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AMS-MER Workshop on

Excellence in Undergraduate Mathematics:
Mathematics for the Non-Traditional Major

Mathematics majors are a more diverse population than the traditional major who is interested in graduate studies in mathematics. In fact, looking at the numbers of majors in alternatives to the traditional major, it is clear that students find these alternative paths attractive. Students may choose these programs to advance their career aspirations, whether they are interested in statistics or teaching high school mathematics, to name two popular fields. This situation presents an opportunity and a challenge to mathematics departments. The opportunity is a larger pool of undergraduates who study advanced mathematics; the challenge is to create mathematically solid programs that address the students' goals.

The workshop is designed to consider various options for a nontraditional mathematics major, and how a mathematics department may develop such programs. Special issues of these programs are the different contexts in which mathematics is used or applied. The inter-disciplinary nature of these programs, whether explicit or implicit, distinguishes them from the traditional major.

The workshop program features:

• departmental examples of nontraditional majors, and their impact on the departments in which they are offered

• issues relating to making inter-disciplinary links in the teaching of mathematics

• fundamental issues underlying quality undergraduate math programs, including TA and faculty development, and recruitment and retention of math students.

In addition to the scheduled program, there will be time throughout the workshop for informal discussions with the presenters and other participants.

Plenary Speakers
Benny Evans and Lisa Mantini from Oklahoma State University:
"Department Case Studies in Developing and Revising Courses below Calculus"

John Lopez and Bruno Welfert from Pennsylvania State University and Ithaca College:
"Department Case Studies in Developing and Revising Courses below Calculus"

Kathy Heid and Eric Robinson from Arizona State University:
"The Major in Mathematics High School Teaching: Issues and Programs"

Steven Krantz from Washington University:
"Department Case Studies in Developing and Revising Courses below Calculus"

Dennis DeTurck from University of Pennsylvania:
"Department Case Studies in Developing and Revising Courses below Calculus"

Arthur Heinricher and Sam Rankin from Worcester Polytechnic Institute:
"Department Case Studies in Developing and Revising Courses below Calculus"

Breakout Speakers:
Beth Newton, Mary Abkemeier, Anne Grice and Kay Graves:
"Undergraduates Communicating Mathematics - Writing and Presentation at the Core of the Undergraduate Mathematics Curriculum"

Lisa Mantini from Arizona State University:
"One part geometry, two parts algebra, and a dash of chemical physics -- an undergraduate course at OSU on Finite Groups and Representations"

John Lopez and Bruno Welfert from Oklahoma State University:
"Trials & Tribulations In Establishing A New B.S. Degree In Computational Mathematical Sciences" At A.S.U

Kathy Heid from Pennsylvania State University:
"The CBMS MET Report: What does it mean for the mathematics education of secondary school mathematics" teachers?

Dennis DeTurck from University of Pennsylvania:
"Examples of courses designed to attract students to mathematics – one for liberal arts majors and one for math majors"

Arthur Heinricher from Worcester Polytechnic Institute:
"Industrial Mathematics: A Different Kind of Real Analysis"

Steven Krantz from Washington University:
"Opening Up The Math Curriculum And Major"

Amy Cohen:
"Reconfiguring a Major in Biomathematics"

Eric Robinson from Ithaca College:
"Helping Teachers to Help Student"