Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Associate Professor: Brooke M. Andersen (Chairperson); Assistant Professors: Joseph A. Alfano, Kyle Evans, Bang Tran; Professors of Practice: Raymond Albert, Suzanne L. Kozak, Selvan Snow; Lecturers: Rick Cehon, Kwabena Debrah, Muskan Garg, Dana James, Jean-Marie Johnson, Robert Kumar, Annette Lemerise, Jun Thomas Ma, Karen McGrail.
Computer Science
Mission Statement
The Computer Science program at Assumption University serves all students interested in computer science, computers, and their applications in a supportive and stimulating learning environment. As the science of computer technology, we support the liberal arts mission of the university. As a source of computing skills, we offer courses supporting the development of technical proficiency. For those students who become majors or minors in computer science, we seek to develop their programming skills, their knowledge of computer hardware and software, and an appreciation of the social and ethical implications of technology. The major provides a foundation for a variety of professional careers in the computer industry and for graduate study in computer science.
Cybersecurity
Mission Statement
The mission of the Cybersecurity degree program is to educate the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and leaders. Cybersecurity students develop a strong foundation of professional ethics, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication, as well as acquire the knowledge and technical ability to prevent, detect, respond, and recover from cybersecurity attacks. The program prepares students for employment in cybersecurity and related fields or further graduate level studies. Cybersecurity graduates recognize their responsibility to perform their jobs ethically and with integrity, thereby helping to secure, develop, and sustain the cyberspace ecosystem.
Learning Goals
Cybersecurity program graduates will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of computing and information technologies and use software development and security analysis tools to produce effective designs and solutions for specific cybersecurity problems within a variety of computing platforms and employing an approved secure systems development process model;
- Identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly and professional literature relating to the fields of cybersecurity, information security, or information assurance, to help solve specific problems and to stay abreast of the rapidly changing security context;
- Participate as an active and effective member of a project team engaged in achieving specific computer-based cybersecurity results or solutions;
- Communicate, both orally and in writing, and negotiate with colleagues and other stakeholders including employees, managers, and executives within and between organizations;
- Demonstrate sensitivity to and sound judgment on ethical issues as they arise in cybersecurity and will adhere to accepted norms of professional responsibility;
- Integrate their technical expertise with knowledge from other disciplines, such as computer science, data analytics, economics, management science, psychology and human factors, to arrive at practical cybersecurity solutions that are effective in real organizations;
- Use appropriate tools to prevent, detect, respond, and recover from cyberattacks.
Mathematics
Mission Statement
The Mathematics program provides a supportive and stimulating learning environment to all students interested in the pursuit of truth through mathematics and its applications. As mathematics is a founding discipline of the liberal arts, we support the mission of the University in the Catholic liberal arts tradition, forming students intellectually, through our course offerings in the Foundations Program. As mathematics is the language of science and quantitative analysis, we offer courses for majors in the sciences and business studies. For those students who become majors or minors in mathematics, we seek to strengthen their problem-solving skills, their reasoning and communication abilities, and their knowledge of the various fields of mathematics. The major provides a foundation for meaningful professional careers (including actuarial and engineering sciences, teaching, and business) and for graduate study in a variety of fields.
Learning Goals
Mathematics program graduates will be able to
- Communicate mathematical ideas and present mathematical arguments both in writing and orally using proper use of mathematical notation and terminology;
- Demonstrate problem-solving proficiency across a wide variety of mathematical and real-world problems;
- Write, understand and critique mathematical proofs utilizing correct mathematical terminology and rules of logic;
- Know and apply the fundamental principles underlying the major areas of mathematics.
Teacher Preparation
Students interested in the major in Education should consult with the Chairperson of the Mathematics Department and the Licensure Program Coordinator in the Education Department to plan a course of study. Middle school (5–8) and secondary school (8–12) teacher of mathematics programs require a Major in Mathematics. The required courses for the major and the following elective courses address the subject matter knowledge prescribed by the Massachusetts Department of Education for the field of licensure.
- MAT 204 Number Theory (8–12)
- MAT 208 Probability Theory (8–12)
- MAT 351 Modern Algebra I (8–12)
- MAT 353 Advanced Euclidean Geometry (5–8, 8–12)
- ECO 115 Statistics with Excel OR PSY 224 Statistics (5–8, 8–12)
Actuarial Science
Students interested in becoming an Actuary after graduation should major in Mathematics and take the following electives to prepare for the Actuary Exam:
- MAT 207 Actuarial Mathematics
- MAT 208 Probability Theory, followed by Exam P
- MAT 332 Real Analysis
- MAT 355 Differential Equations
Students may be interested in completing a minor in Finance and Data Analytics in addition to the math major to better prepare for their future career. There are many overlapping courses between the major and these minors. Mathematics majors with interest in Actuarial Science are encouraged – but not required – to take the first Actuarial Exam (Exam P, Probability, sponsored by Society of Actuaries) soon after taking MAT 208. Exam P is a minimum requirement for entry into a summer internship or full-time employment as an actuary in an insurance company program. Advanced students may also consider taking the second Actuarial Exam (Exam FM, Financial Mathematics) before graduation. More information about the Actuarial Exam is available at the Society of Actuaries web site: https://www.soa.org Professor Joe Alfano conducts review sessions for students interested in taking the Actuary Exam. Contact him, jalfano@assumption.edu
Engineering Programs with University of Notre Dame and Washington University in St. Louis
Students interested in pursuing either the 3:2 engineering program at Notre Dame, or the 3:3 engineering program with Washington University in St. Louis should take the technical courses listed below in their first year at Assumption. Careful planning is important to meet the prerequisites for admission to Notre Dame or Washington University. Interested students should meet with the dual degree engineering program director, Professor Teresa Herd, to start planning their curriculum.
| AU Major | UND/WUSTL Engineering Major | Recommended First-Year Courses at Assumption | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | ||
| Biology | Biomedical | MAT 117 OR MAT 131H Calculus I CHE 131 Chemistry I BIO 160 Concepts in Biology | MAT 118 OR MAT 132H Calculus II CHE 132 Chemistry II BIO 210 Genetics PHY 213 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving |
| Chemistry | Chemical | MAT 117 OR MAT 131H Calculus I CHE 131 Chemistry I BIO 160 Concepts in Biology | MAT 118 OR MAT 132H Calculus II CHE 132 Chemistry II PHY 213 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving |
| Environmental Science | Environmental | MAT 117 OR MAT131H Calculus I CHE 131 Chemistry I ENV 150 Introduction to Environmental Science | MAT 118 OR MAT132H Calculus II CHE 132 Chemistry II PHY 213 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving BIO 160 Concepts in Biology |
| Math | Aerospace | MAT 117 OR MAT 131H Calculus I PHY 201H Physics I CSC 120 Statistics Programming in Python | MAT 118 OR MAT 132H Calculus II PHY 202H Physics II PHY 213 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving |
| Civil | |||
| Electrical | |||
| Mechanical | |||
| Data Science | MAT 117 OR MAT131H Calculus I PHY 201H Physics I CSC 120 Statistics Programming in Python | MAT 118 OR MAT132H Calculus II PHY 202H Physics II PHY 213 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving CSC 233 Large Data Sets | |
| Systems | MAT 117 OR MAT131H Calculus I PHY 201H Physics I CSC 117 Introduction to Programming | MAT 118 OR MAT132H Calculus II PHY 202H Physics II PHY 213 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving CSC 250 Intermediate Programming | |
| Computer Science | Computer | MAT 117 OR MAT131H Calculus I PHY 201H Physics I CSC 117 Introduction to Programming | MAT 118 OR MAT132H Calculus II PHY 202H Physics II PHY 213 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving CSC 250 Intermediate Programming |