Mathematics Overview

The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers three majors:

Program Flexibility

All students intending to major in the mathematical sciences (mathematics, computer science, or actuarial science) begin their mathematics education at Lebanon Valley College by taking the following courses.

MAS 111, 112 Analysis (Calculus)
MAS 113, 114 Mathematical Thinking

Being in these classes with the other students interested in the mathematical sciences at the beginning of your college mathematics career is a unique and vital ingredient in the special character of your mathematics education at LVC.

During the sophomore year potential mathematics majors take the following courses whereas computer science take two of these courses and actuarial science majors take three.

MAS 261 Calculus III (asc and math)
MAS 251 Discrete Math (csc and math)
MAS 222 Linear Algebra (csc, and math)
MAS 202 Foundations of Mathematics (asc, math)

These common courses allow students time to choose among majors in the mathematical sciences while staying on track for graduation in four years. This flexibility is built into the program because we understand that many students who enjoy mathematics are not ready to make a final choice as to a major among the mathematical sciences when they enter college.

Personal Attention

Class size in the first year courses has been between 25 and 35 over the past few years. Sophomore level courses typically involve 10-25 students. Upper division courses will contain 5-15 students. These relatively small courses allow for regular personal contact between students and faculty. With our Independent Study opportunities, a student can study, under the guidance of a professor, in an area of special interest. If several students wish to have a course on a particular subject which is not regularly offered, a Special Topics course is often arranged.

Faculty

Christopher Brazfield Ph.D University of Oregon, 1999
J. Patrick Brewer Ph.D University of Oregon, 1997
Leigh Cobbs Ph.D Rutgers University, 2009
Michael Fry Ph.D University of Illinois, Urbana, 1980
Bryan Hearsey Ph.D Washington State University, 1968
David Lyons Ph.D University of North Carolina, 1996
Ken Yarnall Ph.D University of South Carolina, 1992

This faculty has many years of undergraduate teaching experience and all faculty members are committed to the proposition that undergraduate teaching matters. That is why they are at Lebanon Valley College. The faculty includes winners of various graduate school and LVC teaching awards. According to their interests, they are members of a variety of professional organizations including the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, the Association of Computing Machinery, the IEEE Computer Society, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the Society of Actuaries.

Professors Yarnall and Fry are responsible for the Computer Science Program and advise most computer science majors and intended majors. Professor Hearsey and Brewer are responsible for the Actuarial Science Program and they advise the actuarial science majors. Professors Brazfield and Lyons advise mathematics majors and open majors.

Students

At any time between 80 and 100 students are majors in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. The average mathematical science major has SAT scores above 1100 and high school class standing at about the 90th percentile. About half of the mathematics majors plan careers in secondary education teaching mathematics and computer science. The other half of the mathematics majors have a variety of career goals. The actuarial science majors hope to pursue careers in health, life, and property/casualty insurance or benefit consulting. The computer science major frequently establish careers as programmers/analysts or in application implementation or systems and network designers and administrators.

Over 90% of the students in the Department of Mathematical Sciences have won scholarships as part of the Lebanon Valley College merit scholarship program. The large size of the department allows students to establish friendships with others of similar interests. Mathematical science majors are leaders in all aspects of LVC life. They are found on many athletic teams, in drama productions, musical organizations, and student government.

All department programs can accommodate a semester abroad and many students in the Department of Mathematical Sciences take advantage of the variety of study abroad programs offered by Lebanon Valley College.

Job Placement

Over the past 28 years, approximately ninety percent of LVC Mathematical Sciences graduates have immediately entered the work force with approximately ten percent continuing with graduate or professional school. Of those entering the work force, over thirty percent have gone into actuarial positions, twenty-five percent into computer related positions, roughly thirteen percent have taken positions in business and government, and another thirteen percent have taken positions in the teaching profession. The other eight percent have assumed a variety of other positions, some related to mathematics and some related to other interests. Whatever their ultimate career, study in the mathematical sciences provides students with mental discipline and confidence; characteristics which are in great demand.

Below is a history of Mathematical Science graduate placement over the past 25 years.

 

MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES GRADUATES

1975-1994

  • 310 Seniors Graduating
  • 100 Actuarial Trainees
  • 72 Computer Support, Systems Analysts, Programmers
  • 43 Business and Government
  • 35 Graduate School, Five Fulbright Scholars (1977,78,81,84,89)
  • 38 Teachers
  • 3 Further Undergraduate Schooling
  • 19 Other including unknown

1995

  • 11 Seniors Graduating
  • 4 Actuarial Trainees
  • 2 Computer Support, Systems Analysts, Programmers
  • 1 Business
  • 1 Teacher
  • 1 Further Schooling
  • 2 Graduate School

1996

  • 17 Seniors Graduating
  • 4 Actuarial Trainees
  • 4 Computer Support, Systems Analysts, Programmers
  • 5 Teachers
  • 1 Computer Support
  • 1 Chemist
  • 2 Other

1997

  • 18 Seniors Graduating
  • 4 Actuarial Trainees
  • 3 Computer Support, Systems Analysts, Programmers
  • 5 Business and Government
  • 2 Graduate School Five Fulbright Scholars (1977,78,81,84,89)
  • 2 Teachers
  • 1 Operations Research
  • 1 Other

1998

  • 16 Seniors Graduating
  • 3 Actuarial Trainees
  • 10 Computer Support, Systems Analysts, Programmers
  • 3 Teachers

1999

  • 12 Seniors Graduating
  • 5 Actuarial Trainees
  • 3 Business and Government
  • 2 Teachers
  • 2 Further Schooling

2000

  • 9 Seniors Graduating
  • 2 Actuarial Trainees
  • 4 Computer Support, Systems Analysts, Programmers
  • 2 Teachers
  • 1 Graduate School

2001

  • 17 Seniors Graduating
  • 6 Actuarial Trainees
  • 6 Computer Support, Systems Analysts, Programmers
  • 2 Teachers
  • 3 Business and Government