Major / Minor Requirements

The Carthage Mathematics Department prepares students for graduate school, careers requiring problem-solving and analytic skills, and teaching mathematics at the elementary or high school level. Carthage offers a major and a minor in mathematics.

Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.

Majors and Minors Offered

Majors:
Mathematics

Minors:
Mathematics
Data Science

Mathematics Major

The mathematics major requires 48 credits, which must include:

MTH 1120 Calculus I (4 cr.)
MTH 1220 Calculus II (4 cr.)
MTH 1240 Discrete Structures (4 cr.)
MTH 2040 Linear Algebra (4 cr.)
MTH 2090 Mathematical Computing (4 cr.)
MTH 3040 Abstract Algebra I (4 cr.)
MTH 3120 Real Analysis (4 cr.)
MTH 4300 Senior Research (4 cr.)
MTH 4990 Senior Thesis Completion (0 cr.)
CSC 2030 Data Science I (4 cr.)
Three Mathematics electives: Students must take three additional mathematics courses numbered above 2000 (MTH 4500 and MTH 4900 may only be counted toward major with approval of department chair). Both PHY 2200 General Physics I and PHY 3470 Mathematics for Scientists and Engineers may be substituted for one mathematics elective.

Mathematics Minor

A minor consists of four mathematics courses beyond MTH 1220 and one computing course, which may be any one of CSC 2030 Data Science I, CSC 1810 Principles of Computer Science I, or CSC 1100 Introduction to Computing. PHY 2200 or PHY 3470 may be used as one of the mathematics courses.

Additional Information:

The mathematics minor for secondary education should include:

MTH 1120 Calculus I (4 cr.)
MTH 1220 Calculus II (4 cr.)
MTH 2040 Linear Algebra (4 cr.)
MTH 2080 Modern Geometry (4 cr.)
MTH 3040 Abstract Algebra I (4 cr.)
MTH 3050 Theory of Statistics (4 cr.)

CHOOSE ONE:

CSC 1100 Introduction to Computing (4 cr.)
CSC 1810 Principles of Computer Science I (4 cr.)
CSC 2030 Data Science I (4 cr.)

The elementary education major desiring licensure for teaching mathematics should include:

MTH 1030 Applied Contemporary Mathematics (4 cr.)
MTH 1040 Principles of Modern Mathematics (4 cr.)
MTH 1050 Elementary Statistics (4 cr.)
MTH 1120 Calculus I (4 cr.)
MTH 1240 Discrete Structures (4 cr.)
MTH 2080 Modern Geometry (4 cr.)

Choose one:

CSC 1100 Introduction to Computing (4 cr.)
CSC 2030 Data Science I (4 cr.)

The mathematics major planning to attend graduate school should include:

MTH 2020 Differential Equations (4 cr.)
MTH 2120 Multivariate Calculus (4 cr.)
MTH 3220 Complex Variables (4 cr.)
MTH 3180 Introduction to Topology (4 cr.)
MTH 3140 Abstract Algebra II (4 cr.)

The mathematics major planning on secondary teaching should include:

MTH 2080 Modern Geometry (4 cr.)
MTH 3030 Probability (4 cr.)
MTH 3050 Statistics (4 cr.)

The mathematics major planning a career in actuarial science should include:

MTH 2120 Multivariate Calculus (4 cr.)
MTH 2130 Mathematics of Actuarial Science (4 cr.)
MTH 3030 Probability (4 cr.)
MTH 3050 Statistics (4 cr.)
Contact the chair of the Mathematics Department for additional information on preparing for the actuarial exams. Students planning to become actuaries may also take MGT 3210 Financial Management, ECN 1010 Principles of Microeconomics, and ECN 1020 Principles of Macroeconomics for VEE credit.

Data Science Minor

Data Science at Carthage is an interdisciplinary academic endeavor focused on understanding quantitative information. The minor in Data Science introduces students to contemporary techniques for analyzing, interpreting, and visualizing data, as well as applying these techniques to fields across the curriculum.

The data science minor is composed of six courses

REQUIRED COURSES — TAKE ALL:

CSC 2030 Data Science I (4 credits)
MTH 3090 Data Science II (4 credits)

Statistics Courses — Choose one:

MTH 1050 Elementary Statistics (4 credits)
MTH 3050 Statistics (4 credits)
BUS/ECN 2340 Business Statistics (4 credits)
SWK 2330 Applied Statistics for Health and Human Services (4 credits)

Applied Data Science COURSEs — CHOOSE Three*:

BUS 2150 Business Geographics and Data Visualization (4 credits)
CSC 2810 Database Design and Management (4 credits)
ECN 3340 Econometrics (4 credits)
GEO 1610 Introduction to Geographic Information Science: Mapping Your World (4 credits)
GEO 2610 Advanced Geographic Information Science and Analytical Cartography (4 credits)
GEO 2210 Internet Mapping and Web GIS (4 credits)
MGT 3100 Introduction to Business Analytics (4 credits)

*No more than two of the three electives may be from the student’s major department(s).

Placement Exam

A competency exam is available for students wishing to meet the college quantitative literacy requirement without taking a mathematics course. See the chair of the Mathematics Department for details.

Honors in the Major

Students wishing to earn honors in Mathematics must fulfill the following requirements:

The student must have a 3.5 GPA in mathematics courses numbered 1120 or above at graduation.
The student must present a mathematics talk at an off-campus venue. The talk and venue must be approved by the Mathematics Department Chair.
The student must pass a mathematics oral examination before a jury composed of members of the Mathematics Department. This examination will usually be administered during the student’s last semester on campus.

Please see department chair for details. Basic requirements are listed under All-College Programs in the College Catalog.

Current students, remember: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.

Quick Facts
- Carthage is named a Best Midwestern College by The Princeton Review (2020), a designation given to only 25 percent of four-year schools.
- The Tower, Carthage’s newest residence hall, provides some of the best views on campus — if not in the Midwest! In addition to #carthageviews of the lake from seven stories up, residents enjoy suite-style living and two floors of shared campus spaces for gaming, cooking, group meetings, or quiet studying. Learn more about all housing options.
- You’re going to need brain fuel. Grab a morning coffee and a snack and Starbucks or Einstein Bros. Bagels. Later, meet friends at “The Caf,” where the specials change daily but the staples are constant, or swing through “The Stu” for wings, a burrito, or a sub. A new option, Carthage Cash, even covers some off-campus meals.
- More than 90% of Carthage alumni report that they have secured a job or are continuing their studies six months after graduation. Visit Career Services.
- 91% of employers say critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills matter more than your major when it comes to career success. Learn more about how the liberal arts prepare you for a successful career.
- Lots of schools wear the four-year label. Carthage stands behind it. More than 90% of Carthage graduates earn their degrees in four years. Learn more
- Oscars. Emmys. Tonys. Golden Globes. The playwrights we’ve brought in have them. Each year, the Carthage Theatre Department commissions an original script by a renowned playwright for its New Play Initiative. Carthage students then work with the writer to stage it.
- Carthage has been named a top producer of Fulbright Fellows three years running. Read about Carthage Fulbright winners.
- Things look new at Carthage because they are. Our science center, student union, athletic and recreation center, and numerous residence halls have all been constructed or newly renovated in the last 15 years.
- Carthage offers majors, minors and concentrations in more than 50 areas of study, from archaeology to neuroscience, nursing to music theatre.
- Our Summer Undergraduate Research Experience offers select students a research budget, one-on-one mentoring with a professor, and 10 weeks of analyzing, deciphering — and getting paid.
- So the lake is kind of a focal point, but there’s a lot more to love about our campus — like the fact that our more than 80-acre campus is also an arboretum and wildlife sanctuary. Focused on keeping campus lush forever, we plant between 50 and 75 new trees every year from a variety of species.
- Carthage was founded in 1847. That’s more than 170 years of leaders, makers, and go-getters going out and going forth. Read more about Carthage’s rich history.
- More than 90 percent of students receive financial aid. Carthage awards more than $20 million in scholarship and grant assistance. That includes $5.5 million in competitive scholarships in business, mathematics, science, languages, the fine arts, leadership, and overall academic strength. Learn what’s available.
- Abraham Lincoln was an early Trustee of the College, and U.S. Secretary of State John Hay was a Carthage alum. The two still have a proud place on our campus. Spend some time with them in our Sesquicentennial Plaza. On warm days you’ll find professors leading their classes here.
- Come to Carthage; hear yourself think — think … think …
  Legend has it that Sesquicentennial Plaza holds a perfect echo. Just stand with both your feet on the “1847,” face Straz, and start talking. “You’re the only one who can hear you, but you’ll be crystal clear,” promises English and theatre alumna Mikaley Osley.
- Our Great Lake provides Carthage students with some amazing views. Think classes on the beach, lake views from the lab, and sunrises from your dorm room. “I love waking up in the morning with the sun shining off the lake. Nothing compares to the view in the morning,” recalls biology and neuroscience major Ann O’Leary.
- Carthage awards up to 35 Presidential Scholarships each year, which range from $20,000 up to full tuition. Learn more.
- For a full decade, NASA has selected Carthage students to conduct research aboard its zero-gravity aircraft. Lately, the stakes have risen. A team of underclassmen is grinding to prepare a tiny but powerful Earth-imaging satellite for launch to the International Space Station. Learn more about the space sciences at Carthage
- Carthage is the only college or university in the Midwest where every freshman takes a full-year sequence of foundational texts of the Western intellectual tradition. Learn about the Carthage core.
- With a student-faculty ratio of 12:1, your professors will know who you are. They will also know who you want to be — and how to get you there. Meet our faculty.
- There are more than 120 student organizations on campus, from Amnesty International to Fencing to Frisbee, Chem Club to Stand Up Comedy. See how easy it is to get involved.
- True story: There are more than 27 art galleries, a dozen museums, and nine theatres within 25 miles of Carthage. Some highlights: The nationally recognized Racine Art Museum, the world-renowned Art Institute of Chicago, and the Milwaukee Art Museum. Learn more about our location.
- What’s better than one professor? Two professors. What’s better than two professors? Two professors from totally different fields teaching a single class. There’s debate. Discussion. Differing perspectives. This is where the magic happens. That’s why every student takes a Carthage Symposium.
- You can’t hide here — not with only 17 other students in the classroom with you. That’s going to be rough some mornings. But later, when you’re able to argue your point of view thoughtfully, express your opinions succinctly, and meet challenges head-on, without fear … Yep, you’ll thank us.
- Carthage is ranked No. 5 in the country for student participation in short-term study abroad. Every J-Term, hundreds of students travel all over the world on faculty-led study tours. Imagine a month in Sweden, Rome, Cuba, Senegal, India, Japan …
Previous

Next

Mathematics