two courses designed for future elementary teachers. Students review mathematical topics, deepen their knowledge of the connections between topics, and reflect on how these topics are best taught in the elementary classroom and on how they relate to the strands of the Mathematics Content Standards for California Public Schools. Topics addressed in this course include problem- solving methods, sets, functions and reasoning, numeration systems and operations with numbers, number theory, integers and fractions, decimals, and rational and irrational numbers.

MA106B Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II (3)
Prerequisite: MA106A
This is the second of two courses designed for future elementary teachers. Students review mathematical topics, deepen their knowledge of the connections between topics, and reflect on how these topics are best taught in the elementary classroom and on how the topics relate to the strands of the Mathematics Content Standards for California Public Schools. Topics addressed in this course include statistics and probability concepts, geometrical figures, measurement, and motions in geometry.

MA119 Discrete Mathematics (4)
Prerequisites: MA020A with a grade of C or higher or permission of instructor. MA020B is recommended.
Covers logic and propositional calculus, sets, functions, sequences and summations, complexity of algorithms and big-O notation, methods of proof, matrices, induction, arithmetic and geometric progressions, recursion, program correctness, basic combinatorics, recurrence relations and algorithms, divide-and-conquer, inclusion-exclusion, relations, representing relations, equivalence relations and classes, boolean algebra, introduction to graphs and trees, and tree traversals.

MA122 Probability and Statistics (4)
Prerequisites: MA020B with a grade of C or higher or permission of instructor; MA030 and/or MA119 are recommended.
Uses a calculus-based approach to probability and statistics for natural and computational sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability concepts, counting, independence, conditional probability, Bayes' theorem, random variables, probability distributions, expectation, variance and covariance, univariate and multivariate distributions, joint and conditional distributions, transformations, sampling, central limit theorem, inferences and hypothesis tests, nonparametric tests, correlation, simple and multiple regression, analysis of variance and covariance, quality control, and reliability.

MA149T Teaching Assistant (1-3)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Provides an opportunity for outstanding mathematics students to earn credit by assisting instructors.

MA150 Linear Algebra (4)
Prerequisites: MA020B, MA119 with grades of C or higher or permission of instructor; MA030 is recommended.
Studies linear systems of equations, matrices, determinants, and techniques of inverting matrices. Topics include finite dimensional vector spaces, linear independence, basis and dimension, change of basis, orthonormal bases and the Gram-Schmidt process, linear transformations and matrices, kernel and range, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization, and the Jordan canonical form. Applications of Linear Algebra are also studied.

MA189 Research/Project in Mathematics/Statistics (4)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Provides an opportunity for students to produce original research, participate in projects and/or write a paper under the supervision of an instructor. Topics may be selected from Math/Stat theory or applications in Biology, Finance, Business, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, or another area. May be repeated for credit.

MA199 Independent Study in Mathematics (1-4)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Provides an opportunity for independent study or research under the direction of an instructor. See Undergraduate Policies and Procedures section on Independent Study.