RIDE THE MATH WAVES AT BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY

Mathematics

Welcome to the Benedictine University Department of Mathematics Home Page. The department serves you, the student, several ways. We provide coursework to help you develop the mathematics skills which are of use in your chosen field of study as well as advanced topics in higher level mathematics. We also promote awareness of mathematics through speakers, bulletin boards, and departmental awards, and develop awareness of mathematics-related careers through networking with alumni. You may major or minor in mathematics, with secondary education certification available to majors.

(MATH) Courses &
Descriptions
Math Major Sheet
(PDF Format)
Placement Exam
Information
Course Schedule
Ben U Live
Awards Photos
Math Club
Math Comprehensive Exam
Graduation Requirement (FA04-SP05)

Mathematics Objectives

General education courses in mathematics are designed to develop the quantitative skills you will need as an educated person and for use in other disciplines. The program for math majors is designed to: 1. develop your abilities in logical reasoning and quantative problem solving, 2. teach you the basic techniques and models of the mathematical sciences, and 3. prepare you for graduate study in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, operations research, or computer science, as well as for careers as mathematical analysts, actuarial scientists, and as high school or college teachers.

Technology and Mathematics

At Benedictine University we employ a variety of technological tools to enhance the learning experience. In calculus courses, the software DERIVE is used to provide assistance in graphing and symbolic and numeric calculations. This allows us to work on more practical applications. Some of the other software packages currently used are: ODE Architect in Differential Equations, Geometer's Sketchpad in Modern Geometry, Finite Group Behavior in Abstract Algebra, and MPP and Gyrographics in Calculus, to name a few. Graphing calculator use is encouraged in all classes. In addition to the mathematics and technology, we emphasize writing in order to develop proficiency in clearly communicating mathematical concepts.

Enjoying Mathematics at Benedictine University

The mathematics department and the Math Club sponsor several activities involving mathematics which you may enjoy. Speakers come to campus and field trips are organized to hear speakers at other schools.

The Math Club is a student chapter of the MAA (Mathematical Association of America). Dr. Manmohan Kaur is the club's sponsor. The department participates in the ACCA (Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area) Student Symposium, a forum for students to present their research to students and faculty from 16 local colleges. Paid student jobs available in the department include tutoring and grading papers. Students participate in the national Putnam Competition (for glory, not money) and the local ACCA Calculus Competition. The department enjoys a banquet together at the end of the school year, honoring the achievements of our graduating and current students.

Occupations chosen by majors in MATHEMATICS

Some potential occupations are:
Actuary/AccountantMarket Research Analyst
Aerodynamics SpecialistMathematician/Statistician
AuditorMeteorologist
CryptographerProduction Manager
Financial Investment AnalystScience/Math Teacher


Some potential environments or organizations are:
Accounting firmsInvestment firms
Consulting firmsManufacturing industries
Educational institutionsMarketing research firms
Financial institutionsUtilities
Government agencies 


Please keep in mind that the above lists of occupations and organizations are in no way comprehensive. The same job description will be titled differently by different organizations. Do not limit yourself to a specific job title but look for areas where you can exercise your particular skills and abilities.

Scholarships in Mathematics

There are several scholarships available in mathematics. These include the Dr. Rose Carney Scholarship, Rev. Richard Shonka Scholarship, Rev. William Shonka Scholarship, and the Gregory S. and Alice Kobus Family Scholarship. Visit this link for a complete list of scholarships offered through the University.

Useful Links

Faculty

Full-time mathematics faculty at Benedictine University:
Dr. Timothy Comar, Dr. Manmohan Kaur, Dr. Jeremy Nadolski, Dr. Lisa Townsley, and Dr. Thomas Wangler.

Part-time mathematics faculty at Benedictine University:
M. Adelakun, A. Cabarubia, R. Garg, D. Good, D. Hampton, M. Honeysett, P. Kakuman, B. Kohne, C. Nelson, K. Ramsey, M. Walsh.

Department Address

You may contact the department of mathematics at the following address and telephone number:

Benedictine University
Department of Mathematics
Birck Hall of Sciences, Room 135
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532

Carol Agomo, Office Assistant
Office: (630) 829-6550
Email: cagomo@ben.edu


Faculty Information

Dr. Timothy D. Comar received his Ph.D. in mathematics from The University of Michigan in 1996. He has held visiting positions at Saint Louis University and Valparaiso University and has also taught at several Chicago-area colleges. In addition to teaching, Dr. Comar has experience as a pension actuary and has managed content development for test generating software at the textbook publisher, Addison-Wesley. His current interests include hyperbolic manifolds, Kleinian groups, topology, and the teaching and learning of undergraduate mathematics. Dr. Comar can be contacted at tcomar@ben.edu.


Dr. Manmohan Kaur received her PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2001. Her research interests include functional analysis, operator theory and cyptology. She is also interested in the use of technology in mathematics education. Before coming to the United States, Dr. Kaur taught at the University of Delhi, India. You may contact her by email at mkaur@ben.edu.

photo Dr. Jeremy Nadolski joined the faculty at Benedictine University in 2004. Dr. Jeremy Nadolski received his Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Kentucky (greatest basketball school in the country) in August 2004. He, also, is an alum of Benedictine having received his B.S. in mathematics in 1998. His research interests include Mixture Modeling, Functional Data Analysis, and Computational Statistics. You may contact Dr. Nadolski by email at the address jnadolski@ben.edu.

Dr. Lisa Townsley joined the faculty at Benedictine University in 1987, and was awarded the Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1988. Her specialty is abstract algebra, particularly the cohomology of groups. Dr. Townsley is also interested in the use of technology to enhance mathematics learning, and has some expertise in the subject. You may contact Dr. Townsley by email at the address ltownsley@ben.edu.

Dr. Thomas Wangler joined the faculty at Benedictine University in 1990. He earned the doctorate in applied mathematics from Old Dominion University that same year. In the past he has worked with the NASA-JOVE program on mathematical modeling of solid-state laser systems and their application to remote sensing. He is currently interested in dynamical systems, chaos theory, and quantitative literacy. You may contact Dr. Wangler via email at twangler@ben.edu.


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This page last updated October 16, 2008