Mathematics minor

Note: Mathematics major students cannot minor in Mathematics.

The need for improved access to mathematics education for all citizens is eloquently presented in the executive summary of Foundations For Success: The Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008):

"The eminence, safety, and well-being of nations have been entwined for centuries with the ability of their people to deal with sophisticated quantitative ideas. Leading societies have commanded mathematical skills that have brought them advantages in medicine and health, in technology and commerce, in navigation and exploration, in defense and finance, and in the ability to understand past failures and to forecast future developments…. There are consequences to a weakening of American independence and leadership in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. We risk our ability to adapt to change. We risk technological surprise to our economic viability and to the foundations of our country’s security…. The national workforce of future years will surely have to handle quantitative concepts more fully and more deftly than at present. So will the citizens and policy leaders who deal with the public interest in positions of civic leadership. Sound education in mathematics across the population is a national interest."

You can declare a minor by completing the Request to Declare/Change a Major or Minor form and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar. You must have earned a minimum of 45 credits and declared a major before declaring a minor. If you have any questions about this process, please see your advisor.

Objectives of minor

To strengthen student facility with quantitative analysis in their chosen discipline
Current mathematics offerings at UW Tacoma support science, technology, and business students across campus. With a few well-selected upper-division courses, these students can complete mathematics minors and thereby document their analytical strengths to prospective employers.
To provide necessary content for future teachers
By providing greater mathematical content in student-centered, active learning environments, we can support prospective and in-service mathematics teachers. The UW Tacoma Education department is currently developing a secondary mathematics endorsement. Native mathematics minors may increase demand for this line of engagement. The focus of the endorsement is methodology, pedagogy, theory and practice. The necessary mathematical context is expected to be mastered before enrolling. By improving our mathematics offerings, we will assist those pre-service teachers in need of further mathematical studies, making the proposed endorsement a more attractive option.

Graduates will pursue careers in teaching, finance, science, engineering and professional fields such as law and medicine with stronger documentation of their analytical abilities.

Educational outcomes

The study of mathematics emphasizes exposure to the core foundational areas of analysis, modern algebra, and geometry. A mathematician's skill set includes the technical tools specific to each area as well as the development of critical thinking skills necessary for logical reasoning. A student completing a minor in mathematics should be able to:

Demonstrate mathematical skill with basic computational tools and methods.
Use analytical reasoning to organize and write strong arguments.
Demonstrate understanding of at least one foundational area of mathematics.
Apply mathematical theory to another discipline.

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