Mathematics

We teach, practice, and promote the mathematical and computing sciences. Our programs prepare students for careers as software developers, actuaries, mathematicians, analysts, statisticians, systems administrators, underwriters, data scientists, project managers, and educators. Our general studies courses develop the abstract quantitative reasoning that is critical to sophisticated problem-solving.

Concord offers a mathematics minor that can be combined with any major. The minor will help you to broaden your knowledge base with respect to mathematics, including increasing your problem-solving skills.

The mathematically proficient student will:

  1. Make sense of mathematical problems and persevere in solving them.
    • Analyze the problem:  given information, constraints, relationships, and goals/
    • Devise a solution plan and implement it.
    • Monitor and evaluate solution progress and revise plan if necessary.
    • Organize and explain processes and procedures used when solving problems.
  2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
    • Represent situations symbolically.
    • Use appropriate mathematical tools to solve symbolic expressions.
    • Evaluate symbolic solutions in context.
  3. Construct viable mathematical arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
    • Make conjectures and use logic to evaluate them.
    • Justify conclusions, provide examples or counterexamples.
    • Use inductive or deductive reasoning.
    • Ask questions to clarify and improve others’ arguments.
    • Use mathematical terminology to communicate arguments.
  4. Model with mathematics
    • Use mathematical models to approximate real-life situations.
    • Use appropriate tools, including technology, to solve complex problems.
    • Evaluate results in context and improve models as needed.

*Main goals are from Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice

A mathematics minor can provide expanded job opportunities in business, education, government, and industry, and can help you prepare for aptitude examinations for professional school.

Image by geralt downloaded from Pixabay (royalty-free).

The Society of Actuaries and Casualty Actuarial Society recommend the following courses if you intend to become an actuary:

  • Finance (FIN 311)
  • Microeconomics (ECON 202)
  • Macroeconomics (ECON 201)
  • Three semesters of calculus (MATH 253, 254, 255)
  • One semester of linear algebra (MATH 321)
  • Two semesters of calculus-based probability and statistics (MATH 105, 303, 404)
  • Actuarial science courses, as available
  • Computer science courses (CS 151, CS 283)
  • Business courses, such as marketing (BGEN 202, MKT 305)
  • Communication courses, such as speech, business writing and technical writing (BGEN 205, COMM 101)
  • Literature, history, art, political science, the humanities, and other liberal arts classes (General Education)

For more information on Actuarial Science, click here to see Discover Data Science’s guide.

The following courses are recommended if you plan to take the Praxis exam to be certified to teach Mathematics:

Mathematics: Content Knowledge ETS Praxis 5161
MATH 103, 104, 105, 200, 219, 253, 254, 255, 305, 321

Middle School Mathematics ETS Praxis 5169
MATH 103, 104, 105, 200, 219, 253, 259, 305

Our graduates have attended graduate programs in mathematics, statistics, computer science, economics, business, and education at The University of Colorado at Boulder, The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Fordham University, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Winthrop University, Bowling Green State University, The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Virginia Tech, Marshall University, and West Virginia University.

Our graduates have been hired by Intel, IBM, Red Hat, Highmark, Brickstreet, National Income Life, The Health Plan, First Community Bank, City National Bank, Capital One, Community Tissue Services, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Global AlertLink, Fast Enterprises, HyperGen, Cvent, Turning Technologies LLC, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Technica Corporation, USC Institute for Creative Technologies, US News & World Report, The United States Air Force, The Department of the Navy, The Department of Environmental Protection, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, The West Virginia Department of Administration, ArcelorMittal, Compute One, FoxGuard Solutions, The Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association, The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, Concord University, Berry College, The University of Charleston, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, New River Community and Technical College, and local public school systems in both West Virginia and Virginia.

Advising and Letters of Recommendation

Course registration and withdrawal from a course require a consultation appointment with your advisor. If your advisor is a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, then you can find your advisor’s contact information here. If you would like to change your major, please complete this online form. For a detailed description of our programs, including links to progression sheets, click here.
If you would like to request a letter of recommendation from one of our faculty, please send the professor an email at least two weeks in advance of your application deadline with the following information:

  1. The name of the program or employer to which you are applying,
  2. The deadline and submission method for the letter,
  3. A copy of your resume or vita,
  4. A copy of your cover letter or personal statement, and
  5. A list of qualities and achievements that you would like the recommender to emphasize in the letter.

Get Involved!

Consider joining the Hopper Turing Society! Everyone is welcome; you need not be a mathematics or computer science major to participate. Students seeking research opportunities can begin by checking our hallway bulletin board, talking to faculty, and exploring the following links:

If you are a student in one of our programs then you should also consider joining a professional organization:

Some additional resources you might find helpful: