Numerical Computation
Program Director: Imad Rahal
The numerical computation major is an interdisciplinary major, jointly administered by the Computer Science and Mathematics Departments.
This major is designed for students who are interested in learning to use computers for modeling and simulation as a tool for discovery across many areas of science, engineering and other quantitative disciplines. Students who complete this major may choose careers in business, industry, research or education in which they use computers to improve the design and safety of products, to discover new ideas or to aid in the understanding of the world. They will be able to work collaboratively and bring mathematics and computer science to bear on problems of interest across varied disciplines. This major is ideal preparation for students who want to continue with graduate study in the field of computational science, which often involves aspects of mathematics, computer science and another scientific discipline such as chemistry or economics. Students in this major are strongly encouraged to complete a minor in another scientific or related discipline.
Acceptance to Major Requirements
Course Requirements: CSCI 150 (or 130), CSCI 160, MATH 119, MATH 120 and MATH 239
Minimum Grade and/or GPA for required courses: No more than one of the above courses has a grade below C, and the GPA in the above courses is 2.5 or better
Other Requirements: Students will be conditionally accepted into the Numerical Computation major if they have not yet completed all the courses needed for unconditional acceptance into the major but are currently enrolled in the courses which are lacking and they meet the other criteria for acceptance on the courses completed thus far.
Major (52 credits)
The numerical computation major offers students a choice of two concentrations: discrete numerical computation and numerical computation over the continuum.
The concentration in discrete numerical computation is intended to educate a student in the areas of mathematics and computer science that deal with intrinsically discrete computations. Students who graduate with this major will be well prepared for graduate studies in a classical computer science program with a focus on discrete modeling, an applied mathematics program with a focus on discrete dynamical systems or an area of computational science such as bioinformatics.
The concentration in numerical computation over the continuum is intended to educate a student in the areas of mathematics and computer science that deal with problems originating in the continuum. Students who graduate with this major will be well prepared for graduate studies in applied mathematics or a computational approach to another discipline such as computational biology, chemistry, or finance.
Students may not earn majors in both Mathematics and Numerical Computation. Students may not earn a minor in Mathematics with a major in Numerical Computation.
Common Requirements: (28 credits):
- CSCI 150 (or 130), 160 (or 161), and 200 (or 162)
- MATH 119, 120, and 239
- NMCP 372 or 398
Additional Requirements:
Concentration in Discrete Numerical Computation: (24 additional credits)
- CSCI 338, 339
- MATH 322
- Twelve credits from CSCI 239, 310, 351; MATH 241, 315, 318, 331, 332, 338, 339, 343, 344, 345
Concentration in Numerical Computation over the Continuum: (24 additional credits)
- MATH 305, 337, 338
- Twelve credits from CSCI 310, 338, 339, 317F; MATH 241, 315, 318, 322, 331, 332, 338, 339, 341, 343, 344, 345, 346
Appropriate CSCI or MATH 300-level topics courses may also satisfy elective credits with the approval of the program director.
Four elective credits from either concentration can be replaced by one of the following courses: BIOL 221, CHEM 234, ECON 332, ENVR 275, or PHYS 200.
At least eight of the twelve elective credits must be at the 300-level.
Electives must be chosen as a coherent program of study that supports the student's area of interest. This program must be chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor and subject to the approval of the program chair.