The goal of the department, however, is to meet the needs of today's students and not simply to maintain tradition. For example, we make effective use of computer algebra systems to perform computations too massive to do by hand. The department's courses provide students with a solid foundation for employment or graduate study. Although there are no formal career tracks within the mathematics program, students can select the direction of their studies. Electives in mathematics and related fields of study provide the opportunity to tailor the program to the student's own interests and to meet individual career goals.
Mathematics can prepare student for careers in business, industry, education or government.
While almost every student at Scranton studies some mathematics, relatively few are mathematics majors. This combination creates an environment where the math majors can easily know and work with their peers and instructors, and yet have the benefits of the resources of a department with many faculty members. The department listens to students' interests and offers courses on special topics and independent study in addition to the listed course offerings. Traditionally, many students in the physical sciences have selected the mathematics minor. The minor covers calculus and linear algebra plus two advanced courses.