Mar 28, 2024  
2003-2004 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2003-2004 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Mathematics and Computer Technology


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(130 semester hours; 137 with elementary teacher licensure) Requirements are subject to change.

Springfield College’s mathematics and computer technology major provides students with a basic program of study in mathematics, computer science, and computer graphics that will pre-pare students for entry-level positions that require skills in those areas. Mathematics and computer technology majors may also opt to seek licensure as an elementary teacher (grades 1–6).

Students enrolled in the major are required to complete a core curriculum consisting of computer science, computer graphics, and mathematics courses plus one of three concentrations: computer science, mathematics, or mathematics and computer technology learning applications (for students completing the elementary teacher licensure program). Students not seeking licensure are encouraged to pursue a cooperative education assignment in a local business or industry in order to gain “real-world” experience.

For more information about the mathematics and computer technology major, contact Dr. Peter Polito, chairperson of the Mathematics/Physics/Computer Science Department, at (413) 748-3313 or the Admissions Office at (800) 343-1257.

General Education Program - In addition to courses taken for the major, non-licensure students must complete 38 s.h.; elementary licensure students complete 12 s.h.

I. General Education Program


To integrate the humanics philosophy into their lives, Springfield College students engage in the search for knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of values through a variety of courses in the sciences and humanities. In addition to those General Education courses, students must complete 6 s.h. of Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) courses. For more information see the General Education Program and WAC courses. In the major requirements listed below, selected courses which fulfill General Education categories are marked with an asterisk; selected WAC courses are marked with a “W”.

II. Program Requirements (36 s.h.)


1 Students who have a deficiency in their mathematics preparation may be required to take MATH 115, College Algebra and/or MATH 125, Precalculus before taking MATH 140, Calculus I.

III. Required Concentration (18-19 s.h.)


Select one of the following concentrations:

B. Mathematics Concentration (18 s.h.)


In addition, select three of the following:


C. Mathematics and Computer Technology Learning Applications (19 s.h.)


Students must be accepted into the teacher preparation major to complete this concentration.

IV. Electives


Students who are not seeking elementary teacher licensure must complete 38 s.h. of electives to total 130 s.h. They are encouraged to pursue a cooperative education assignment in a local business or industry in order to gain “real-world” experience. With the elementary licensure program, students must complete 137 s.h., so no electives are necessary.

V. Advanced Standing and Program Standards


In order to continue in the mathematics and computer technology major, students must qualify for advanced standing during the spring semester of their sophomore year, prior to registration for junior-level classes. (Students seeking elementary licensure must also meet certain requirements to be accepted into the teacher preparation program. In some cases, those requirements are higher than the standards listed below.) In order to qualify for advanced standing, all mathematics and computer technology majors must:

  1. Achieve at least a 2.500 cumulative GPA.
  2. Achieve at least a 2.500 GPA in their program requirements.
  3. Complete all program requirements with a grade of C- or better. Courses in which unsatisfactory grades were received must be repeated.
  4. Be making satisfactory progress toward the completion of
    their program of study, as determined by the academic advisor
    and the department.
  5. Have completed or be in the process of completing any program requirements in which an incomplete was received.

(Incomplete grades in program requirements must be completed by the end of the semester following the receipt of the incomplete, unless an extended deadline has been negotiated.) Students who do not meet these minimum standards are placed on departmental probationary status for a period of not more than one year. A student will be removed from departmental probationary status if and only if the minimum standards for advanced standing have been met. A student who is unable to meet the minimum standards during the probationary period will be subject to being dropped from the major. Once achieved, advanced standing must be maintained in order to continue in the major and complete the program.

VI. Optional Elementary Teacher Licensure Program (70 s.h.)


Mathematics and computer technology majors may elect to seek licensure as an elementary teacher (grades 1–6). Advisement is provided by a member of the Mathematics/Physcis/Computer Science faculty and a member of the Education Department. Students seeking licensure should begin their program upon their admission to the College, but in order to be considered teacher candidates and to complete the professional preparation requirements, they must apply for official admission to the teacher preparation program and be accepted. Application to the teacher preparation program typically occurs prior to the junior year. Students seeking licensure must complete all requirements for the major, including the learning applications concentration, plus the additional requirements listed below.

Recommended, but not required:


VII. Sample Program by Year


The program listed below is a sample—courses are not guaranteed to be offered during the semester or year listed. It is the student’s responsibility to insure that all requirements are met on a timely basis and that needed prerequisite courses are completed before taking upper-level requirements; therefore, they should consult carefully with an advisor when planning their program. Non-licensure students must average a minimum of 16.25 s.h. a semester to complete this program in four years; licensure students must average 17.25 s.h.

Non-licensure students will need to insure that the following General Education categories are fulfilled: Natural Science, Health, Physical Education, Literature, second Language/Culture, History, Social Science, Social Justice, Philosophy, and Religion. Licensure students will need to insure that Physical Education, Second Language/Culture, Philosophy, and Religion are fulfilled.

Courses marked with an * fulfill or partially fulfill a General Education category. Courses marked with a w may fulfill a WAC requirement, depending on the year taken.

A. Sample First Year


Students who have a deficiency in their mathematics preparation may be required to take MATH 115, College Algebra, and/or MATH 125, Precalculus, before taking MATH 140, Calculus I.

All mathematics and computer technology majors:


B. Sample Second Year


All mathematics and computer technology majors:


C. Sample Third Year


All mathematics and computer technology majors:


D. Sample Fourth Year


All mathematics and computer technology majors:


In addition, for students seeking elementary licensure:


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