Mathematics Department

College of the Sciences
Ellensburg
Samuelson, room 208
Mail Stop 7424
509-963-2103
Fax: 509-963-3226
www.cwu.edu/math
    See website for how these programs may be used for educational and career purposes.
 

Faculty and Staff
Chair
Janet Shiver, PhD, mathematics education

Associate Chair
Christine Black, PhD, differential and algebraic geometry, mathematics education (Westside)

Professors
Christine Black, PhD, differential and algebraic geometry, mathematics education(Westside)
James Bisgard, PhD, analysis
Stuart Boersma, PhD, differential geometry, general relativity
Yvonne Chueh, PhD, actuarial science, statistics
Timothy Englund, PhD, group theory, representation theory, statistics
Dominic Klyve, PhD, computational number theory, history of mathematics, statistics
Aaron Montgomery, PhD, topology, algebra
Mark Oursland, EdD, mathematics education
Kathryn Temple, PhD, actuarial science, probability

Associate Professors
Jean Marie Linhart, PhD, applied mathematics
Janet Shiver, PhD, mathematics education
Brandy Wiegers, PhD, applied mathematics

Assistant Professors
Brent Hancock, PhD, mathematics education
Emilie Hancock, PhD, mathematics education
Peter Klosterman, PhD, mathematics education
Sooie-Hoe Loke, PhD, actuarial science, probability, analysis
Sahadeb Upretee, PhD, actuarial Science, mathematics education

Senior Lecturers
Molly Andaya, MAT, mathematics
Jim Miller, MAT, mathematics
Andrew Richards, MS, mathematics
Stephen (Steve) Stein, PhD, educational administration
Tyler Suronen, MS, mathematics
Richard Trudgeon, MA, administration and curriculum Lecturers
Saud Hussein, PhD, mathematics
Danny Lara, PhD, mathematics
Drewcilla Walter, MS, mathematics

Staff
Brenda Bland, secretary senior

Department Information
Mathematics is an expanding and evolving body of knowledge as well as a way of perceiving, formulating, and solving problems in many disciplines. The subject is a constant interplay between the worlds of thought and application. The student of mathematics will find worthy challenges and the subsequent rewards in meeting them.

The general student will find preparatory courses in pre-calculus mathematics and traditional mathematics courses such as calculus, linear algebra, geometry, abstract algebra, and analysis. Also, more specialized courses in discrete mathematics, number theory, and the history of mathematics are offered. Special needs of computer science majors, elementary education majors, and general education requirements are also met by courses in the mathematics department.

For those desiring concentrated work in mathematics, the mathematics department offers four programs leading to bachelor’s degrees. A bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in mathematics prepares the student as a mathematician for industry or graduate work. A bachelor of arts in secondary teaching prepares the student to teach at the junior, middle, or high school levels. A bachelor of science in mathematics with an actuarial science specialization prepares the student to work as an actuary or in applied statistics. A mathematics minor and a secondary teaching minor are also available.

One graduate degree is offered: the master of arts for teachers. This is described in the graduate section of the catalog.

All programs (major, minor, including electives) must be on file and approved by the department at least one academic year preceding graduation.

Admission and Placement Notes

1. Enrollment in MATH 100C, MATH 101, MATH 102, MATH 130, and MATH 164 requires a satisfactory score on one of the following tests: SAT, ACT, COMPASS Test, or the Intermediate Assessment Test. The scores on the SAT or ACT tests must have been achieved within the last three years before math placement. The student with insufficient test scores is encouraged to enroll in developmental classes. For more information drop by the Math Center in Hertz Hall, room 101 or call 509-963-1834.
2. Students who wish to enroll in pre-calculus (MATH 153 or MATH 154) or calculus (MATH 170 or MATH 172) and who have not had the necessary prerequisite course at a college or university must take the mathematics placement test. Students will be placed in accordance with their results on this test as determined by the mathematics department. Students may be placed into pre-calculus I (MATH 153) if they received a B or higher in a one-year high school calculus course. See the mathematics department for more details.
3. Admission to any mathematics course having prerequisites requires either a suitable math placement test score or a grade of 2.0 or higher in each listed prerequisite to that course.
    

Admission Requirements for Mathematics Teaching Secondary Program
Admission to the mathematics teaching secondary major or certificate program is selective. A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 is required in the pre-admission courses listed below. Further, students must successfully complete MATH 272 and MATH 265 by spring quarter of the academic year of their acceptance into the program.  A completed application must include the standard major application form and a mathematics-advisor-approved graduation plan.

Students planning to major or take the certificate in secondary mathematics teaching must first take MATH 172, MATH 173, MATH 265, and MATH 272; be accepted as a mathematics education major or accepted into the certificate program; and be preliminary accepted into the Professional Education Program to enroll in MATH 299E, Orientation Seminar: Secondary Mathematics, fall quarter.

Students interested in the Secondary Mathematics Teaching Program need to meet with a mathematics education advisor during their first quarter at CWU. Students taking this major are required to complete the Professional Education Program with the exception of EFC 315, EFC 330, EFC 340, EFC 350, and EFC 416 (37 total credits required).
 

Pre-admission Requirements

Applicants for admission into the Secondary Mathematics Teaching Program:

1. Must have completed English and Math basic skills courses or have completed an AA degree.
2. Must have completed MATH 272 and MATH 265, with a grade of C or higher, before enrolling MATH 299E.
3. Must be preliminarily accepted into the Professional Education Program.

Admission Requirements for Mathematics Major and Minor
Admission to any major in the mathematics department will be considered after the first two quarters of calculus are taken (MATH 172 and MATH 173). Transfer students with the calculus background will generally take and successfully complete (2.0 or higher) 10 hours of math beyond calculus to be admitted to a major. Application forms are available from the mathematics department office. Students must meet with an advisor in the mathematics department before being considered for major or minor. In addition, students must earn a minimum grade of C in any course that fulfills a major or minor requirement.

Program Outcomes
For information on program outcomes, please go to: www.cwu.edu/mission/assessment-improvement/slo-assessment-plans. 

Course Offerings
Frequency of course offering information can be found at the department website: www.cwu.edu/math or by contacting the department directly.

Programs

• Mathematics: Middle-Level Education, BA
• Mathematics: Secondary Education, BA

• Actuarial Science Major, BS
• Applied Mathematics Major, BS
• Data Science BS, Statistical Data Science Specialization
• Mathematics Major, BS (Large Plan)
• Mathematics Major, BS (Small Plan)

• Mathematics Honors Certificate

• Mathematics Minor

Courses

• MATH 486 - Mathematical Modeling for Middle-level Teaching
• MATH 489A - Actuarial Senior Seminar: Predictive Analytics and Actuarial Modeling
• MATH 490 - Cooperative Education
• MATH 491 - Workshop
• MATH 495 - Undergraduate Research
• MATH 496 - Individual Study
• MATH 497 - Honors
• MATH 498 - Special Topics
• MATH 499 - Seminar
• MATH 499A - Senior Seminar: Actuarial Science
• MATH 499D - Data Science Senior Seminar
• MATH 499E - Senior Seminar: Secondary Mathematics
• MATH 499S - Senior Seminar