Mathematics - Research Emphasis
Uncover the answers to fascinating mathematical questions.
A Degree That Adds Up
One of only a few programs like it — and the only program like it in the UW System — the mathematics - research emphasis major is an excellent choice for those who enjoy math, are naturally curious, and are passionate about contributing to the field of research.
Courses throughout the unique major will introduce you to various mathematical research methods, covering topics in background research, methods of proof, mathematical writing and presentation. Building skills in communication and problem-solving, you'll learn how to best communicate mathematics in both written and oral form. You'll also learn LaTeX, a computer language for writing math papers, posters and presentations, which will prepare you well for your chosen career.
Gaining real-world experience conducting and analyzing research is a critical focus of the major. Curriculum includes independent research seminars as well as the chance to join ongoing collaborative student-faculty research projects. Throughout these experiences, you'll conduct independent and original research, contribute to ongoing departmental research, share your findings with your peers, and present your work at both local and national conferences.
Graduates leave the mathematics - research emphasis program ready to hit the ground running. With professional research experience, industry connections and an impressive resume, you'll enter the working world with everything you need to make an impact and excel in the mathematical research field.
Program Details
During your time at UWEC, you'll learn from expert professors who are committed to excellent teaching. Small class sizes allow for the formation of deeper relationships and one-on-one attention, with plenty of face-to-face time with faculty. Many math courses are taught in active-learning pod rooms, which encourage collaborative learning and effective use of technology.
In addition to research projects built into your degree plan, the UWEC math department offers countless additional research opportunities to math majors. These outside-the-classroom projects have led to paid work, awards, published papers and scholarships, and the opportunity to travel to math conferences and share research results with other mathematicians.
The department’s annual Math Retreat will give you the chance to practice presenting your research to other math students, participate in math competitions and learn from guest speakers. It is also a great way to hear about new and ongoing research projects that you may want to join or investigate further. Additionally, two intensive data analysis challenges each year give you a chance to showcase your skills against dozens of other university teams.
As a mathematics student, you'll have access to technology-equipped classrooms, collaborative student seminar rooms and computer laboratories filled with programs and specialized software tools, including Python, Matlab and R. These are some of the same programs you'll find in the field, giving you a competitive advantage when applying for jobs.
Each year, staff, faculty and students work together to put on the department's Math Meet, a fun math competition for over 300 high school students from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Another event, Sonia Kovalevsky Day, allows for a day of engaging math activities and encourages middle-school and high-school girls’ interest in math. These events are excellent opportunities to build connections and make a difference.
Blugold Stories
The mathematics - research emphasis major provides more than math elective courses, math research experiences, and conference opportunities. Math research will teach you the process of how to get stuck, try again and eventually revel at an insightful solution.
A collaboration between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and UW-Eau Claire is giving Blugolds the opportunity to use high-performance computing to engage in their data-driven research. Supercomputers can process massive data sets in a short period, allowing students and faculty to dedicate more time on other aspects of their research.
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Where can the mathematics - research program lead me after graduation?
UW-Eau Claire's mathematics - research emphasis bachelor's degree provides students with exceptional preparation for graduate school and opens doors to countless career opportunities in business, government and industry.
Example Careers
- Mathematical researcher
- Mathematician
- Research scientist
- Operations research analyst
- Mathematics professor
- Market researcher
- Research mathematical statistician
- Research analyst
- Data scientist
- Consultant
The curriculum within the mathematics - research emphasis program focuses on how to identify and formulate open research problems and implement proper proof techniques to answer them. In addition to taking core mathematics courses with all mathematical majors, you'll also explore courses related to mathematical research, computer science and logic, and the application of mathematics. A variety of mathematical electives within the major allow you to study additional topics that interest you or align with your career goals.
Here are a few courses in Mathematics - Research Emphasis at UW-Eau Claire.
MATH 380
Research Methods
Introduction to research methods in mathematics. Topics include: background research, methods of proof, mathematical writing, and presentation skills.
MATH 316
Introduction to Real Analysis
Real numbers, introductory topological topics, limits, sequences of numbers, continuity, sequences of functions, and series.
MATH 324
Linear Algebra
An introductory course in linear algebra including matrix algebra, systems of linear equations, vector spaces, linear transformations, eigenvalues, and applications. Also covers methods of proof and a survey of student-faculty research.
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