Mathematics, B.A.

Department Recommendation

Majors should consult with a Mathematics Department counselor concerning substitutions for core science courses.

Prospective doctoral students should develop reading competence in at least one of the following languages: French, German, Russian.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Mathematics Department’s Program Goals are summarized below:

• Develop in students an understanding of mathematics as a deductive science.
• Develop in students:
  • computational skills;
  • appreciation for the abstract structures and abstract reasoning at the heart of mathematics;
  • the ability to apply mathematics to real-world problems; and
  • experience with current mathematical software and technology.
• Promote analytical and critical thinking.
• Prepare students for graduate studies in mathematics—both theoretical and applied.
• Prepare students for the teaching of pre-college mathematics.
• Provide studies in computational mathematics (jointly with CIS).
• Provide for studies in actuarial science and financial mathematics and provide students with necessary marketable credentials to work in the actuarial field or the financial industry.
• Provide the mathematical foundations for students in other disciplines at Brooklyn College.

Program-level Student Learning Goals

The program-level student learning goals apply to the various mathematics programs offered. The department expects a student to meet some or all of these goals upon her or his graduation according to the program of study chosen. These goals are to:

• Develop problem-solving skills.
• Develop inductive and deductive skills in reasoning.
• Understand the significance of central mathematical theorems and their applications.
• Appreciate the precision and breadth presented in mathematical theories.
• Develop and foster abstract mathematical thinking.
• Be able to reason and compute with mathematical structures, make a conjecture and prove it, generalize, analyze, and abstract a result.
• Explore the consequences of a general mathematical result in concrete situations.
• Apply mathematical thinking to real-world situations.
• Be able to understand, read, interpret, and eventually generate mathematical proofs and examples.
• Recognize the roles of axiomatic systems and proofs in different branches of mathematics, such as analysis, discrete mathematics, algebra, and geometry.
• Be able to utilize technology, including computer algebra systems, to solve problems numerically, symbolically, and graphically.
• Be able to design and apply algorithms to solve problems numerically, algebraically, and graphically.
• Acquire the skills and confidence to learn new mathematical knowledge as becomes necessary in the course of a lifetime.
• Build mathematical foundations for success in other disciplines.
• Understand the principal concepts of the calculus.
• Build conceptual understanding of sets and functions at various levels.
• Obtain the mathematical skills needed for the job market (actuarial, financial, or other).
• In preparation for a career in teaching, understand the mathematics that will be taught at a profound level and from many points of view.
• Be able to communicate orally and in writing in the language of mathematics.
• Gain a familiarity with the history of mathematics.
• Understand the basic concepts of probability and statistics.
• Prepare students for graduate study in mathematics.
• Prepare for careers outside of teaching.

Degree Maps

• 2023-2024

View all past degree maps.

Contact

Jun Hu

1156 Ingersoll Hall
E: junhu@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5246

Stephen Preston

2312 Ingersoll Hall
E: Stephen.Preston@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5246

Or contact:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: adminqry@brooklyn.cuny.edu

To make an appointment with an undergraduate admissions counselor, visit:

Virtual Admissions Counselor Appointments