The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers students numerous opportunities to develop quantitative reasoning, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills through its curriculum and extracurricular activities.

Requirements:

1. Fulfillment of the requirements for the major.
2. Honors Tutorial: 495 and 496.
3. Approval by the department is required.

Students should consult with a faculty member about their intentions to pursue an honors project before the end of their Junior year.

Professors

Erin N. Bodine. 2010. E.C. Ellett Professorship of Mathematics and Computer Science. B.S. and B.A., Harvey Mudd College; Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (Optimal control theory, mathematical ecology, differential equations, discrete difference equations, individual and agent based modeling)

Christopher Mouron. 2002. B.S., Lafayette College; M.S. and Ph.D., Texas Tech University. (Topology, continuum theory, discrete dynamical systems)

Associate Professors

Ibrahim Abdelrazeq. 2015. B.S., Yarmouk University; M.S., New Mexico State University; Ph.D., University of Ottawa. (Time series analysis, financial and actuarial mathematics, parametric and nonparametric goodness of fit tests)

Eric Gottlieb. 1998. B.S., Antioch College; M.S., University of Washington; Ph.D., University of Miami. (Algebraic combinatorics)

Assistant Professors

Chathurika Abeykoon. 2023. B.S., University of Sri Jayewardenepura; Ph.D., University of Mississippi. (machine learning, deep learning, neural networks)

Robert Chang. 2025. B.A., University of Pennsylvania; Ph.D. Northwestern University. (mathematical physics, microlocal analysis, complex analysis, probability)

Kyle Dempsey. 2023. B.S., Lambuth University; M.S. and Ph.D., University of Memphis. (educational games, distance education, child sexual abuse prevention)

Erika Parr. 2021. B.A., University of Dallas; Ph.D., Arizona State University. (Mathematics education)

Students considering a major in Mathematics should contact the department chair or another member of the department as early as possible to ensure progress is being made toward the major. 

For reasonable progress toward a major in Mathematics, a student should begin the Calculus sequence (MATH 112, 122 and 223) at the appropriate level in the first year, and complete the sequence before the Spring of the second year; and complete MATH 201 in the first year or second year.

The major requires breadth within mathematics and requires each major to take at least one upper-level course in modeling, in proofs, and in statistics. Students are encouraged to consider which electives they will use to satisfy these breadth requirements and plan ahead accordingly. Please note, there is one modeling course which also satisfies the F2i foundation requirement. 

Selecting an appropriate first calculus course:  Students who have any prior experience with calculus should begin with MATH 122 or MATH 211 or MATH 214.  Students should NOT take MATH 112 if they plan to take only one semester of calculus or if they have already seen derivatives in a previous class (they should consider MATH 115 or 116 instead). Students who have taken calculus in high school may not earn credit for MATH 112 without permission from the instructor. 

• Students who have received a 4 or 5 o the AP Calculus AB or BC exam will earn credit for MATH 112 + 122. Students who have credit for MATH 122 should begin with either MATH 223, 201, 209, 211, 214, or 251.
• Students who have received a 4 or 5 on the AP Statistics exam will earn credit for MATH 211. Students who have credit for MATH 211 should begin with MATH 212, especially if they are interested in pursuing the Statistics minor or Data Analytics major.
• Students who have received credit for one or both of the AP calculus or statistics exams and are unsure of which math course to take next should contact the chair of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics.

Selecting an appropriate non-calculus course:  Students may wish to start with a non-calculus course as their first college math course. The Department of Mathematics & Statistics offers some great options with no prerequisites:

• MATH 209 (Voting, Fairness, and Power)
• MATH 211 (Applied Statistics for the Natural & Social Sciences)
• MATH 214 (Discrete Math Modeling with Biological Applications) 

A total of forty-nine (49) credits as follows:

1. MATH 122, 201, 223, 261
    
2. Seven additional four-credit courses from among COMP 141 and mathematics courses numbered above 200 including at least four courses numbered above 300 (excluding 460, 495, and 496) with at least one course from each of the following breadth categories (where one course may count for more than one category):
   • Statistics: MATH 211, 212, 305, 311, 335
   • Modeling: MATH 209, 212, 214, 305, 315, 330; COMP 350; ECON 407
   • Proof: MATH 311, 321, 362, 431, 482; COMP 350
3. Capstone Seminar Sequence: one credit of MATH 386, and four credits of 485 and/or 486
   Students may petition to substitute MATH 451/452 or participation in Research Fellowships/St. Jude Summer Plus program for two terms before junior spring semester. See the department chair for more details.

A total of twenty-four (24) credits as follows:

1. MATH 122.
2. Five additional four-credit mathematics courses numbered above 200 including at least one course numbered above 300. COMP 350 can be used as a mathematics course numbered above 300.

A total of twenty (20) credits as follows:

1. One course from: MATH 211, PSYC 211, or ECON 290.
2. MATH 212.
3. Three additional courses from: MATH 244, 305, 307, 311, 312, 330, 331, 333, 335, 344; BUS 472; ECON 420; ENVS 225/URBN 225.

Students planning to pursue graduate study in statistics are strongly encouraged to select MATH 311 + 312 from the courses listed above and to additionally take:

• MATH 112, 122, 223, or equivalent three course calculus sequence.
• MATH 201 Transitions to Advanced Mathematics.
• MATH 261 Linear Algebra.
• MATH 321 Real Analysis.