About

Are you interested in a liberal arts degree in mathematics? Do you want to get an edge in tomorrow's job market by developing your quantitative skills?

In high school, mathematics courses usually emphasize computational techniques-factoring polynomials, solving equations, and the like. At the university level, there is a much greater emphasis on ideas, and proof plays a greater role. Calculations still matter but it no longer suffices to "get the right answer" by applying a recipe in mechanical fashion. At heart, mathematics concerns the search for underlying patterns and the precise communication of meaning.

ECU's BA in mathematics is a program with a broad foundation in the liberal arts, with a core in the essential undergraduate level mathematics. The program prepares you for a variety of career options where you can leverage your quantitative skills combined with the best liberal arts background provided at ECU. The program requires four courses in a foreign language of your choice, along with the standard foundation curriculum required of all ECU students.

ECU Advantage

Our upper division courses are taught in small classes by faculty who hold doctoral degrees from top universities. They are experts in a wide range of mathematical specialties, both pure and applied, who engage in research and publication. They are also dedicated teachers who will get to know you and meet with you outside of the classroom.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Guglielmo Fucci (252-328-1885; fuccig@ecu.edu)

Credit toward a mathematics major will not be given in any MATH course with a grade less than C- (1.7). The degree offers two concentration areas: mathematics and statistics. The mathematics concentration requires a minor and the statistics concentration requires specified statistics courses and one elective.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

    2. Demonstrated foreign language proficiency through level 2004 - 12 s.h.

    (For information about the foreign language requirement view Special Requirements for the BA Degree in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section and Placement Testing, Foreign Language in the Admission and Readmission section.)

      3. Common core - 30 s.h.
      • MATH 2171 - Calculus I
      • MATH 2172 - Calculus II
      • MATH 2173 - Calculus III
      • MATH 2300 - Transition to Advanced Mathematics
      • MATH 3256 - Linear Algebra
      • MATH 3263 - Introduction to Modern Algebra
      • MATH 3307 - Mathematical Statistics I
      • MATH 3331 - Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations
      • MATH 4101 - Advanced Calculus I
      4. Concentrations - 18-30 s.h.

      (Choose one of the following concentrations.)

        a. Mathematics - 18-30 s.h.
          Minor - 18-30 s.h.
          b. Statistics - 24 s.h.
            Required courses -21 s.h.
            • MATH 3308 - Mathematical Statistics II
            • MATH 4005 - Introduction to Sampling and Experimental Design
            • MATH 4031 - Applied Statistical Analysis

            • MATH 4100 - Mathematics of Risk Analysis OR
            • MATH 4300 - Financial and Actuarial Mathematics

            • MATH 4201 - Introduction to Stochastic Processes
            • MATH 4774 - Programming for Research
            • MATH 4801 - Probability Theory
            Elective - 3 s.h.

            Choose 3 s.h. from the following:

            • ECON 4443 - Econometrics
            • ENGR 3800 - Quality Control for Engineers
            • MATH courses numbered above 2999
            • MATH courses numbered above 2999
        5. Electives to complete requirements for graduation.
          For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.