wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Wed Oct 28 14:26:02 EST 1998
Auth: C Whip, University Webmaster's Office
Copyright © Monash University 1998 - All Rights Reserved - Caution
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers mathematical and statistical instruction for students with a wide range of levels of preparation and diverse needs, including:
Mathematical techniques and models form a significant
component of nearly all branches of modern science. Mathematics is also a vital
and growing discipline in its own right, and encompasses the formal study of
numerical, algebraic and analytical structures, the development of quantitative
methods essential for the practice and development of science, engineering,
economics and other fields, and the development and utilisation of mathematical
and numerical models in various contexts.
The study of mathematics can lead to careers in applied or theoretical
mathematics, or mathematical statistics, and it is an important part of the
preparation for a wide range of careers for which mathematical, statistical and
computational skills are needed. These can include actuarial work, areas of
biomedical research, astrophysics, banking and finance, economics, engineering,
environmental science, mathematics teaching, materials science, market
research, operations research, production planning, statistical analysis and
weather forecasting.
Subjects
are offered in specialist areas of mathematics and mathematical statistics, as
well as in mathematical methods (designed in part to support subjects offered
by other departments). Areas for which specialist subjects are offered include
algebra, analysis and geometry, applied and computational mathematics,
statistics and probability, astronomy and astrophysics, atmospheric science,
fluid dynamics and mathematical geophysics. Mathematics subjects designed
specifically for the faculties of Engineering and Information Technology are
listed in the handbooks for those faculties.
All mathematics and statistics subjects are presented through a lecture program
together with supporting tutorials and/or computer laboratories and practical
work. Assessment is carried out by means of assignments and/or projects, tests,
and tutorial and/or laboratory work during the semester, and examinations at
the end of the semester. In higher years, assessment is also carried out by
project work and thesis. It is the responsibility of each student to ascertain
the assessment requirements for any subject in which he or she is enrolled.
For first, second and third-year mathematics subjects offered at the Clayton
campus, the fourth digit (0, 1 or 2) in the subject code indicates the semester
in which it is given, where 0 indicates that streams of the subject are
available in first and second semester and sometimes in summer semester. For
some mathematics subjects not offered at the Clayton campus, the fourth digit
in the subject code may be 5, 6, 7 or 9.
Further information concerning mathematics subjects and sequences can be obtained from departmental staff as follows:
Associate Professor Michael Page
Dr Pam Norton
Associate Professor Michael Page
Dr Michael Reeder (first semester), Dr Alan Pryde (second semester)
Dr Paul Cally
Associate Professor John Stillwell
Professor Roger Grimshaw
Important notices will be posted on the department notice boards. Students are expected to consult them regularly. Their locations in the mathematics building (building 28) at the Clayton campus are as follows: first year - first floor lift lobby; second year - ground floor lift lobby; third year - ground floor lift lobby; fourth year - first floor east wing; astrophysics - third floor lift lobby.
Coordinator:
Dr Pam Norton
First-year mathematics subjects are provided for students from a wide variety
of backgrounds, from those who have not studied mathematics at VCE level to
those who have completed VCE Specialist Mathematics units 3 and 4. It is
recommended that all science students should include some mathematics in the
first year of their course, especially those who have not completed VCE
Mathematical Methods units 3 and 4.
Six first-year BSc mathematics subjects are available at the Clayton campus in
1999, details of which are provided in the individual subject entries. Four of
the subjects are provided in support of other science disciplines, as well as
preparation for further studies in mathematics and statistics. The subjects
MTH1010 (Functions and their applications), MTH1020 (Analysis of change) and
MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling) are sequential and students will commence
their studies in these at a point which depends on their background, determined
for example by their level of preparation from VCE level. The subject MTH1210
(Statistical methods for science) is designed specifically as a service subject
in data analysis and statistics for students intending to major in other
disciplines.
The subject MTH1110 (Numbers, logic and graphs) is a specialist mathematics
subject but it also has a service role, being recommended for students of
computer science.
The department also offers the subject ASP1022 (Life and the universe),
described in the 'Astronomy and astrophysics' entry in this handbook, and
contributes to the subject ATM1010 (The dynamic atmosphere), described in the
'Atmospheric science' entry.
The subject MTH1000 is only normally available to students in the
BSc(SciSchProg) course.
Major and minor sequences in mathematics must include at least twelve points of
mathematics subjects at first-year level. There are several possible routes to
undertaking studies towards either a minor or a major sequence, depending on
the areas of a student's interests. The department currently offers programs at
higher years in a range of areas of mathematics, including algebra, analysis
and geometry; applied and computational mathematics, statistics and
probability, astrophysics, atmospheric science, fluid dynamics and mathematical
geophysics. Information sheets with suggested programs for each of these areas
will be available from the department from late 1998.
Students are advised to determine the first-year prerequisites for second and
higher-year subjects in their area of interest before finalising their
enrolment. As a general rule, it is often advisable to choose a set of
first-year subjects which leave several options open at higher years.
For students who have completed VCE Mathematical Methods units 3 and 4, with an
average grade of C or above in CATs 2 and 3, the recommended mathematics
sequence is MTH1020 and MTH1030.
For students who have completed VCE Specialist Mathematics units 3 and 4, with
an average grade of B or above in CATs 2 and 3, the recommended mathematics
sequence is MTH1030 and MTH2010 (Multivariable calculus). These students may
also choose to take MTH1110 or MTH1210 instead of MTH2010 in their first year.
(The subject MTH2010 is available in 1999 only for first-year students who have
completed MTH1030 in their first semester but it will be available for all
second-year students from 2000.)
For other students, the recommended mathematics sequence is MTH1010 and
MTH1020.
Students not intending to take second-year mathematics subjects may either
choose one of the above recommended sequences or replace the second subject in
any of the sequences by MTH1210.
All first-year students should obtain a copy of the booklet General
information for first-year students, which will be available from the
department during orientation week.
With the approval of the director of first-year studies, students can replace
some of the subjects recommended above by equivalent subjects offered at the
Gippsland campus and through distance education mode as part of the mathematics
program taught by the School of Applied Sciences.
Coordinator:
Dr Michael Reeder (first semester), Dr Alan Pryde (second semester)
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers second-year subjects in
mathematical methods, including calculus and linear algebra, as well as in a
broad range of specialist areas including analysis, computational mathematics,
differential equations, discrete mathematics, statistics and probability,
astronomy and astrophysics, and atmospheric science and fluid dynamics.
There are many possible combinations of subjects. Students should consult with
a mathematics adviser at re-enrolment on their choice of subjects to ensure
that they receive an appropriate preparation for higher-level studies in their
area of interest. Information sheets with suggested programs for a range of
areas will be available from the department from late 1998.
Details of the prerequisites for second-year mathematics subjects are provided
in the individual subject entries. Students intending to undertake either a
major or a minor sequence in mathematics should consult the prerequisites for
higher-year subjects before finalising their enrolment.
For first-year students in 1999 who intend to enrol in second-year mathematics
from 2000, MTH1020 will replace MAT1010 and MAT1050, and MTH1030 will replace
MAT1020 and MAT1080. For 1999, the first-year Faculty of Engineering subjects
ENG1901, ENG1902 and ENG1603 are acceptable alternatives to MAT1010 and
MAT1020, and the first-year Faculty of Information Technology subjects MAT1811
and MAT1812 are acceptable alternatives to MAT1050 and MAT1080.
The subject MAT2000 is only normally available to students in the
BSc(SciSchProg) course.
Most second-year mathematics subjects in 1999 are each worth four points. The
new six-point subject MTH2010 will only be available to eligible first-year
students during 1999. Major and minor sequences in mathematics must include at
least sixteen points of mathematics subjects at second-year level. See the
subject entries for details.
The School of Applied Sciences also offers some of the second-year subjects
listed below at the Gippsland campus and through distance education mode
(either every year or in some cases in alternate years). These are: MAT2020
(Coordinator: Dr David Wilson), MAT2030 (Coordinator: Dr Jill Wright), MAT2061
(Coordinator: Associate Professor Philip Rayment) and MAT2222 (Coordinator:
Associate Professor Philip Rayment).
With the approval of the second-year coordinator, students can also replace
other subjects listed below by equivalent subjects offered at the Gippsland
campus as part of their mathematics program.
Details concerning prerequisites for third-year mathematics subjects are given
in the third-year subject entries, and it is important that these be consulted
by second-year students intending to proceed to third-year studies in
mathematics.
Coordinator:
Dr Paul Cally
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a broad range of
mathematics subjects at third-year level. Many of these subjects are intended
for non-specialist third-year mathematics studies. Specialist subject areas
include algebra, analysis and geometry, applied and computational mathematics,
statistics and probability, astrophysics, atmospheric science, fluid dynamics
and mathematical geophysics.
Students should consult with a mathematics adviser at re-enrolment on their
choice of subjects to ensure that they receive an appropriate preparation for
higher-level studies in their area of interest. Information sheets with
suggested programs will be available from the department from late 1998.
Details of the prerequisites for third-year mathematics subjects are provided
in the individual subject entries.
The subject MAT3000 is only normally available to students in the BSc
(SciSchProg) course.
Third-year mathematics subjects are each worth four points. A major sequence in
mathematics must include at least twenty-four points of mathematics subjects at
level three of the BSc schedule, but up to two of these can be selected from
the group of 'core' second-year subjects MAT2020, MAT2030, MAT2040, MAT2051 and
MAT2061.
Some third-year mathematics subjects are also available under different subject
codes as part of the astronomy and astrophysics (ASP), atmospheric science
(ATM) or geophysics (GPS) disciplines. Subjects which are intended to form part
of either a major or minor sequence in mathematics should normally be taken
under the mathematics (MAT) subject code.
With the approval of the third-year coordinator, students can replace some of
the subjects listed below by equivalent subjects offered at the Gippsland
campus and through distance education mode as part of the mathematics program
taught by the School of Applied Sciences.
The department offers an honours program at fourth-year level available to
students with sufficiently high marks in at least twenty-four points of
third-year mathematics subjects. Students intending to study honours should
discuss their choice of third-year subjects with the coordinator.
Coordinator:
Associate Professor John Stillwell
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a single subject MAT4000 to
mathematics students at the honours level. The program normally consists of
seven lecture units in addition to an essay unit and the completion, under
supervision, of a major project. A list of the fourth-year lecture units will
be available at enrolment. A limited number of third-year subjects, or units
from other departments, may be substituted for fourth-year units, as approved
by the coordinator.
The prerequisite for honours studies in mathematics is an average of at least
credit grade in twenty-four points of third-year mathematics subjects, or
equivalent.
The department also offers the subjects ASP4000 and ATM4000 for honours-level
studies in astrophysics and atmospheric science. Further details of these
subjects are provided under the fourth-year entries for those disciplines in
this handbook.
wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Wed Oct 28 14:26:02 EST 1998