Developing keen analytical skills to solve problems

Mathematics is everywhere in our world — in the design of a building, the shape of a tree, the decisions made by large corporations, the contours of a soda can, and your own checkbook. As a Mathematics major at Elon, you will learn the problem-solving, reasoning, and numerical skills that make mathematicians vital in this age of information technology. Mathematician continues to be listed among the top ten best jobs by CareerCast.com.

Elon Mathematics Program

Our program offers several majors to meet the needs of all kinds of students:

  • Our Bachelor of Arts degree has concentrations in pure mathematics and in teacher licensure for students planning to teach at the secondary level. We also offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in applied mathematics for students planning to work in industry. The A.B. degree is structured to work well as a double major with related programs.
  • We offer Bachelor of Science degrees in mathematics and mathematics with teacher licensure, as well as a separate degree in applied mathematics.

  • My Applied Mathematics degree has always been a conversation starter. However, I have not gone without it in any of my work experiences. As a double major in Computer Science, it has proved beneficial in evaluating algorithms, writing software and scaling workloads. I am able to apply computer science techniques with an understanding of their mathematical foundations and theorems.

    ~Yousaf Khan ‘20

Mathematics graduates are well suited for many postgraduate options, including an advanced degree in either mathematics or a related field, such as computer science, biometry, information science, statistics, or operations research. A minor in mathematics strengthens many majors.

Elon’s mathematics faculty use the latest technology combined with traditional and experiential learning techniques to give you a well-rounded education, and they are known for their excellence in teaching and their focus on student success. They are also supportive mentors who will inspire you to learn and help you tackle challenging assignments. You will gain experience with the latest high-tech tools and learn to master a variety of software packages during class, including Mathematica, Geometer’s Sketchpad, and LaTeX.

Faculty in the Elon Mathematics and Statistics Department work closely with students to mentor them to design a pathway to success. 2021 Graduates are attending graduate school and entering the workforce at a variety of companies including:

  • Bank of America
  • Cotton and Company
  • enfoTech
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance
  • Morning Consult
  • Reality Ministries
  • RxDataScience
  • Tresata
  • U.S. Air Force
  • U.S. Army
  • Wake Country School District (Apex H.S.)
  • Western Carriers Inc.
  • Yellowstone National Park

The faculty and staff of the Mathematics & Statistics department cared deeply about my college experience, providing me with support and mentoring that extended beyond the classroom. The faculty were incredibly passionate about teaching and learning, inspiring me to further explore my love of math.

~Ben Rogers ’19

Research opportunities

Elon is renowned for its active, experiential approach to learning. At the heart of that philosophy is research. As a mathematics major, you will be encouraged to conduct original research on your own and with faculty members who pride themselves on being accessible to students. Many majors participate in a capstone seminar that includes a research project. Students prepare formal papers based on their research and present them to an audience of peers.

Students also present research findings at Elon’s annual Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF). For many years, students have been presenters at the Mathematical Association of America sectional meetings, MathFest, the UNC-G Regional Mathematical and Statistics Conference, the Nebraska Conference for Women, and the Joint Mathematics Meetings. In 2015, an Elon student won the award for best undergraduate presentation at the MAA Southeastern Sectional meeting. In addition to presenting, student research projects have been published in the Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Research Journal of Mathematics, the Pi Mu Epsilon Journal, Involve and the International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics.

In my research, my mathematical experience has also made me a clear communicator and better problem solver. By breaking down or transforming complex problems, I felt better equipped to deal with problems unseen before. This would not have been possible without the support of the math faculty and their dedication to every student’s success.

~Yousaf Khan ‘20

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Elon’s faculty encourage students to participate in learning activities outside the classroom, including student chapters of the Mathematical Association of America and the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) as well as the national mathematics honor society, Pi Mu Epsilon.

Fellows program

Exceptional high school students planning to major in mathematics could qualify to become Honors Fellows, Teaching Fellows, or Elon College Fellows, a challenging program in the College of Arts and Sciences. Elon’s Fellows programs offer scholarships, special course offerings, study abroad grants, and much more. View the Elon Fellows programs website for more information.