The Mathematical Association of America is the largest professional organization in the world devoted to mathematics at the college level. Its long-range goals are to promote excellence in the teaching of mathematics, to cultivate mathematical talent, and to enhance public awareness of mathematics. It currently has some 34,000 members, approximately 20% of whom are students.
The Department has a charter student chapter of the MAA and encourages its majors to become members. Among the many valuable benefits enjoyed by student chapter members are a free subscription to Focus (the newsletter of the MAA), career information, help with job placement or graduate applications, contact with the mathematics community, opportunities to meet students with similar interests, and eligibility for travel grants to meetings and special conferences.
Application forms and further information can be obtained from the Undergraduate Office.
National Council of Teachers of MathematicsThe National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is the largest organization in the world dedicated to the improvement of mathematics education and to the needs of teachers of mathematics. Mathematics majors interested in becoming teachers are encouraged to become student members of NCTM. Members receive subscriptions to the NCTM journal Mathematics Teacher and/or the NCTM journal Arithmetic Teacher, and they receive a newsletter, as well as notices concerning special meetings, workshops, etc.
Application forms and further information can be obtained from the Undergraduate Office.
Computing FacilitiesThe Mathematics majors and other students in designated undergraduate Math/Stat courses, may use UMASTR, a computer laboratory, in DuBois Library 1667. This suite of rooms is equipped with 36 PC's connected to the University's network. UMASTR PC's operate under both the Windows and Linux operating systems. Software available for Windows includes the ``Mathematica'' symbolics-numerics-graphics program; True BASIC, J, and Metrowerks CodeWarrior C/C++ programming language systems; Netscape Navigator Web browser; Minitab statistical package; Geometer's Sketchpad; and telnet to access e-mail and other programs. Software available under Linux includes Maple and the TeX Technical word processing system.
Each semester OIT/PCCO, which manages UMASTR for the Department, employs students as programmer consultants in UMASTR. Mathematics majors with ``Mathematica'' experience are especially needed.
For class use, the Department has a computer-equipped video projection room in LGRT 219; a new 20 station computer lab for classes in LGRT 110 that also functions afternoons and evenings as a drop-in help center for certain lower-level courses; and portable computer and projection equipment for several other locations.
Approval of Courses To Be Taken at Other SchoolsStudents who wish to take courses at other institutions during the summer months or while on leave from the University, either to help them fulfill requirements or to make them eligible for an earlier graduation date, must have their proposed course of study evaluated in advance. Mathematics majors planning to use courses to be taken at other schools to satisfy Departmental graduation requirements must obtain prior approval of these courses from the Chief Undergraduate Advisor.
There are three different prior approval forms:
Prior Approval Form
This form is to be used by those students who intend to fulfill degree requirements through the completion of courses at other institutions (including other UMass campuses and the National Student Exchange Program) or through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). The form
requires the approval of the
Chief Undergraduate Advisor (for
courses to be used to satisfy Departmental graduation requirements), Transfer Affairs (for courses to be used for elective credit and/or to fulfill University General Education requirements), a CASIAC dean (for foreign language courses to be used to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences' Foreign Language Requirement), and an academic dean (for students on academic probation or suspension).
Prior Approval Form for Completing the Senior Year in Absentia
This form is to be used only when the student has accumulated 90 or more credits and intends to complete degree requirements or do any portion of the senior year while not in regular attendance at the University, i.e., by taking courses at other institutions (including other UMass campuses), by taking courses by examination, or by earning CLEP credits.
This form requires the approval of the
Chief Undergraduate Advisor, an
academic dean, and the Office of Transfer Affairs.
International Program Prior Approval Forms
Students planning to study abroad must file an International Preliminary Registration/Approval form before they depart for study abroad and a Transfer of International Credit form after they return. Both forms are available in the
International Programs Office
and require the approval of the
Chief Undergraduate Advisor (for
courses to be used to satisfy Departmental graduation requirements), a CASIAC dean (for courses used to satisfy College requirements), the Office of Transfer Affairs (for courses to be used for elective credit and/or to fulfill University General Education requirements), and the International Programs Office.
In addition, students spending any part of their senior year abroad must file a Prior Approval Form for Completing the Senior Year in Absentia.
The normal credit load for a semester is 15 credits. Students will be issued a credit alert on their grade report if their credit average falls below 12 credits per semester during their first three semesters of enrollment. The credit alert is for informational purposes and will not appear on transcripts. During the fourth semester of enrollment, students whose credit average still falls below 12 credits per semester will be required to obtain permission from their academic dean before pre-registering for their fifth semester. Seniors carrying less than 12 credits during their last semester may be eligible for reduced billing and should contact the Records Office no later than the end of the add/drop period of the semester in question. No reduced billing will occur after that time. Seniors on reduced billing are considered part-time, which may affect their financial aid and insurance coverage.
The maximum credit load for mathematics majors is 18 credits. An overload can be taken provided it is approved by the student's major advisor and academic dean. Seniors in their final two semesters may carry an overload of one course each semester without special permission if such an overload will enable them to graduate, or an overload of two courses each semester with the approval of an academic dean. It should be noted that mathematics majors can preregister for no more than 18 credits. Permission for an overload can be obtained during the Counseling Period but the excess credits, even though approved, cannot be added until the beginning of the next semester. It should also be noted that an overload does not justify working at a reduced level in any course(s).
Pass/Fail OptionAny full-time student is eligible to exercise the pass/fail option in one course each term enrolled, including both summer sessions and the winter session, in addition to courses which are offered only on a pass/fail basis. The pass/fail option is not cumulative and is lost if not exercised during a particular term. Students wishing to exercise their pass/fail option may do so via SPIRE within the first 14 calendar days of the semester or the first 7 calendar days of summer session or the first 3 calendar days of winter session, beginning with the first day of classes.
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