Why study Mathematics at MC?
Mathematics is the language of science, technology and engineering and, in a technology-driven society that is generating billions of pieces of data every day, it is also the language of business and communication. Learning about mathematics teaches you to develop logical arguments and solve problems, essential skills for a wide variety of careers. While those who work in jobs requiring mathematical skill earn high salaries and report great job satisfaction, there aren’t enough college graduates with those skills to meet the demand.
Mathematicians work in fields from finance and insurance, to business analytics, biotechnology and national security. We analyze market data for large corporations, develop climate models to predict environmental changes, improve internet search engines and social media, design clinical trials with medical researchers, attack cryptographic problems for the National Security Agency, and develop better airline security systems.
At Maryville College, mathematics majors explore topics in pure and applied mathematics, including statistics, computer science and physics. The quantitative abilities they develop are complemented by the liberal arts core, resulting in well-rounded students with a marketable mix of skills. Our majors enjoy small class sizes and close relationships with their professors and are participating in competitive summer research programs at Oak Ridge National Lab and around the country. If you enjoy mathematics and are excited about the wide range of career opportunities for people with these skills, we’d love to have you join us!
The importance of mathematics to the educated person has been established since the Middle Ages, when arithmetic and geometry were recognized as two of the seven liberal arts constituting the traditional course of study at a university. Mathematics is even more vital to liberal education today, when every citizen must be equipped with the quantitative skills needed to navigate our technological and data-driven world. The increasing demand for well-trained professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields is well-documented, and all of these require knowledge of mathematics. In addition, students interested in teaching at the middle- or high-school level can continue their studies at MC after graduation and earn a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Secondary STEM degree in only one year.
The curriculum in mathematics develops a student’s ability to think analytically and construct logical arguments, building a foundation to support advanced study in mathematics, but also providing a gateway to the expansive, diverse career opportunities in the mathematical sciences. The program provides students a range of experiences in both abstract and applied mathematics, as well as in the partner disciplines of computer science and physics.
Meet a Current Scot
Jorge Estrada Martinez
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
Within a 30-minute drive of his home, Jorge found a welcoming and respectful environment at MC. Drawn in by class sizes smaller than ones at most universities, he said of Maryville: “It’s easier to build strong connections with professors, and you’re not just another face in a lecture hall of hundreds.”
As a Mathematics major, Jorge enjoys the structure and creativity in the subject and the constant challenges to his way of thinking. He also helps his fellow students as a tutor in the STEM Success Center.
His post-graduate plans include pursuing a master’s degree in engineering with a focus on robotics, hoping to develop innovative robotic systems that can assist in medical treatments or that can take on high-risk tasks in dangerous environments.
Meet a Recent Grad
Megan Pogue ’21
Currently: Senior Quality Technician at Beehive Industries
Originally intent on pursuing a degree in Biology, Megan changed her major to Mathematics after enjoying a course in that subject in her first semester. During her sophomore year, Megan co-founded MC3D, the College’s 3D printing club, which played a key role in putting her on her current career path.
Specializing in additive manufacturing (3D printing), Beehive Industries designs and manufactures components for the aerospace, defense and power generation industries. As a senior quality technician, Megan is responsible for ensuring all products meet internal specifications, customer requirements and engineering prints.
“The supportive faculty, challenging coursework, and collaborative environment helped me develop the technical and problem-solving skills I rely on today for my role in quality,” she said of her MC experience.
