At Gettysburg College, the Mathematics program—offered both as a major and a minor—blends abstract theory with practical, quantitative problem-solving across the natural and social sciences. Students gain experience with tools like R, MATLAB, and Mathematica, and often participate in one-on-one research with faculty. Graduates pursue diverse pathways including graduate school, education, finance, law, engineering, research, and more. The department emphasizes small class sizes, research opportunities, and a senior thesis for majors.
At Gettysburg College, the mathematics curriculum blends rigorous theory with real-world application, guiding students from the fundamentals of calculus and statistics to advanced explorations in modeling, abstract algebra, and analysis. Along the way, you’ll gain hands-on experience with powerful computational tools, tackle independent research, and complete a capstone project that showcases your creativity and critical thinking. It’s a dynamic program that prepares you to solve complex problems and excel in fields ranging from data science and finance to education, engineering, and beyond.
First Year Advising and Registration recommendations
The Department of Mathematics does not have a placement exam. Rather, we believe that students should self-place themselves into the class that best fits their background and interests with help from their advisor and faculty in our department. Students considering a mathematics course should refer to the requirements below to determine the appropriate selection or consult with a member of the department at 717-337-6630. Please note that Calculus I (Math 111) is intended for students who have not previously taken any Calculus. In general, students who have taken calculus should place themselves into Calculus II or into a 200-level math course (see calculus selection chart below). Students who place themselves into Calculus II and are considering a major in Mathematics, Physics, or Computer Science should enroll in the Honors section if possible.
In majors that require first-semester calculus, completion of a higher-level calculus course also satisfies that requirement. Accordingly, students should not place themselves in an inappropriately low-level course merely to satisfy the stated requirements of another major. Incoming students may confirm with departmental chairs in other majors that their math plans satisfy those majors’ requirements.
The best math course in which to start depends on your goals, motivation, and background. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to discuss your individual situation with a math faculty member.
Major in Mathematics
A robust program building proficiency in calculus, linear algebra, proof-based thinking, computer programming, and advanced coursework, capped by a senior capstone experience. Ideal preparation for graduate study and quantitative careers.
Requirements:
Core Calculus & Linear Algebra Sequence
MATH 111 (Calculus I) or placement into higher courses
MATH 112 (Calculus II)
MATH 211 (Multivariable Calculus)
MATH 212 (Linear Algebra)
MATH 215 (Abstract Mathematics I)
Computer Programming Requirement
One course from CS 107, CS 111 or DS 256 (does not count toward major GPA average)
300‑level Coursework
Four courses at the 300‑level, including at least one of MATH 315, 321 or 331
Elective Course
One additional mathematics elective at the 200‑level or above
Capstone Course
A designated 300‑level capstone math course, taken in senior year unless an exception is granted
Additional Notes:
Students entering already placed into higher calculus may bypass earlier requirements
Students interested in graduate study are advised to complete both MATH 321 (Real Analysis) and MATH 331 (Abstract Algebra)
A minimum grade of C‑ is required to advance through prerequisites; all math courses must be taken for a letter grade once declared as a major
Minor in Mathematics
A concise yet rigorous minor designed for students wishing to deepen their quantitative and analytical skills without completing the full major track.
Requirements
Six Mathematics Courses numbered 111 or above
At Least One 300‑level Course included among the six
Additional Notes:
All courses must be taken with standard A–F grading
To advance to courses with prerequisites, a minimum grade of C‑ is required
Learning Outcomes
Both the major and minor students will:
Solve problems in calculus and linear algebra
Formulate and analyze mathematical proofs
Employ technological tools for mathematical problem-solving
Major students further develop: written and oral mathematical communication skills
Program
Purpose
Key Components
Major
In-depth mathematical training; preparation for research or quantitative careers
Introduction to the power and scope of mathematical ideas by investigating several particular topics. Topics vary among sections. Example of topics include basic mathematical modeling, dynamic geometry, puzzles and recreational mathematics, linear programming, game theory, voting power, legislative representation, and cryptology. Course is intended for first year and sophomore students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences who do not plan to take calculus. Students who have received credit for any Mathematics course at Gettysburg College, whether through course completion, transfer credit, or AP credit, may not enroll in Mathematics 103. No prerequisites.
Study of precalculus and differential and integral calculus. Topics include basic algebraic concepts, equations and inequalities, functions, introduction to limits, continuity, the derivative, and the definite integral. No prerequisites.
Study of precalculus and differential and integral calculus. Topics include basic algebraic concepts, equations and inequalities, functions, introduction to limits, continuity, the derivative, and the definite integral. Prerequisite: Math 105 with a C- or better.
Introduction to statistical methods with applications from social, biological, and health sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, fundamentals of probability theory, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, linear regression and correlation, analysis of categorical data, and analysis of variance. Laboratory work is designed to utilize the computational power of a statistical computer package. Credit cannot be received for both this course and Biology 260, Economics 241, Health Sciences 232, or Psychology 205. No prerequisites.
We encounter data-driven claims every day from news outlets, political leaders,
advocates, friends, and family. How can and should we use quantitative information to gain real insight into socially important questions?
In this course we learn fundamental techniques of descriptive data analysis, description, and visualization. We will apply these skills to gain insight into a variety of important topics, while at the same time asking (a) why the questions are important, and how the data necessary to study them come to be available; and (b) how the data have been used (or misused) in public or scientific discourse.
In addition to the skills mentioned above, secondary goals for the course are that you strengthen your ability to learn technical material independently, communicate technical information clearly, and examine important questions with openness and integrity.
Supplement to Math 111 with a focus on supporting and enhancing calculus and precalculus content knowledge and problem-solving skills. Topics include basic algebraic concepts, equations and inequalities, functions, and other precalculus topics in support of study of Calculus I topics. No prerequisites. Must be enrolled in Math 111 in the same semester.
Differential and integral calculus of one real variable. Topics include introduction to limits, continuity, the derivative, the definite integral. Applications are drawn from the natural and social sciences. No prior experience with calculus is assumed. Students who have received credit for Mathematics 105-106 cannot also receive credit for Mathematics 111. No prerequisites.
Differential and integral calculus of one real variable. Topics include introduction to limits, continuity, the derivative, the definite integral. Applications are drawn from the natural and social sciences. No prior experience with calculus is assumed. Students who have received credit for Mathematics 105-106 cannot also receive credit for Mathematics 111. Prerequisite: First-Year Standing with no credit for any other mathematics course at Gettysburg.
Differential and integral calculus of one real variable. Topics include the definite integral, integration techniques, improper integrals, differential equations and sequences and series. Applications are drawn from the natural and social sciences. Prerequisite: First-Year Standing with no credit for any other mathematics course at Gettysburg.
Differential and integral calculus of one real variable. Topics include the definite integral, integration techniques, improper integrals, differential equations and sequences and series. Applications are drawn from the natural and social sciences. Prerequisite: Math 105 and 106 or Math 111 with a C- or better or First Year Standing with no credit for any other mathematics course at Gettysburg.
Introduction to the methodology and procedures of research in mathematics. After selecting one or more of the open-ended research projects discussed in class, students will individually or in small groups carry out an investigation, culminating in a written report and its public presentation. No prerequisites.
Vectors, vector functions, functions of several variables, partial differentiation, optimization, multiple integration, transformation of coordinates, line integrals and Green's Theorem. Prerequisite: Math 112 with a C- or better.
Systems of linear equations, algebra of matrices, determinants, abstract vector spaces, linear transformations, eigenvalues, and quadratic forms. Prerequisite: Math 112 with a C- or better.
Introduction to abstract mathematical thinking, emphasizing mathematical reasoning and exposition. Students examine the concepts and methods of abstract mathematics, such as primitives and definitions, axioms and theorems, conjectures and proofs; study the topics of higher-level mathematics, such as logic, sets, quantifiers, and mathematical structures; learn the skills of reading, understanding, writing, and presenting rigorous mathematics; and gain an appreciation for the history and culture of mathematics. No prerequisites.
Analysis of one and two-dimensional differential equations, with an emphasis on the qualitative behavior of solutions. Topics include graphical exploration, numerical approximation, separable and linear equations, phase line and phase plane analysis, conservative and dissipative systems, linearization, and applications to biology, chemistry, and physics. Prerequisite: Math 112 with a C- or better.
Development of intermediate level research in mathematics. After selecting one or more of the open-ended research projects discussed in class, students will individually or in small groups carry out an investigation which provides a careful and complete proof of their results. The research will culminate in a written report and its public presentation. Prerequisite: Math 212 or Math 215 with a C- or better.
Mathematical research on problems that come from business, industry and government. Collaboration between students, professor and industrial partner liaison to address an open question from the liaison's company or agency. Industrial partnerships may vary from offering to offering as questions arise and are answered. Prerequisite: C- or better in both MATH 212 or MATH 225
Topics selected from partition and permutation theory, enumeration, recursion, partially ordered sets, Markov chains, generating functions, algebraic combinatorics, combinatorial geometry, and design and coding theory. Applications are chosen from computer science, optimization, and the social and life sciences. Prerequisite: Math 212 or Math 215 with a C- or better.
Topics are selected from extremal graph theory, network flow and design, coloring, Ramsey theory, matching and transversal theory, random graphs, and algebraic and topological graph theory. Applications are chosen from computer science, optimization, and the social and life sciences. Prerequisite: Math 215 with a C- or better.
Study of the philosophical foundations of mathematics starting with the concept of number and culminating the Godel's groundbreaking incompleteness result. Specific topics include the historical developments and mathematical and philosophical ramifications of zero, rational, irrational, imaginary, and transfinite numbers as well as an examination of the completeness of arithmetic.
Further development of the skills of abstract mathematical reasoning and writing proofs, as well as the rigorous development of the elements of advanced mathematics. Topics include a variety of advanced proof techniques, relations, functions, order, limits, finite enumeration, infinite cardinalities, and number systems. Prerequisite: Math 215 with a C- or better.
Rigorous treatment of concepts studied in elementary calculus and an introduction to more advanced topics in analysis. Topics include elements of logic and set theory, properties of real numbers, elements of metric space topology, continuity, the derivative, the Riemann integral, sequences and series, and uniform convergence. Prerequisite: Math 215 with a C- or better.
Course focuses on the solution, analysis and numerical exploration of partial differential equations, including the heat equation, wave equation and Laplace's equation. Topics include boundary value problems, the method of separation of variables, Fourier series, Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problems and the method of characteristics. Applications to physics are emphasized. Prerequisite: Math 211 and Math 225, both with a C- or better
Study of basic structures of modern abstract algebra, including groups, rings, fields, and vector spaces. Prerequisite: Math 215 with a C- or better.
Study of topics in elementary number theory. Topics include factorization and the prime numbers, Diophantine equations, quadratic reciprocity, and the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic. Applications of these ideas to cryptography are explored. Prerequisite: Math 215 with a C- or better.
Rigorous continuation of first-semester linear algebra, with applications both within mathematics and to the social and natural sciences. Topics, chosen by the instructor, may include matrix powers and exponentials, nonnegative matrices and Markov chains, coding theory, design theory, graph theory, the Perron-Frobenius theorem, ranking theory, data clustering, and max-plus algebra. Prerequisite: Math 212 with a C- or better.
Study of both synthetic and analytic approaches to geometry. Topics include axiomatic systems, Euclidean geometry, non-Euclidean geometries, projective geometry, and subgeometries of projective geometry. Prerequisite: Math 215 with a C- or better.
Introduction to essential ideas in topology and their applications. Core topics include topological spaces, bases, subspaces, product spaces, quotient spaces, continuous maps, homeomorphisms, connectedness, compactness, and separation axioms. Additional topics vary and may include homotopy and the fundamental group, fixed point theorems, knot theory, manifolds, and classification of surfaces. Prerequisite: MATH 215 with a C- or better.
Combinatorics, discrete and continuous random variables and their distributions, expected value and variance, functions of random variables, the Law of Large Numbers, the Central Limit Theorem, generating functions, and applications such as Markov chains, random walks, and games of chance.
Expectation, special probability distributions and densities, bivariate and multivariate distributions, sampling distributions, theory and applications of estimation, hypothesis testing, regression, correlation, analysis of variance, and nonparametic methods
Study of topics in probability and statistics. Topics include discrete and continuous random variables and their distributions, expected value and variance, the Law of Large Numbers, the Central Limit Theorem, sampling distributions, theory and application of estimation, hypothesis testing, regression, correlation, and analysis of variance. Applications to problems in the social and natural sciences will also be considered. Prerequisites: Math 211 and Math 212 with a C- or better.
Dynamical systems and chaos theory. Topics include linear and nonlinear systems, mappings and orbits, bifurcations, stability theory and applications of dynamical systems. Prerequisite: Math 212 and 215, both with a C- or better
Study of techniques and tools used in mathematical models applied to the biological and social sciences. Topics are selected from optimization, linear and nonlinear programming, transportation problems, network analysis, dynamic programming, and game theory.
Introduction to discrete wavelet transformations and their applications in digital image processing and other areas. Topics may include basic complex analysis, Fourier series, convolution and filters, and the Haar and Daubechies Wavelet Transformations. Mathematica (or similar software) is used as a tool to explore and to manipulate images stored as large matrices. Prerequisite: Math 212 with a C- or better.
Complex numbers, analytic functions, complex integration, Cauchy's Theorem, Taylor and Laurent series, contour integrals, the residue theorem, and conformal mapping. Prerequisite: Math 211 with a C- or better.
Numerical techniques for solving mathematical problems. Topics include solutions of equations, solutions of simultaneous linear equations, interpolation and approximation, numerical differentiation and integration, the eigenvalue problem, numerical solutions of ordinary differential equations, and error analysis.
Study of an advanced phase of mathematics not otherwise in the curriculum. Subject matter and frequency of offering depend on student interest. Possible areas for study are point set topology, combinatorics, graph theory, partial differential equations, differential geometry, and number theory. Prerequisite: Depends on the topic
Development of advanced level research in mathematics. Students work on open-ended research projects that they have previously worked on in Math 301 (Intermediate Research in Mathematics). The emphasis in this course is on developing professional writing and presentation skills. The goal of the course is for students to complete a formal paper on their research, including an abstract, an overview of the history of the project, a statement of new results, an explanation of methods, a description of possible questions for future research, and a complete bibliography. Students are also expected to present their research off campus. Prerequisite: Math 301 with a C- or better.
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor graded S/U
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Summer Internship graded A-F, counting in the minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office.
Summer Internship graded S/U, counting in the minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office