Major, Minor
Degree: Bachelor of Science
#5
Top STEM school for women
(USA Today College Guide)
Mathematics
#5
Top STEM school for women
(USA Today College Guide)
Mathematics is one of the oldest learned disciplines, and Union College is one of the first schools in the nation to offer math as part of its curriculum.
The Department of Mathematics is dedicated to helping students develop the ability to reason logically, understand abstract concepts and solve problems, and to producing versatile mathematicians who grasp the complexities in their field.
Math majors at Union take foundational courses such as calculus, geometry and probability, and also choose from courses in cryptology, number theory, discrete mathematics, game theory, knot theory and ancient Greek mathematics.
They work closely with faculty members in a variety of settings and course formats, and engage in research under the supervision of a faculty member.
Students’ independent studies have included advanced topics in real analysis, the mathematical study of voting systems, and mathematical computer graphics.
Careers
Graphic: career paths of Union math majors
Mathematics graduates find that their research, reasoning, problem-solving and communications skills serve them well after Union in careers as diverse as accounting, actuarial science, business, economics and engineering. Many pursue degrees in education, law and medicine, and others have been successful in obtaining the Ph.D. degree in math at top graduate schools.
Here is what some alumni have been up to:
- Software developer, Allscripts
- Associate, Credit Suisse
- Associate vice president, Barclay's Capital Inc.
- CRM applications account manager, Oracle Corp.
- Teacher, Fairfield Public Schools
- Actuarial analyst, Watson Wyatt Worldwide
- Attorney, Berenzweig Leonard, LLP
- CAMD lab coordinator, Brigham and Women's Hospital
A Sampling of Courses
Differential Equations
Topics include differential equations and models, asymptotic solutions, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, classification of planar systems, higher-dimensional linear algebra, canonical form, linear and nonlinear systems, and applications.
Knot Theory
An introduction to the mathematical study of knots, including colorability, chirality, genus, and the Jones polynomial. Course will also explore the relationship between mathematical knots and structures in molecular chemistry and biology, and physics
Calculus 2: Integral Calculus
Integral calculus of functions of a single variable, the fundamental theorem, formal integration and applications, calculus of logarithmic, exponential and inverse trigonometric functions.
