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Section 1.1 Your Math Department #12

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11 changes: 11 additions & 0 deletions source/backmatter.ptx
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<!-- <index> <title>Index</title> <index-list/> </index> -->

<references>
<biblio type="bibtex" xml:id="biblio-careers">
<editor>Haunsperger, Deanna</editor>
<editor>Thompson, Robert</editor>
<title>101 Careers in Mathematics</title>
<publisher>Washington, DC: Mathematical Association of America (MAA)</publisher>
<year>2019</year>
<doi><url href="https://doi.org/10.1090/clrm/064"/></doi>
</biblio>
</references>

<colophon>
<p> This book was authored in <pretext />. </p>
</colophon>
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212 changes: 89 additions & 123 deletions source/ch01-gearup/sec01-local.ptx
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<title>Academic Experiences</title>
<introduction>
<p>Your degree is measured in credit hours. You're taking classes ultimately to earn a
degree. You'll also expect some grades in those classes. <term>BUT let's be careful not
to mistake grades and
credit hours with actual learning.</term> Our goal in the MCS Department is provide
an environment of true learning. We want you to adapt a mentality of a continual
learning: one who learns inside and outside of the classroom. </p>

degree. You'll also expect some grades in those classes.
<alert>
BUT, be careful to not mistake earning grades and
credit hours with learning!
</alert>
The goal of any quality mathematics department
is provide an environment of learning that extends beyond
grades and classrooms.
</p>
<p>
In addition to core classes such as Calculus, Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics,
and Differential Equations, Belhaven's MCS department delivers a number of curriculum
add-ons.
Let's take a look at what additional academic experiences we offer.
In addition to core classes such as Calculus and Linear Algebra
your department delivers a number of extracurricular educational
experiences that you should take as much advantage of as you
can.
</p>
</introduction>
<subsubsection xml:id="subsubsec-seminar">
<title>STEM Seminar</title>
<p>Meet professional scientists and mathematicians who share about what they do,
how they got there, and how you can too. This is a great way to find internships and
jobs.</p>
<title>Colloquia and Seminars</title>
<p>
Have you ever had a friend ask,
<q>Why study math; didn't we figure out calculus
centuries ago?</q>
Typical courses may not do much to disabuse this
misconception, as most undergraduate courses
<em>do</em> focus on mathematics that have been
studied for decades (if not centuries).
</p>
<p>
But that doesn't mean new mathematics isn't being
discovered and solved every day! However, you aren't
likely to hear about it if you aren't attending
your department's seminars or colloquiua.
</p>
<p>
It's not a hard rule, but generally a <term>colloquium</term>
is a presentation by a speaker invited to share their
expertise with a broad audience, while a <term>seminar</term>
is more focused to a particular subject area or audience.
Ask your instructor what colloquia and seminars your
department offers, and which ones are specifically appropriate
for first-year mathematics students.
</p>
<figure>
<image source="bu_seminar.jpg" width="80%" />
<caption>
Belhavan students at their college's STEM Seminar.
</caption>
<image source="bu_seminar.jpg" width="80%">
<shortdescription>
A classroom seated to capacity. A speaker
stands at the front with a presentation
displayed on a monitor.
</shortdescription>
</image>
</figure>
</subsubsection>

<subsubsection>
<title>Mathematical Research</title>
<title>Undergraduate Research</title>

<p>In MAT 391, 392, 491 and 492, students participate in the mathematical research
process
reviewing recent results of a select topic and attempting to further it. These
students will
present their findings as a poster and presentation at the Belhaven University
Undergraduate
Research Symposium (BUURS) and our sectional meetings of the MAA.</p>
<p>
Of course, the best way to realize that mathematics
is being discovered every day is to start researching
it yourself! Your department and institution likely offer
some kind of directed reading or thesis writing course designed
to involve undergraduates in exploring ideas and conducting
original mathematics research.
</p>
<p>
In addition to on-campus events,
students who engage in research frequently have opportunities to
travel to conferences and other meetings to present their findings.
These meetings are organized by the Mathematical Association of
America, the American Mathematical Society, and others.
</p>

<figure>
<image source="bu_poster.jpg" width="80%" />
</figure>
<figure>
<image source="bu_rewards.jpg" width="80%" />
<caption>
Belhavan University undergraduate math researchers presenting a poster at a
sectional meeting of the Mathematical Association of America
</caption>
<image source="bu_poster.jpg" width="80%">
<shortdescription>
Two men and a woman standing around a trifold poster board in a
conference meeting room.
</shortdescription>
</image>
</figure>
</subsubsection>

</subsection>

<subsection xml:id="subsec-makercampus">
<title>Belhaven Maker Campus</title>
<p>
The Belhaven Maker Campus is a collaboration between Math &amp; Computer
Science and Art &amp; Design featuring formative technologies such as 3D printers,
CAD drawing systems, laser engraving, and more. We are a community of engineering
students, artists, and mathematicians wanting to get our hands busy making things
with technology.
</p>

<figure>
<image source="MakerCampus_Logo.jpg" width="80%" />
</figure>

<p>
Join the Maker Campus, and you can gain access to both of our campuses
maker labs. Design your own creations and 3D print them! Customize your gear
with laser etching or make custom stickers. There are a lot of possibilities, and
the Maker Campus is designed to make your ideas a reality.
</p>

<figure>
<image source="bu_makercampus.jpg" width="80%" />
</figure>

<figure>
<image source="bu_turtleshells.jpg" width="80%" />
</figure>


</subsection>



<subsection>
<title>For Engineering Majors</title>

<p> In addition to academic experiences math majors experience, students in Belhaven's
engineering partnership <ui>
<li>learn AutoCAD in PHY 119 Intro to Engineering</li>
<li>interact with professional engineers from places like Yates construction,
Raytheon, and Asset Engineering.</li>
<li>take site visits to Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and places like Nissan and the
U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center (ERDC).</li>
</ui>
</p>
</subsection>

<figure>
<image source="bu_engr.jpg" width="80%" />
</figure>

<subsection>
<title>For Actuarial Science Majors</title>
<subsection xml:id="subsec-doublemajor">
<title>Double Majors and Minors</title>

<p>For those majoring in Actuarial Sciences (ASM), students will <ui>
<li>learn statistical software such as R,</li>
<li> sit for the first actuarial exam, the Probability Exam (SOA Exam P).</li>
</ui>
<p>
Earning a degree in mathematics on its own is a great way towards
a future career as an instructor and/or researcher of mathematics,
and there are several industries that recruit mathematics majors
directly, including quantitative finance and cybersecurity.
</p>

<figure>
<image source="bu_actuarial.jpg" width="80%" />
</figure>
</subsection>

<subsection xml:id="subsec-doublemajor">
<title>Double Major and Minors</title>

<p> A mathematics major is very valuable, but pairing a math degree with another field will
bring more opportunities than you might expect. We recommend either double-majoring or
minoring in the following areas: <ul>
<li>
<p>
Computer Science
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Chemistry or Physics
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Business or Accounting
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Tradigital Art
</p>
</li>

</ul>
<p>
But out of the many careers described in the book
<pubtitle>101 Careers in Mathematics</pubtitle>
<xref ref="biblio-careers"/>, the vast majority of these are held
by people that studied a relevant double major or minor, or
went on to graduate school in another field.
</p>

<p>
Besides these recommended degrees, we have had double majors in Dance, Theatre,
Music, History, English, and so much more.
Ask your instructor what other majors and minors your school
offers that pair well with the mathematics major or minor!
</p>

</subsection>
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