You are
- obsessed with puzzles
- fascinated by numbers
- a persistent solver of problems
- a math geek and proud of it!
A wide world
Math at Bethel College includes
- applied mathematics – what you use to solve a particular kind of problem or do a specific task
- pure mathematics – the study of pattern and form, finite and infinite abstractions, logic and proofs
- learning to “think mathematically”
- a general education/liberal arts curriculum that equips you with writing, speaking and communication skills that will carry you successfully through job interviews and graduate school applications after college
Hands-on learning
Undergraduate research is a hallmark of the STEM fields at Bethel College. In addition to building a solid foundation in
- calculus
- linear algebra
- discrete mathematics
- computer programming
you’ll complete a senior research project that explores an area of math that’s new to you. Small class sizes and faculty who are interested in you means you’ll have plenty of feedback from peers and teachers.
Plus fun
Did you know…
- Bethel’s most famous math student is the perennial prankster Herman Bubbert, who enrolled in the 1950s and still hasn’t managed to graduate.
- Bethel math students have consistently performed well in state, regional and even national programming and mathematics competitions.
- Bethel College is a charter member of the Kansas Section of the Mathematical Association of America.
Want to talk more with faculty and current students? Schedule a campus visit.
Already visited campus, but want to come back to interview for a science or STEM scholarship? Schedule an interview.
You’ll have many opportunities to apply what you learn in mathematical sciences, ranging from on-campus research projects and assistantships to studies overseas. Recent internships have included actuarial work and software development.
Bethel also emphasizes undergraduate research. One recent project by a Bethel math major won first place at the Kansas meeting of the Mathematical Association of America. Other research takes place off-campus – one student spent a summer working in engineering at the University of Illinois, while another studied mathematics in Budapest, Hungary, for a semester.
Finally, Bethel students consistently perform well in state, regional and even national computer programming and mathematics competitions.
Recent Bethel graduates in mathematical sciences have held a variety of positions, such as:
- mathematics professors at the University of California-Santa Barbara and Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.
- political science professor at the University of Georgia
- high school and middle school mathematics teachers in Kansas, Oklahoma, Georgia and South Dakota
- actuaries with Cygna Insurance and Tillinghast-Towers Perrin
- engineers with Sikorsky helicopters and Grasshopper mowers
- medical doctor in Maryland
- neuroscience researcher at the Salk Institute, La Jolla, Calif.
The Summer Science Institute takes place annually on campus, generally in the first full week of June. The institute offers high school students who have completed grades 10-12 opportunities for research investigation in multiple areas of science, including biology, psychology, mathematics, chemistry and computer science. Students study fascinating and challenging topics that high school courses typically do not cover, with a focus on learning how to do research through close interaction with faculty. Bethel students can gain practical experience in science instruction and lab supervision as Summer Science Institute staff.
Bethel College and Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, cooperate in the mathematical sciences, sharing some upper-level courses that are taught on one or the other campus, depending on student needs and numbers.
- Major requirements for Mathematical Sciences:
- 40 hours (12 upper-level).
- Major requirements for Mathematical Sciences teacher licensure:
- 39 hours including 3-credit-hour Methods for Teaching Mathematical Sciences in the Secondary School plus completion of General Education requirements for teacher licensure and professional education requirements.
- Minor requirements for Mathematical Sciences:
- 16 hours (must include some calculus).
A Natural Sciences major is an option if you do not want to commit to a single field of science. This major is available only by request at the end of the sophomore year and must be approved by the department chair. You must complete at least 18 hours in one of the sponsoring departments (athletic training, biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics and psychology); 18 hours must be upper-level from the departments listed.
