Mathematics

Students and faculty in the mathematics department at Tech are involved in many areas of mathematics, ranging from pure mathematics to applied mathematics, operations research, and statistics. The department plays an important role in teaching mathematics to students in other disciplines as well.

Career opportunities abound for mathematics students at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Students in mathematics can prepare for actuarial careers, careers in education, and careers in a number of industries, including telecommunications, aerospace, and computers. Preparation for a career in industry should include a broad background in mathematics, modeling skills, computer skills, expertise in an area outside mathematics, and communication skills. Degree requirements are designed to help students develop these important abilities.

Mathematics can also be studied in preparation for more advanced work in a variety of fields, including pure mathematics, applied mathematics, operations research, statistics, scientific computing, and business administration. Many students choose to combine a major in mathematics with a major in a second field such as business administration, computer science, engineering, or physics. A strong background in mathematics can be very helpful in graduate studies in all of these fields.

Students in the mathematics department at both the undergraduate and graduate level have many opportunities to interact with faculty and participate in a variety of mathematical activities. The department has weekly seminars in which faculty, graduate students, and visitors present their research. Both undergraduates and graduates are involved in research projects. Many students are employed by the department as graders, lab facilitators, teaching assistants, and research assistants. Undergraduate students regularly compete in the William Lowell Putnam mathematics competition and in the COMAP contest in mathematical modeling.