Mathematics
Division I Chair: M. Saderholm
Department Chair: L. Gratton
Faculty: K. Barnard, J. Blackburn-Lynch, M. Blackburn, S. Bolster, L. Gratton, B. Kelly, J. Pearce, J. Rector, and T. Thesing
Website: http://www.berea.edu/mat/
Courses: MAT Courses
Course Sequencing Table: Mathematics
Major/Minor Requirements: Mathematics B.A.
Berea’s Mathematics Department is well-known for its caring faculty and strong programs. The Department offers a major in Mathematics. The Department also supports students in a variety of ways outside of its traditional classroom programs. Each year, many Mathematics students are placed in a wide variety of research and Internship programs. Through the College Labor Program, prospective mathematics teachers are provided opportunities to develop skills in working one-on-one with students in the Developmental Mathematics classroom setting. The Department also regularly invites outside speakers and arranges for students to visit mathematical conferences and sites.
Please see the section on General Education requirements in this publication for information on the role of MAT 011 and MAT 012 in the first-year requirements. Placement in or waiver of MAT 010, MAT 011, or MAT 012 is based on test scores or transfer work.
The Mathematics major at Berea College is designed to challenge students to grow in mathematical maturity through opportunities to engage in:
- Broad, sequential learning experiences;
- Exploration of individual interests;
- In-depth courses of study;
- Rigorous mathematical reasoning;
- Written and oral communication; and
- Problem-solving activities.
Upon successful completion of the major, students will be able to:
- Recall and explain fundamental mathematical concepts and procedures;
- Apply concepts and procedures and interpret results within a given context;
- Generalize mathematical results from the particular to the abstract;
- Compare different mathematical methods and models used to describe a problem;
- Devise multi-step solutions and explain the order and importance of each step;
- Formulate a mathematical argument based on sound logical reasoning;
- Assess the quality of a mathematical argument based on accepted criteria; and
- Communicate complex mathematical ideas in a clear and professional manner.
Mathematics Education Majors
Students will seek out, explore and participate in on and off campus opportunities (courses, conferences, field experiences, speakers, and summer initiatives like Berea Counts and Upward Bound) that demonstrate the expectations for and careers in mathematics teaching.
Students will actively and fully engage in professional methods courses and opportunities in schools and with appropriate age children.
In particular, students will:
Develop an overarching view of mathematics;
- Familiarize themselves with National, State, and professional standards for teaching mathematics;
- Be knowledgeable of research in mathematics teaching and learning and their implications for the classroom instruction;
- Be knowledgeable of methods, materials and resources available for teaching mathematics;
- Be able to evaluate, revise, and develop mathematics lessons that meet the professional standards in mathematics education;
- Prepare themselves for the National certification exams;
- Seriously engage the concepts, processes, and structure of the required mathematics coursework with an expectation of their own responsibility to be knowledgeable and competent to explain, exemplify and engage their future students in mathematics discourse; and
- Develop a positive, joyous, and dedicated disposition towards teaching and learning both for themselves and their future students.
Mathematics Student Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcome 1: Application
Apply concepts and procedures of mathematics.
Learning Outcome 2: Generalization
Generalize mathematical results from the particular to the abstract.
Learning Outcome 3: Modeling
Formulate a mathematical model to describe a problem.
Learning Outcome 4: Proofs
Develop and write a mathematical proof.
Learning Outcome 5: Assessing mathematical arguments or models
Assess the quality of a mathematical argument or model based on suitable criteria
Learning Outcome 6: Communicating mathematical ideas
Communicate complex mathematical ideas in a clear and professional manner.