It provides a core of mathematics basics to all of the mathematical sciences and an introduction to the concepts and techniques of automatic computation, optimal decision-making, probabilistic modeling, and statistical infrence. Hans Andersen, cognizant dean, and Brad Efron, program director, attended this meeting. The Program was reviewed previous to the C-US meeting by the Humanities and Sciences Advisory Committee on the Curriculum. The program has a demanding course of study in applied mathematics which distinguishes it from computational programs based in engineering, and it provides excellent preparation for post-baccalaureate study and work in technical fields.
Alumni praise the breadth and rigor of the program.
At the time of the last review, C-US believed there should be consideration of whether the program had stabilized and returned to reasonable health, which included a reasonable number of students and improved advising. Both aspects have improved since the last review. Their recommendation reflects their confidence in the renewed vigor of the program. The Committee on Undergraduate Studies recommends that the Executive Committee of the undergraduate interdisciplinary program in Mathematical and Computational Sciences be reauthorized to nominate candidates for the B.S. degree for five years, effective September 1, 1999.