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The Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the Faculty of Science offers a Major and Honours program which may be undertaken within the Bachelor of Arts degree.
In the Mathematical Sciences one explores in both qualitative and quantitative terms the themes of change and evolution, chance, choice and shape. Archaeological evidence shows that Mathematical Sciences have been practised continuously for more than 4,000 years, from the ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia to the research laboratories of Silicon Valley.
Mathematics is the oldest of the exact sciences, and among the oldest of all intellectual disciplines. It has been valued as the training ground for the development of systematic, logical and analytical modes of thought, and it contains ideas as profound and beautiful as may be encountered anywhere.
Statistics is a more recent development. It involves the investigation of data and the study of randomness, probability, estimation and prediction. Statistics is an increasingly important field of study. This is because greater and greater amounts of data are produced each year, as society becomes more complex and computers make it easier to store and analyse data.
A knowledge of Mathematics and Statistics is invaluable for professional life – in the pure and applied sciences as well as in commerce and industry. Mathematics and Statistics are the foundation of many aspects of modern technology, and their study prepares the student for life in an increasingly technological and complex world.
Students undertaking the Bachelor of Arts are permitted to enrol in a range of subjects offered by other Faculties, however students must complete a minimum of 50 points of first-year subjects and 100 points of second/third-year subjects in areas of study approved by the Faculty of Arts, see Arts-approved subject requirement for more information.
Combined course students will not usually be eligible to enrol in these subjects. Please consult an Faculty of Arts Course Adviser for more information.
First year: first-year subjects in Mathematics and Statistics generally require VCE Mathematics at level 3/4. Students planning to study Mathematics or Statistics within the Bachelor of Arts degree should read the description of first-year subjects given below to understand the available first year selections, before turning to the second/third year entries.
Later years: Entry into Mathematics and Statistics subjects is controlled by a system of prerequisites and corequisites. Students limiting their selection to 12.5 or 25 points in first year Mathematics and Statistics have limited options in later years, and it is usually preferable for students wishing to pursue substantial studies in Mathematics and Statistics to select 37.5 or 50 points in Mathematics and Statistics in first year.
A Major in Mathematics and Statistics usually requires a minimum of nine 12.5 point subjects, totalling 112.5 points. It comprises:
At least two first-year subjects in Mathematics and Statistics (25 points), and;
Three second-year subjects in Mathematics and Statistics (37.5 points), and;
Four third-year subjects in Mathematics and Statistics, (50 points).
Options are considerably enhanced by taking more than two first-year subjects from the offerings of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. For information about first year Mathematics and Statistics options, see Choosing 100-level Mathematics and Statistics subjects in the Science section of this Handbook.
Students should also refer to the Entry into 200-level Mathematics and Statistics, 200-level subjects and 300-level subjects entries for additional information about options at second/third year.
Examples, given for illustrative purposes only, are as follows:
| Emphasising advanced pure mathematics | ||
|---|---|---|
| First year | Semester | |
| 620-121 Mathematics A (Advanced) | 1 | |
| 620-122 Mathematics B (Advanced) | 2 | |
| 620-123 Applied Mathematics (Advanced) | Semester 2, repeated Summer | |
| Second year | ||
| 620-221 Real and Complex Analysis | 1 | |
| 620-222 Linear and Abstract Algebra | 2 | |
| 620-231 Vector Analysis | 1 and 2 | |
| Third year | ||
| 620-311 Metric Spaces | 1 | |
| 620-312 Linear Analysis | 2 | |
| 620-321 Algebra | 1 | |
| 620-322 Topology | 2 | |
| Emphasising studies in Operations research | ||
|---|---|---|
| First year | Semester | |
| 620-141 Mathematics A | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-142 Mathematics B | 2 | |
| and possibly: | ||
| 620-131 Scientific Programming & Simulation | 1 | |
| 620-160 Experimental Design & Data Analysis | Semester 1, repeated 2, Summer | |
| Second year | ||
| 620-200 Mathematics 2 | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-261 Introduction to Operations Research | 1 | |
| and one of: | ||
| 620-270 Applied Statistics | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-231 Vector Analysis | 1 and 2 | |
| Third year | ||
| 620-361 Operations Research Techniques & Algorithms | 1 | |
| 620-362 Applied Operations Research | 2 | |
| and any two of: | ||
| 620-352 Graph Theory | 2 | |
| 620-371 Linear Models | 1 | |
| 620-372 Inference & Applied Statistics | 2 | |
| 620-381 Computational Mathematics | 1 | |
| Emphasising studies in applied mathematics | ||
|---|---|---|
| First year | Semester | |
| 620-121 Mathematics A (Advanced) | 1 | |
| 620-122 Mathematics B (Advanced) | 2 | |
| 620-123 Applied Mathematics (Advanced) | Semester 2, repeated Summer | |
| Second year | ||
| 620-200 Mathematics 2 | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-231 Vector Analysis | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-232 Mathematical Methods | 2 | |
| Third year | ||
| 620-331 Applied Partial Differential Equations | 1 | |
| 620-341 Dynamical Systems & Chaos | 1 | |
| 620-342 Industrial & Applied Mathematics | 2 | |
| 620-381 Computational Mathematics | 1 | |
| Emphasising statistical applications | ||
|---|---|---|
| First year | Semester | |
| 620-141 Mathematics A | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-142 Mathematics B | 2 | |
| 620-160 Experimental Design & Data Analysis | Semester 1, repeated 2, Summer | |
| Second year | ||
| 620-200 Mathematics 2 | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-201 Probability | 1 | |
| 620-202 Statistics | 2 | |
| Third year | ||
| 620-301 Stochastic Modelling | 1 | |
| 620-371 Linear Models | 1 | |
| 620-372 Inference & Applied Statistics | 2 | |
| 620-382 Time Series and Forecasting | 2 | |
| Emphasising mathematics education | ||
|---|---|---|
| First year | Semester | |
| 620-141 Mathematics A | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-142 Mathematics B | 2 | |
| 620-160 Experimental Design & Data Analysis | ||
| Second year | ||
| 620-200 Mathematics 2 | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-261 Introduction to Operations Research | 1 | |
| 620-270 Applied Statistics | 1 and 2 | |
| Third year | ||
| 620-352 Graph Theory | 2 | |
| 620-361 Operations Research Techniques & Algorithms | 1 | |
| 620-371 Linear Models | 1 | |
| 620-372 Inference & Applied Statistics | 2 | |
The prerequisites for entry to fourth year Honours in Mathematics and Statistics are:
Completion of all the requirements for the BA, and;
Completion of a Major in Mathematics and Statistics which must include four Third-Year Mathematics and Statistics subjects, and;
An average grade of H2B or higher over the second/third-year subjects within the Major.
Entry to Honours must be approved by the Mathematics and Statistics Honours coordinator and the Faculty of Arts Honours course adviser.
Because of the prerequisite requirements, the choice of third-year subjects is largely determined by the three Mathematics and Statistics subjects chosen in second year. The range of Mathematics and Statistics subjects available to Arts students in Second and third year is restricted as a double Major in Mathematics and Statistics is not permitted. As a consequence, students wishing to proceed to Honours need to choose their First and second year Mathematics and Statistics subjects with some care - as these choices will determine the Honours program they may take.
Bachelor of Arts students contemplating Pure Honours in Mathematics and Statistics, or any Combined Honours program involving Mathematics and Statistics and another Arts discipline are strongly urged to seek advice from the relevant departments as early as possible, and to obtain written confirmation from the departments and from the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts that their proposed course of study is acceptable. Bachelor of Arts students with a strong inclination towards Honours programmes in Mathematics or Statistics are strongly urged to explore the option of transferring to the Bachelor of Science degree, or to the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts combined degree program, or the degree of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences.
Honours coordinator: Professor Neumann
Enquiries about possible Honours structures (and in particular combined Honours programs) should be directed to the Honours Coordinator.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts who have majored in Mathematics and Statistics find employment in the following areas: in biology (population modelling), in business (quality management and improvement), in demography and behavioural science (survey sampling, analysis and prediction of human populations), in finance, commerce and economics (the study an forecasting of production, consumer behaviour and stock prices), in engineering (design and testing of structures, flood control and prediction, analysis of computer networks), in education (secondary and tertiary teaching), and in the medical sciences (epidemiology and analysis of medical research data).
Mathematicians and statisticians work for companies of any size, government departments or statutory authorities, educational institutions, or they can work independently as consultants. They assist their employers or clients in making optimal decisions in production, distribution, storage, scheduling, facility planning, pricing, investment, and many other areas of commerce and industry. They model industrial processes, and collaborate with scientists in all areas of research and development. Some will choose to deal with a narrow range of problems - for example, economic statistics. Others may be employed by a large company to solve any of a broad range of problems which may inevitably arise in the research and development activities of the company. Similar roles exist in medical research institutions and some government authorities.
Mathematicians and statisticians are also valued for their well-developed analytical skills. People with a degree in Mathematics and Statistics are well qualified as general problem solvers and for management roles.
Postgraduate Diploma, Masters and PhD programs are available in Mathematics and Statistics. Details of these programs can be obtained from the Department.
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Faculty of Science
The University of Melbourne
Parkville Victoria 3052
Tel: +61 3 9344 5550
Fax: +61 3 9344 4599
www: http://www.maths.mu.oz.au/
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics has a first year Learning Centre through which teaching and administration of its first-year subjects is coordinated. This centre is located on the ground floor of the Richard Berry Building. Near this centre, students will find notice-boards relevant to first year, boxes for the submission of assignments, and the room from which printed material is usually distributed. Within the Centre are the office of the Director of first year Studies, offices of tutors in Mathematics and Statistics, tutorial rooms, a student waiting area, and a consultation room.
Arts students wishing to study Mathematics and Statistics in first year may choose from a range of subjects.
The details of these subjects can be found in the Science Faculty section of the University of Melbourne Undergraduate Studies Handbook. The subjects are shown below, with the semester in which they are offered. Each subject is semester-length, and valued at 12.5 points.
Permitted combinations of subjects are controlled by prerequisites and corequisites. Incoming students will usually include one of the following subjects covering Calculus and Linear Algebra in Semester 1, listed in decreasing order of difficulty:
620-111, 620-121, 620-141, 620-161
Students with VCE Mathematical Methods 3/4 should enrol in 620-121 or 620-141 in Semester 1. They are not usually permitted to enrol in 620-161. 620-121 is designed for high achieving students in Specialist Mathematics 3/4. The Director of first year will advise as to which of the two subjects (620-121 or 620-141) should be selected. Only students with accelerated entry or exceptional results in VCE mathematics may be invited to enter the extended subject 620-111.
Students wishing to pursue studies in Probability and Statistics should include one of 620-131 Scientific Programming and Simulation or 620-160 Experimental Design and Data Analysis.
Students who wish to have a limited introduction to tertiary-level Mathematics and Statistics at first year, but do not anticipate continuing studies in this discipline should consider taking one or both of 620-160 or 620-161.
For further information and advice on course selection, see the entry for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the Science Faculty section of this handbook. Students are encouraged to consult course advisers from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
The following list shows second-year subjects offered in 1999. Further details of these subjects may be found in the Science Faculty section of the University of Melbourne Undergraduate Studies Handbook.
| Second year Mathematics and Statistics subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| 620-200 Mathematics 2 | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-201 Probability | 1 | |
| 620-202 Statistics | 2 | |
| 620-211 Mathematics 2 (Advanced) | 1 | |
| 620-221 Real and Complex Analysis | 1 | |
| 620-222 Linear and Abstract Algebra | 2 | |
| 620-231 Vector Analysis | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-232 Mathematical Methods | 2 | |
| 620-252 Analysis | 2 | |
| 620-261 Introduction to Operations Research | 1 | |
| 620-262 Decision Making | 2 | |
| 620-270 Applied Statistics | 1 and 2 | |
| 620-291 Maths & Stats Project A (Advanced) | 1 | |
| 620-292 Maths & Stats Project B (Advanced) | 2 | |
| (Note that from 2000, 620-200 will be replaced by 620-241 and the role of 620-211 will change) | ||
The following list shows third-year subjects offered in 1999. Further details of these subjects may be found in the Science faculty section of the University of Melbourne Undergraduate Studies handbook.
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Status: Official 1999 Last Modified: Tuesday October 20 11:48 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au