Program Description

Mathematics and computer science play a role of unprecedented importance in contemporary society. Purchase College students who major in mathematics/computer science are introduced to the principal areas of these disciplines, with an emphasis on applications. While the major requirements include some choices, all students acquire a strong foundation in the traditional areas of both disciplines. In addition, students can gain important experiences as network administrators, Web masters, and technical assistants for courses and projects in the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Purchase College, and by completing off-campus internships. Student work has appeared in the Annals of Discrete Math, Graph Theory Notes of NY, and Journal of Computing at Small Colleges.

The Mathematics/Computer Science Program offers an excellent preparation for graduate work and careers in a wide variety of professions, including teaching, software development, systems analysis, multimedia, and financial analysis. Recent graduates are successfully pursuing advanced degrees at such institutions as Columbia University, Binghamton University, and the CUNY Graduate Center. They are also engaged in a range of careers, from education to the finance and computer industries.

Program Faculty

Requirements for the Major

• Calculus I, II & III
• Computer Science I & II
• Linear Algebra
• Discrete Mathematics or Differential Equations
• Four upper-level electives in mathematics/computer science; one of these electives may be fulfilled by a tutorial or independent study
• Two science courses
• Mathematics Senior Seminar I & II
• Senior Project

Representative Elective Courses

Computability
Creating Databases for Web Applications
Creating Dynamic Web Documents
Creating User Interfaces
Games for Change
Graph Theory with Applications
History of Mathematics Seminar
Informatics in Biology and Medicine
Introduction to Physical Computing: Getting Outside the Box
Networking and Security
Numerical Analysis
Robotics
Social Software
Topics in Advanced Mathematics

Representative Alumni

• Amy Billig ’90, teaches mathematics and computer science at Valhalla High School, Valhalla, NY; cited in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (6th ed.)
• Timothy Bocchi ’93, PhD, City University of New York; assistant professor of mathematics and physics, Alfred State, SUNY College of Technology
• Kerry Bosworth ’99, software engineer, IBM System and Technology Division
• Anthony Delgado ’10, PhD student in mathematics, New York University
• Dane Haliday ’04, NT engineer, IBM
• Marvin Littman ’94, associate professor of mathematics, Westchester Community College
• Julia Mosenkova ’04, quality engineer, Kaspersky Labs, Moscow
• Yumiko Muramatsu ’96, vice president and global head of account management in GSAM Operations, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
• Mariusz Sabath ’98, senior software engineer, IBM Watson Research Center, and inventor with multiple U.S. patents
• Michael Schlachter ’05, senior software developer and technical support supervisor, Datacap, Inc.
• Helene R. Tyler ’93, PhD, Syracuse University; associate professor of mathematics and computer science, School of Science, Manhattan College
• Immanuel Utomo ’05, MS, Northeastern University; system and software technician, Archemix, Cambridge, MA
• William Widulski ’87, MS, Polytechnic University; associate professor of computer science, Westchester Community College; co-author, The Saga of Mathematics: A Brief History

For more information, visit the Math/Computer Science site in Academic Programs or e-mail naturalsciences@purchase.edu.

Updated June 6, 2011

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