Academics
Western Michigan University's diverse and globally representative community of learners are part of a setting in which discovery and innovation are used to enhance the economic vitality of the communities served and make the world a better and more hospitable place. A distinguished faculty and support staff offer high quality curricula in graduate and undergraduate education. Instruction is delivered through high-impact practices in learning platforms that meet the needs of contemporary learners.
Undergraduate
The Department of Mathematics offers three majors and three minors for students interested in a math career.
Accelerated Master of Arts
- General information
- Accelerated Master of Arts catalog information
Graduate
Master of Arts degrees are awarded in:
- Mathematics
- Mathematics education
Master of Science degree:
- Applied mathematics
Doctor of Philosophy degrees are awarded in:
- Mathematics
- Mathematics education
Attending WMU
The Department of Mathematics is a small, friendly community with open and accessible professors. As a graduate student, you will receive a considerable amount of individualized attention and encouragement from the faculty. Being a graduate student at WMU provides ample opportunities to gain experience in teaching, supervising undergraduate research, interning with local firms and participating on committees. Your graduate experience at WMU will provide you with well-rounded career training.
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Membership
As a graduate student, you are eligible for free membership in the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. SIAM membership provides a window to the field of mathematics outside WMU. Additional benefits include discounts on books and deeply discounted or free subscriptions to journals.
Careers
WMU graduate students have been very successful in finding employment. For example, doctoral graduates are in tenured or tenure-track positions at Cal State, Emory, Iowa State, Kansas, South Florida and University of Nevada-Las Vegas, including a post-doc at Columbia University. Our doctoral graduates are well prepared for a career in academia.
Doctorates can also find positions outside of academia. A recent report by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics indicates about 25 percent of math Ph.D.'s and 44 percent of master's graduates have positions in either government or industry. Mathematicians and statisticians are sought because of their ability to think analytically, deal with complexity, develop models and formulate and solve problems. Mathematicians and statisticians are employed by companies in engineering research, computer services, software, electronics, aerospace, transportation, insurance, financial services, chemistry, pharmaceuticals and others.