The Mathematics Department is people—students blessed with analytic interests and skills, who are preparing to serve wherever God would call them, and instructors with a rich diversity of experience, who have been called by God to serve. Together they create a mathematics environment unique in breadth of experience and richness of academic preparation, where people can work together and grow.
The mathematics major at Emmanuel prepares students for a wide variety of analytic careers and service opportunities as Christian mathematicians who integrate faith, learning and living in their careers, scholarship and service. In the past some described the power and versatility of mathematics by observing that it is the language of science (and equations are its poetry). Today’s competitiveness, need for precision, and speed of computational networks make the power and benefits of solid analysis even more in demand. The opportunities are great. Mathematics is the language of analysis in business, education, kinesiology, science, medicine, demographics, behavioral analysis, music … and equations are still its poetry.
The EC mathematics major is designed to encourage students to prepare for a wide range of possible careers. One's academic curriculum may include a minor from areas such as Science, Business Administration, Information Technology, Christian Ministries, or Music. These enable in-depth connection of mathematical knowledge and analytical thinking with another dimension, building flexibility to enable students to seize opportunities. Further, the Mathematics Department actively participates with the School of Education in offering majors in Mathematics Secondary Education and Middle Grades Education with a mathematics concentration.
We practice interactive collaboration in the learning process, beginning with advisement – to understand the student’s interests and use the program's flexibility to optimize each student’s educational opportunity. Mathematics students are actively involved with the faculty in their education. Classes blend instruction, discussion, exercises and current technology to engage today’s student. The IMPACT (Integrating Mathematical Principles and Christ’s Teachings) Club provides additional opportunities to explore mathematics while having a good time serving with others.
If you feel God is calling you to an analytical career, we hope you will join us in mathematics at Emmanuel as we seek to live out "serving the Lord will all our heart, soul, mind and strength."
— Bruce Scranton, Mathematics Department Chair
Goals
The specific course requirements in mathematics courses are designed to accomplish the following goals:
1. Provide a foundation and appreciation of mathematical understanding by requiring a variety of courses in the major mathematical areas.
2. Develop the student’s ability to think critically and creatively.
3. Give sufficient flexibility in the study of pure and applied mathematics.
4. Move the student from teacher-centered learning to independent learning.
5. Provide mathematical knowledge and communication, thinking and problem solving skills needed in our society to fill economic, political, teaching, and scientific roles.
Objectives
In completing the curriculum for a bachelor's degree in mathematics, the student will be able to:
1. Create appropriate mathematical constructs for problems and solve them.
2. Demonstrate the ability to reason mathematically, prove conjectures and identify flaws in analysis.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts, structures, results and methods from different branches of mathematics and apply them in analysis of data and problems.
4. Communicate problems, mathematical approaches and results effectively.
5. Apply technology to analyze data effectively and solve problems.
