Arts and Sciences faculty on Oct. 26 voted unanimously to approve a new applied mathematics major to be offered by the Department of Mathematics, which students can begin to pursue immediately.
While pure mathematics aims to describe abstract structures for the sake of discovery, applied mathematics focuses on solving math problems with real−world applications in fields such as biology, physics and economics, according to Professor of Mathematics and Department Chair Boris Hasselblatt.
The creation of the new major was made possible in part by the increase over the past several years in the number of Department of Mathematics faculty specializing in the field of applied mathematics, Hasselblatt explained.
"It is a recognition of our own strength in applied mathematics," he said. "It is a timely major at this point because we were at a moment where we could realize the full potential of supporting cores of students with a primary interest in applied mathematics."
When Hasselblatt began his tenure at Tufts in 1989, the department only had one professor who focused on applied mathematics. The department now has six professors who specialize in the field.
The new major will require undergraduates to take 13 courses after Calculus II, two more than the regular mathematics major, Professor of Mathematics Christoph Börgers said. Requirements include differential equations, linear algebra, two semesters of real analysis and a semester of complex analysis, as well as mathematical modeling and computing, which can replace a requirement in computer science.
While interested students can declare the major right now, Hasselblatt expects most students will not declare their major in applied mathematics until next fall.
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Scott MacLachlan and Börgers were the creative forces behind the new major.
While they agree that there are numerous crossovers between the recently created and pre−existing mathematics majors, they are confident that the applied mathematics major will give undergraduates unique new opportunities.
"Students of the regular mathematics major have gone on to jobs in areas such as finance, biotech, geophysics and insurance," MacLachlan explained. "Students who come out of the applied math major will be well−prepared for any of those careers, but [the major] gives them a little bit more of a focus in the math that they would use in those careers."
The interdisciplinary nature of applied mathematics will make it a manageable undertaking for students looking to double−major.
"We've seen a lot of interest in students doing math as a second major to biology, physics and computer science, and we are looking at what ways students want to combine them," MacLachlan said.
He hopes the program will draw many students from different majors, particularly engineering.
Thomas Claiborne, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, has already expressed interest in the recently approved major.
"When I was growing up in high school, math was my passion, and I like the math side of engineering," Claiborne said. "There are so many applications of applied mathematics in engineering. There are a lot of skills that I would learn in applied math that would be helpful to pursue job opportunities."
Claiborne also appreciates the major's flexibility with regard to scheduling and double−majoring.
"I like the breadth of the applied mathematics degree," he said. "There are a lot of courses you can take out of department, like computer science and physics, that can count towards your requirements."
MacLachlan is excited about the possibilities created by the new major.
"Applied mathematics is a field that has been around for hundreds of years," he said. "We hope it is recognized as a field that gives students tools to succeed in a variety of fields."
The Arts and Sciences faculty also approved a renumbering of the department's courses. While current offerings and requirements will remain unchanged, this will group similar mathematics courses together by number, according to an excerpt of the department's proposal to the Arts and Sciences Curricula Committee.
For instance, Math 11 and 12 — Calculus I and II, respectively — will be renamed as Math 32 and 34, respectively.
These changes will take effect in the fall 2012 semester.
