Mathematics Major & Minor | Luther College

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Prepare for countless careers by mastering the primary language of modern technology. Major in mathematics or mathematics/statistics at Luther College.

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Why Study Mathematics?

Do you like to solve problems? Are you ready to build your analytical skills? If so, mathematics might be the right major for you.

Math majors have excellent career opportunities. Some become engineers, computer programmers, statisticians, actuaries, math teachers, and business managers.

Luther’s mathematics programs can easily pair with and add value to other courses of study like chemistry, physics, or biology.

Why Study Mathematics at Luther?

Luther’s math major is flexible and customizable. Along with the ability to pair it with another major or minor, upper-level electives allow you to choose the courses that best support your career goals. Electives include statistics, actuarial science, computation, management, and science.

If you’re interested in becoming an actuary, Luther’s combined mathematics/statistics major is a great option. You’ll take courses from a PhD-level statistician. Your first upper-level stats course will prepare you for the actuarial exam. Luther students have a proven track record of passing that exam.

Small class sizes at Luther allow faculty to know you by name and provide you with personalized academic support.

Math majors at Luther are also able to engage in undergraduate research. Students work alongside a math professor for eight weeks during the summer to learn how mathematics applies to other fields of study.

Internships

Luther helps match mathematics majors with competitive internships at insurance companies, financial institutions, commercial retailers, and healthcare organizations. Students have interned with Mayo Clinic, Securian Financial, and Target, among other organizations.

Chances to Compete

Participate in competitions at the state, national, and international level. Luther has a great history of success in these competitions, including teams that won back-to-back championships at the Iowa Collegiate Math Competition.

Research with Faculty

Each summer, students have the opportunity to work on a research project with a faculty member. Students gain in-depth experience exploring how math can help solve problems in a variety of fields.

What You’ll Learn

With a math major or minor you’ll develop:

Critical thinking. Develop mathematical and logical reasoning skills as well as multistep and creative problem-solving abilities.
Formal theory. Faculty will help you foster an understanding that mathematics is a logical, deductive system based on definitions, axioms, examples, theorems, and proofs.
Application. Learn how to apply mathematics to a variety of disciplines.
Preparation. You’ll be equipped with the foundation you need to pursue advanced degrees or careers in business, industry, and education.
Communication. Learn how to express mathematical ideas in written and verbal forms.
Exploration. You’ll be provided opportunities for independent projects and research experiences in mathematics.

Curriculum

While at Luther, I thought that the fact that I didn't spend all my time on one subject was going to be a problem, but I now realize that all my various activities have set me up perfectly for the hybrid career I want to pursue.

Miriam Harries '16

Mathematics Major

Mathematics/Statistics Major

Luther offers a math/stats major, which pairs foundational mathematics courses with four upper-level statistics courses. The upper-level statistics courses are all taught by a PhD-level statistician. This major provides solid preparation if you’re interested in studying statistics in graduate school. It’s also a great choice if you’re interested in actuarial science or many of the other careers that require statistical analysis.

In the mathematics/statistics degree program, you’ll master skills in statistical theory, interpretation and display of complex data, and computing. This major places an emphasis on applying statistical tools to real-world problems.

Recent graduates from the program have gone on to jobs in private industry and consulting, while others attend graduate school in some of the nation’s top graduate programs.

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