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Mathematics encompasses a broad range of topics, ranging from
the beauty and satisfaction of pure thought (in areas such as
algebra, complex analysis, geometry or topology) to the usefulness
of practical applications which is no less satisfying (for example,
when improving signal and image processing using wavelets, or
modeling fluid using partial differential equations). Often enough,
the purest of mathematics finds intriguing practical applications
in surprising ways (number theory is used heavily in cryptography,
wavelets and dynamical systems are at work in engineering,
mathematical game theory has won a Nobel prize in economics,
etc).
The mathematics curriculum at Jacobs University has been
designed with a number of key features in mind:
- Flexibility: strong students can move ahead at their
pace
- Choice: cater for students with different interests and
backgrounds
- Solidity: assure that students master the core knowledge
expected of any mathematics graduate
- Compatibility: with strong international graduate programs
- Challenge: for strong students
- Coherence: courses are designed by content and interdependence
so as to form a coherent education, not as isolated units
- Breadth: graduates have acquired an overview of mathematical
areas and perspectives beyond core courses
- Transdisciplinarity: students take electives throughout the
school of Engineering and Science, HSS courses and University
Studies Courses
Depending on their previous educational system, age, and
background, strong incoming mathematics students can have very
different levels of preparation. Therefore, we offer at least two
main entry-points into our undergraduate program, with a number of
possible intermediate and even stronger variants.The regular variant of the curriculum is suitable for
entering students without a lot of training in formal mathematics
in high school and for students who are undecided between several
majors. Regular variant students will begin their their study
taking GENERAL
MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTATIONAL
SCIENCE. This module provides an introduction to
key concepts such as formal reasoning and proofs, and an overview
of important areas in mathematics. It is usually taken together
with introductory courses in two other subjects, and students can
choose at the end of the first year which major to pursue.
The advanced variant of our curriculum is designed for
particularly well-prepared students who enter the program often
with experience of mathematical olympiads and competitions or with
a specialized mathematics education at their high schools. These
students begin with courses in ANALYSIS and
LINEAR
ALGEBRA (formally comparable to introductory
classes at German universities, or second/third-year classes at
North American universities, but at a relatively demanding level).
Students following the advanced variant of the curriculum typically
take specialized courses in their second year, and a mix of
specialized and graduate level courses in their third year.
We offer our students individual advising between the various
variants our curriculum offers, and students are generally very
happy about the individualized possibilities. Some students, upon
personal advice, have taken even more advanced classes in their
first years. In other words, to attract the strongest students in
mathematics, Jacobs University offers an education which picks them
up where they are, and which offers challenges at all levels. These
challenges may consist of particularly strong or advanced classes,
of particularly interesting problems within regular classes, of
competitions and olympiads on campus or at an international level,
or in contact early on with the research groups of the faculty,
including work on open research problems.
A particular feature of the mathematics undergraduate curriculum
is that students should obtain a broad fundamental education in
mathematics which gives them an overview of mathematics, including
directions of current mathematical research in several areas and
relations between various subjects, rather than specialized
education in particular areas of mathematics. Consequently,
undergraduate courses are broad in content and emphasize
cross-relations, rather than as sequences of ever-more specialized
classes. In addition, the courses PERSPECTIVES OF
MATHEMATICS offer links and visions on areas not
usually found in general introductory classes, and students are
encouraged to engage in supervised research from early on.
The requirements for all variants of our curriculum ensure that
graduates are well prepared for continuing their studies in
mathematics graduate programs at leading universities world-wide.
At the very minimum, graduates will be ready for the standard
beginning mathematics courses for graduate programs at leading
North American universities (graduate level Real and Complex
Analysis, Algebra, Topology); similarly, in the French system,
students will be prepared to enroll in DEA programs.
Many of our former undergraduates who went to these leading
programs reported that they were better prepared by their education
at Jacobs than their fellow graduate students. Others have joined
industry or business and started successful non-academic careers
right after their Bachelor degrees.
While the mathematics program is self-contained, we encourage
our students to spend a semester or a year abroad, and students
have accepted these options (Paris/Orsay, Rice, etc). Through
personal advising and our flexible curriculum we ensure on-time
graduation of students who study abroad. Personal faculty contacts
with a number of institutions ensure that semester abroad students
find a good education abroad.
The mathematics curriculum at Jacobs University is designed to
prepare students for work towards a Ph.D. in the strongest graduate
programs worldwide: a head start into an international career in
academic research. At the same time, graduates have acquired skills
such as abstract reasoning, logical thinking and endurance which
are well sought after by non-academic employers. Consequently,
mathematicians enjoy a large and growing choice of top jobs even
outside of the university world, for example in research and
development, finance, banking, and management. All our program
alumni have found rewarding and interesting occupations in a large
variety of options.
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