Students who complete a major in mathematics at Missouri S&T will be well-prepared for careers that require problem-solving and creative thinking abilities. Whether your goal is to work in business or industry, teach in a secondary school, or pursue graduate study, a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Missouri S&T can give you a sound base on which to build your professional life.

One of the most important aspects of any mathematics degree is the development of problem-solving and creative thinking abilities. A closely related and equally important goal is to be able to function as an independent learner, of mathematics certainly, but also of other areas. One of the differences between a university degree and technical training is that the university degree should indicate the capability to solve creatively problems that have not even been thought of yet, while technical training is more concerned with standard procedures for known problems. Technical training is important and necessary, but the people who can learn on their own and apply their knowledge to new situations have a distinct advantage.

What can you do besides teach? Plenty!

As a Missouri S&T graduate with a mathematics degree, however, you have to get that first job in business or industry before you can exhibit your valuable creative problem-solving abilities. This means planning your mathematics and technical electives so that you look good to industry, and it also means that you might have to be more aggressive when looking for a job in order to convince the company of your choice that you will do as well or better than the engineering or business majors they usually recruit.To help students with this the Mathematics and Statistics Department has defined five Emphasis Areas.They are Actuarial Sciences, Algebra/Discrete Mathematics, Applied Analysis, Computational Mathematics, and Statistics.Theses emphasis areas attempt to fit the desires and interests of the student with the needs of industry.A student seeking a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Mathematics is not required to have an emphasis area.Those students who apply for and complete the requirements of an emphasis area will have this accomplishment noted on their diploma.

To further prepare for life after college a student should consider participating in the Cooperative Training Program (co-op). In addition to earning money, co-op students gain valuable experience in business or industry. Details can be found in the Missouri S&T Undergraduate Catalog. Be on the lookout for opportunities to participate in research projects in mathematics or in areas which apply mathematics. This includes all the science and engineering departments on campus. Missouri S&T has an Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Program, and there are other opportunities for undergraduates to become involved in research as well. Ask questions and look around.

Secondary Education

A mathematics degree together with certification to teach mathematics in elementary or secondary schools in Missouri can be obtained at Missouri S&T. Careful planning of electives is essential for students in this program, since a number of professional education requirements for teacher certification must be met. The total number of hours in this program is slightly more than the minimum required for graduation, but with a degree from Missouri S&T, your mathematics preparation will be exceptionally strong.