Mathematics
From Duke Wiki
| Chair | Dr. Mark Stern |
|---|---|
| Director of Undergraduate Studies | Dr. James Beale |
| Degrees Available | Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Minor |
| # of Students | Around 50 |
| Location | Physics Builidng. Many introductory courses held in East |
| Major Requirements | Prerequisites: Mathematics 31, 32, 103, 104 or equivalent courses Bachelor of Arts: Seven courses above 104, including one course in Abstract Algebra (Math 121 or Math 200), and one course in Analysis (Math 139 or Math 203) Bachelor of Science: Eight courses above 104, including one course in Abstract Algebra, one course in Analysis, one of the following: Math 136, 181, 201, 204, 205, 206, 215 or 216, and one year of introductory physics. |
| Minor Requirements | Prerequistes: Mathematics 103 or equivalent course Five courses above 103, including one of the following: Math 121, Math 132S, 135, 139, 160S, 181, 187, or any 200 level course. |
| Affiliated Student Groups | DUMU |
| Website | http://math.duke.edu/ |
[edit] Mathematics
Most students at Duke University have some interaction with the Mathematics Department during their time here, typically to fulfill their Quantitative Studies requirement. Approximately fifty students graduate each year with a mathematics degree, making it of average popularity among Duke students. The majority of students only take one of the introductory or intermediate calculus courses, which are some of the most feared at Duke. It is rumored, in fact, that Math 32: Introductory Calculus II is the most failed class at Duke, and Math 103: Intermediate Calculus has the highest percentage of failing students. This hasn't been formally verified, but is almost common knowledge, especially to those enrolled. Beyond the introductory courses, the mathematics major is rich with variety, offering many courses in computing math, applied math, differential equations, statistics, algebra, analysis, geometry, discrete math, topology, and number theory. One of the great things about the math major is the variable level of intensity. One can attain a Bachelor of Arts degree taking no graduate level courses, even taking courses that are more related to another major, such as Computer Science or Physics. For this reason, mathematics is a popular second major or minor. On the other end of the spectrum, however, advanced students have the opportunity to take graduate level courses in pure and applied mathematics often as early as their freshman year. With a dedicated program, an undergraduate could easily graduate with experience comparable to a third-year graduate student. It is not uncommon for undergraduates and graduates to be in the same classes together. There are also considerable opportunities for help for those students taking mathematics as a requirement, including a dedicated Math Help Room. One controversy in the math department is its block grading scheme for introductory classes, in which the number of A's (or any other grade) is determined by the class' performance on the final exam. This practice ends after Math 103: Intermediate Calculus. There are also math classes specifically for students in the Pratt School of Engineering, which combine the topics of linear algebra and differential equations. The diversity of the mathematics program makes it accessible to students from many majors. The department shares the Physics building with the Physics department, though many of the introductory courses are held on East Campus in the Carr Building and West Duke Building.
