COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & SCIENCE

Mathematics & Statistics

Program Highlights

The Louisiana Tech Mathematics & Statistics degree program begins with an integrated freshman and sophomore curriculum which exposes students to mathematics’ connections to the sciences. This exposure can help a student decide on a minor in the sciences, but minors are not limited to the sciences. Minors of mathematics graduates include aviation, biology, business administration, computer science, English, finance, and physics. For students interested in engineering, we offer an engineering concentration instead of a minor, and for students who want to focus solely on mathematics, we offer a concentration in mathematics and statistics. Because mathematics is so closely related to engineering and the sciences, it is not uncommon for mathematics majors to earn a degree in one of these fields in addition to their mathematics degree. The flexibility of mathematics is reflected in the curriculum, which, aside from fundamental classes in Linear Algebra, Logic and Set Theory, Abstract Algebra, and Analysis, consists entirely of electives; students can tailor their curriculum to their interests.

Job Opportunities

  • Actuarial science (risk assessment)
  • Data science
  • Information technology, computing
  • Business, management, consulting
  • Teaching at the elementary or secondary school level

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Interested in Joining Our Program?

Whether you’re interested in joining our program or just have questions, we’re here to help.

 

Advising Materials

For a list of prerequisites and required courses, select the curriculum sheet below.

Mathematics and Statistics Curriculum Fall 2022

Mathematics and Statistics Curriculum Fall 2016

UTeach Mathematics and Statistics Curriculum Sheet 2019

Faculty

Brian Barron

Senior Lecturer

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: IESB 329

Phone: 318.257.2453

Email: bbarron@latech.edu

Justin Biggs

Adjunct

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: NETH 160

Phone: 318.257.2833

Fax: 318.257.4922

Email: jbiggs@latech.edu

Stacey Black

Instructor

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 211

Phone: 318.257.2638

Email: staceyb@latech.edu

Carl Boyet

Instructor

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 329

Phone: 318.257.2589

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: cboyet@latech.edu

Ann Clifton

Instructor

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 258

Phone: 318.257.2164

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: aclifton@latech.edu

Dr. Joseph Cortez

Lecturer

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: IESB 223

Phone: 318.257.2847

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: jcortez@latech.edu

Steve Crow

Instructor

Departments: Integrated STEM Research Center, Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 330A

Phone: 318.257.4179

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: crow@latech.edu

Dr. Weizhong Dai

Professor – Mathematics and Statistics, Program Chair – Computational Analysis Modeling

Departments: Center for Applied Physics Studies, Mathematics and Statistics

Office: NETH 233

Phone: 318.257.3301

Fax: 318.257.4922

Email: dai@latech.edu

Allyson Donald

Instructor

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 212

Phone: 318.257.2633

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: adonald@latech.edu

Dr. Katie Evans

Professor Emerita

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Nathan Green

Assistant Professor

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: NETH 221

Phone: 318.257.3460

Fax: 318.257.4922

Email: ngreen@latech.edu

Dr. Songming Hou

Professor

Departments: Center for Applied Physics Studies, Mathematics and Statistics

Office: EA 215

Phone: 318.257.3270

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: shou@latech.edu

Christopher Lin

Lecturer

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: IESB 321

Phone: 318.257.2064

Email: clin@latech.edu

Dr. Xiyuan Liu

Assistant Professor

Departments: Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics

Office: NETH 223

Phone: 318.257.3453

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: liuxyuan@latech.edu

Dr. Stacey McAdams

Senior Lecturer

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 209

Phone: 318.257.3266

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: smcadams@latech.edu

Stan McCaa

Instructor

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 213

Phone: 318.257.2343

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: smccaa@latech.edu

Dr. Charles Patterson

Instructor

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 217A

Phone: 318.257.3224

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: charlesp@latech.edu

Dr. Stacy Potter

Visting Lecturer

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 236

Phone: 318.257.4505

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: spotter@latech.edu

Dr. Seyyed Nima Salehy

Lecturer

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 205

Phone: 318.257.2293

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: nsalehy@latech.edu

Tonia Sharp

Administrative Assistant 3

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 216

Phone: 318.257.2538

Fax: 318.257.2562

Email: tsharp@latech.edu

Christian Smith

Instructor

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: IESB 213

Phone: 318.257.2644

Fax: 318.257.2562

Email: crsmith@latech.edu

Jason Terry

Lecturer

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: IESB 209

Phone: 318.257.2455

Email: jterry@latech.edu

Dr. Galen Turner

Professor, Academic Director for Mathematics and Statistics

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 207

Phone: 318.257.2161

Fax: 318.257.2562

Email: gturner@latech.edu

Dr. Jonathan Walters

Program Chair, Senior Lecturer

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 215

Phone: 318.257.4051

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: walters@latech.edu

Rebecca Williams

Instructor

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 210

Phone: 318.257.2406

Fax: 318.257.2182

Email: rebecca@latech.edu

Andrew Yepson

Adjunct

Department: Mathematics and Statistics

Office: BOGH 204

Email: ayepson@latech.edu

Minors

Students who wish to obtain a more intensive degree program with a concentration in statistics-mathematics-engineering are not required to declare a minor if they earn credit for 21 semester credit hours of mathematics, statistics, or engineering courses which are approved by the student’s advisor. Note: No course may count toward the required mathematics and statistics courses in the mathematics curriculum and also the statistics-mathematics-engineering concentration.

Minor in Mathematics

Students in other departments who wish to minor in mathematics are required to take Math 241, 242 and an additional 18 semester credit hours earned in mathematics courses or statistics courses numerically above Math 242* with 9 semester credit hours being numerically above Math 300 and Statistics 300 (other than STAT 402). No more than 6 semester hours may be in statistics. All courses applied toward the minor must be completed with the grade of “C” or higher.

*Note this allows students to complete through MATH 245 as part of their minor requirements.

Minor in Actuarial Science

What Is Actuarial Science

Actuaries manage and reduce risk, working in a range of fields, including positions in industrial and government jobs, that analyze the potential for undesirable events to occur and plan for those events. Actuaries are in high demand and, currently, earn a median income of $100,000. As part of the Actuarial Science minor, students will take courses that will prepare them to complete the first two professional exams and will be prepared to begin their careers as actuaries upon graduation.

What Are the Course Requirements

The minor in Actuarial Science requires 18 credit hours to complete.

Actuarial Science Minor
Course
Course Name
# Hours
Corresponding Actuary Test
Mathematics and Industrial Engineering Prerequisite
MATH 240 Mathematics for Engineering and Science 3  
MATH 241 Calculus I 3  
MATH 242 Calculus II 3  
MATH 243 Calculus III 3  
MATH 244 Calculus IV 3  
INEN 300 Engineering Economics 2 Exam 3F/MFE—Models for Financial Economics
Statistics
STAT 405 Statistical Methods 3 Exam 1/P—Probability
MATH 490 (STAT 506) Regression Analysis 3 Exam LC—Models for Life Contingencies
MATH 490 (STAT 520) Theory of Probability 3 Exam 1/P—Probability
MATH 490 (STAT 521) Theory of Statistics 3 Exam ST—Models for Stochastic Processes and Statistics
Business-Oriented Classes
INEN 301 Industrial Cost Analysis 3 Exam 3F/MFE—Models for Financial Economics
MATH 315 Financial Mathematics 3 Exam 2/FM—Financial Mathematics
Total # of Hours Required (beyond prerequisite courses):  18

NOTE: For Mathematics majors who wish to minor in Actual Science, MATH 315, STAT 405, and nine hours of MATH 490 used for the Actuarial Science minor cannot be counted towards their major requirements; a 300-level or above mathematics course needs to be used in place of INEN 301 to fulfill the major requirement.

Who Do I Contact for More Information

For more information, please contact Dr. Dave Meng at dmeng@latech.edu.

Research and Consulting

Research

The faculty conducts research in Numerical Analysis, Probability and Statistics, Differential Equations, Algebra, Topology, Discrete Mathematics and Mathematics Education. Some of this research is being funded by the National Science Foundation, the Louisiana Board of Regents, and other funding agencies. Some faculty members also advise graduate students in the Computational Analysis and Modeling program, an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Computational Analysis and Modeling.

Statistical Consulting Lab

The Statistical Consulting Lab provides programs, departments and organizations help in analyzing statistical information. Check back for more information.

Featured Alumni

Headshot of Dr. Jenna Carpenter

Dr. Jenna Carpenter ’84

Founding Dean and Professor of Engineering, Campbell University

Why did you choose to study Math?

Math was always my favorite subject in school. I was also interested in teaching. Once I got to college, I realized that I could get a Ph.D. and teach math at the college level, so that is what I decided to do.

Why Louisiana Tech?

Louisiana Tech had a strong STEM reputation and it was less than 3 hours from where I grew up in Arkansas. The next closest STEM-focused institution was about twice as far.

What was your experience at Louisiana Tech like?

I absolutely loved my undergraduate experience at Tech. There were great faculty not only in mathematics, but also in my English, Spanish, history, PE, and many other classes. They cared about me and were encouraging and supportive. There were interesting things to do on campus. I was active in organizations like the Baptist Student Union and Angel Flight. And I made many great friends during my time at Tech. I loved the town of Ruston, as well, which was very student friendly. It was just an ideal place to go to college.

How did Louisiana Tech prepare you for leadership?

As I noted, I was active in organizations like the Baptist Student Union and Angel Flight, which provided me with leadership opportunities as an undergraduate. The faculty, departments, and administrators at Tech were good role models for creating effective and welcoming environments and programs for students.

What’s the biggest misconception about majoring in Math?

For one thing, most people don’t really have any idea what you could do with a degree in math aside from teaching. A math degree teaches you problem-solving skills and logical thinking skills. Those are valuable in a wide variety of careers, including industry and business. A second misconception is that the average person doesn’t know about the wide array of topics within mathematics that you can study. It is far more than algebra and trig. You can pursue pure or applied mathematics, with a focus in any number of areas.

What was your favorite experience as a Math student at Tech?

We had to take a two-course sequence in advanced calculus, which was really an introduction to real analysis. I didn’t feel that I understood the material very well, so I was really nervous about the first test. I started feeling pretty bad while I was taking the test, but I finished it and then went to the doctor, where I found out that I had walking pneumonia. I was sure surprised when I got my test back and made an A!

What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give an incoming Math student?

It is important to understand the math that you are learning, versus just memorizing your way through it. Math is more than just rules and processes. The overarching theory behind it is really interesting and helps everything gel. If you get a chance to take a math history course, I would highly recommend it, as it will help you begin to see the bigger picture.

Hunter Boudreaux headshot

Hunter Boudreaux ’16

Actuarial Assistant I, Protective Life

Why did you choose Louisiana Tech University?

I chose Louisiana Tech for a few reasons. It was fairly close to my hometown, and my family and I knew the school of engineering and science had a good reputation. Additionally, Louisiana Tech has great scholarship opportunities that allowed me to get a college education when otherwise it may have been difficult to afford.

Why did you choose to major in Math?

I initially thought I wanted to major in mechanical engineering because I loved math and thought that would be a great fit. Also, I didn’t really know that I could major in math. During my first quarter, I swapped to math, because that was what I really enjoyed. I didn’t really have a plan for what I wanted to do after college, but I figured it out along the way.

How did Louisiana Tech and the Math Program help you grow as a person and as a professional?

Math is not an easy major. It took a lot of time and hard work to make it through my classes. It pushed me to learn things that at first, I didn’t think I was capable of understanding. Louisiana Tech also has many great opportunities to help you grow professionally. My senior year I attended the career fair to see what job opportunities were out there; even though I didn’t find a job, I did learn to write a resume and how to interact with potential employers.

What was your favorite part of being a Tech/Math student?

There weren’t many math majors, so you get a chance to know the other students and the professors really well. This was really helpful when it came to studying for exams or working on homework problems. I spent a lot of time in my professors’ office hours or in the library with other math majors.

What’s the biggest misconception about majoring in math?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about math is that other students don’t really understand what we study. It can be difficult to explain to others what you’re learning about in your classes, especially classes that focus on theory.

What’s the most important piece of advice you would give incoming or current Tech/Math students?

Make friends in your classes. It can be really helpful to work together on those tough homework problems in higher-level math classes, and you can learn a lot from each other. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your professors for help. Take advantage of their office hours.

Kendall Gibson headshot

Kendall L. Gibson ’19

Doctoral Student, Tulane University

Why did you choose Louisiana Tech University?

I chose Louisiana Tech for a few reasons. It was fairly close to my hometown, and my family and I knew the school of engineering and science had a good reputation. Additionally, Louisiana Tech has great scholarship opportunities that allowed me to get a college education when otherwise it may have been difficult to afford.

Why did you choose to major in Math?

I initially thought I wanted to major in mechanical engineering because I loved math and thought that would be a great fit. Also, I didn’t really know that I could major in math. During my first quarter, I swapped to math, because that was what I really enjoyed. I didn’t really have a plan for what I wanted to do after college, but I figured it out along the way. 

How did Louisiana Tech and the Math Program help you grow as a person and as a professional?

Math is not an easy major. It took a lot of time and hard work to make it through my classes. It pushed me to learn things that at first, I didn’t think I was capable of understanding. Louisiana Tech also has many great opportunities to help you grow professionally. My senior year I attended the career fair to see what job opportunities were out there; even though I didn’t find a job, I did learn to write a resume and how to interact with potential employers. 

What was your favorite part of being a Tech/Math student?

There weren’t many math majors, so you get a chance to know the other students and the professors really well. This was really helpful when it came to studying for exams or working on homework problems. I spent a lot of time in my professors’ office hours or in the library with other math majors.

What’s the biggest misconception about majoring in math?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about math is that other students don’t really understand what we study. It can be difficult to explain to others what you’re learning about in your classes, especially classes that focus on theory. 

What’s the most important piece of advice you would give incoming or current Tech/Math students?

Make friends in your classes. It can be really helpful to work together on those tough homework problems in the higher-level math classes, and you can learn a lot from each other. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your professors for help. Take advantage of their office hours.