Mathematical Sciences and Philosophy

A Journey from Art to AI and Mathematical Modeling

lkong9 — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:34:44 +0000

A Journey from Art to AI and Mathematical Modeling lkong9 Mon, 10/07/2024 - 08:34

Colloquium

lkong9 — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 15:28:17 +0000

Colloquium lkong9 Thu, 02/02/2023 - 09:28

Mathematics Colloquium

The UIS Mathematics Colloquium aims to create a diverse platform where research scholars, faculty, students, and industrial experts can share and exchange ideas. We hope to provide an opportunity for attendees to discover new interests, encourage faculty and student research activities, enrich students’ educational experiences, and bring together our students and faculty community through our common interests in mathematics.

Our department has strong online mathematics programs. Because of our unique student composition with on-campus and online students, all colloquium talks will either be held virtually through Zoom, or have a Zoom component. We welcome contributed talks from all scholars, experts, and students. If you are interested in sharing a topic related to any aspect of mathematics, please contact Professor Yifei Li (yli236@uis.edu) for further information. (All talks will be held through via Zoom.)

Events

Title: Conquering math anxiety in college students
Speaker: Dr. Benjamin T. Mueller
When: 2 pm CT, September 27, 2024
Abstract: Developmental math classes are the most commonly failed classes in a university. Even great math students can struggle with math anxiety. Many believe that math anxiety is only in students that do not do well in math or are weak in math, but this is not true. Math anxiety can cause students to underperform and even fail at learning math. The teacher can play an important role in using methods to help students’ anxiety towards mathematics and learn math to their full potential. In this talk, Dr. Ben Mueller will engage the audience in ways to reduce math anxiety in students and get students to peak in their learning of math.
Title: An Introduction to Mathematical Modeling and PINNs
Speaker: Christopher Denq (data scientist and researcher, and math student at UIS)
When: 1 pm CT, May 3, 2024
Abstract: Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) present a novel way for solving differential equations, which is pivotal in modeling dynamic systems across various scientific fields. This talk first introduces PINNs to a general audience before discussing research findings in PINN-based modeling, particularly when applied to harmonic oscillation and the Burgers' equation.

Christopher Denq (they/he) is a data scientist and researcher who is committed to designing trustworthy AI. They have worked on AI from multiple angles, including ML engineering for the United States Department of Defense, data science for Adobe, and AI policy work on the EU AI Act. Chris believes that mathematics has a central role in tackling AI interpretability, and thus, is now pursuing mathematics research and a second bachelors in math here at UIS. Prior to their AI career, Chris did art curator work at places such as Christie's and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They received their first bachelor's in art history and philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania.
Title: Matroids and high energy physics: What happens when subatomic particles understand geometry
Speaker: Dr. Susama Agarwala (Associate Research Director, Trustworthy AI)
When: 1 pm CT, Feb. 9th, 2024
Video Recording: Matroids and high energy physics
Abstract: In this talk, we introduce two mathematical objects: matroids, a generalization of matrices, and Feynman diagrams, a way to understand interactions between the smallest and fastest particles known to science. Then we show a surprising relationships between these fundamentally geometric and physical objects. Dr. Susama Agarwala is an Associate Research Director for Trustworthy AI. So much of what is known as algorithmic bias comes from a mismatch between how a model is going to be used and the underlying mathematical hypotheses of the model. Her work involves building machine learning tools that respect the the mathematical underpinnings of the models involved. She completed her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, and has 9 years of post-PhD mathematics faculty experience at Caltech, the University of Nottingham, and the United States Naval Academy and has held research positions in the mathematics and physics departments at Oxford and the University of Hamburg. She continues to publish in mathematical journals.
Title: Words as Vectors
Speaker: Dr. Hei-Chi Chan (Chair of Department of Mathematical Sciences and Philosophy, UIS)
When: 1pm CT, January 26th, 2024
Abstract: Large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-3 and GPT-4 have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in natural language processing. This talk will provide a beginner-friendly "under the hood" exploration of the mathematical and the conceptual frameworks that underlie LLMs, particularly focusing on transformer-based models.
Title: Data Science from a Math Perspective
Speaker: Dr. Yao Xie (Co-Founder & CEO of Premier Strategy Consulting)
Video Recording: Data Science from a Math Perspective
When: 1pm-2pm central time, November 10th, 2023
Abstract: Being in the data science industry for many years, what I found missing the most in data scientists is not coding, not machine learning algorithms, not communication, but the foundation - math. In this talk I'd like to introduce a mathematics perspective that looks at 3 core technical foundations of data science -statistics, machine learning and optimization, through comparison of math concepts and data science concepts, and through examples across multiple industries.
Dr. Yao received his PhD in mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis in 2014. He is now co-founder and CEO of Premier Strategy Consulting LLC. He has worked in the financial, retail, biotech, and healthcare sector where he has spearheaded several initiatives to fruition. With an experience of 90% deployed machine learning/statistical models and project completion, he founded Premier Strategy Consulting LLC with the intent of helping industry get maximum return on investment (ROI) from their data. Prior to embarking on this journey, he was Director of Data Science at Mastercard and a regional retailer Schnucks. His work has resulted in 8 industrial patents which is unique from homebase of the Midwest. In his downtime, he enjoys strategizing and spending time with his family and friends.
Title: 2D Laplace Equations with Line Fracture: from Qualitative to Quantitative Analysis
Speaker: Xiang Wan (Assistant professor, Loyola University Chicago)
Video Recording: 2D Laplace Equations with Line Fracture
When: 1:00 pm CT, Friday, October 13th, 2023
Abstract: In this talk, we investigate a partial differential equation (PDE), more specifically, the 2D Laplace equation with the forcing term being a Dirac delta function on a line segment, modeling a singular line fracture. Numerically, such a fracture imposes additional treatment of the meshing while constructing the triangular Finite Element space. Inspired by the 1D case, we can see that a graded meshing is naturally called for, where the level of grading depends on the distance to the fracture.
To tune the numerical analysis of this system with the 'best' level of grading to get the optimal convergence rate, one has to look closer into the regularity of the solution in weighted Sobolev spaces - in contrast to the regularity results in standard Sobolev spaces from the classic Elliptic theory of PDEs. Such examination reveals deeper connections between the qualitative regularity and quantitative behavior of the system. Last but not least, we will present how the characteristics, and lack thereof, of different geometries of domains plays a role via numerical demonstrations.
Title: The Triple and Quadruple Soap Bubbles
Speaker: Frank Morgan (Atwell Professor of Mathematics, Emeritus, Williams College)
Video Recording: The Triple and Quadruple Soap Bubbles
When: 1:00 pm, Friday, September 15th.
Abstract: In 1884 Schwarz proved that a single round soap bubble is least-perimeter way to enclose a given volume. In 2000, we proved that the familiar double soap bubble that forms when two bubbles come together is the least-perimeter way to enclose and separate two given volumes. Last year Milman and Neeman announced an amazing proof that the familiar triple and quadruple soap bubbles are the least-perimeter way to enclose and separate three or four given volumes in R^3 or R^4 and above. Many open questions remain, including even the planar quadruple soap bubble, with some new results by a high school student.

Professor Frank Morgan is a well accomplished mathematician with around 200 publications. He served as Vice-President for both American Mathematical Society (2009-2012) and Mathematical Association of America (2000-2002), the two largest math organizations in the US. He also co-founded one of the largest and best-known mathematics REU programs in the U.S. and mentored over 100 undergraduate students for mathematical research projects. For more about Dr. Morgan visit his Williams profile. For You can check out bubble images on UIUC's Math Images page (see "Double bubbles" and "Other Bubble Clusters.")
Title: Entropy, Mutual Information & Prediction
Speaker: Doug Hamilton (Head of AI Research at Nasdaq)
Video Recording: Entropy, Mutual Information & Prediction
When: 10:00 am, Thursday, April 13, 2023
Where: UHB 3081 and Zoom (see the link above)
Abstract: Exploring the connection of entropy, information, and prediction (e.g., involving trading strategies). Doug Hamilton was a math major at UIS (class of 2012). He went on to MIT for an MS in Engineering & Management. He is now Associate Vice President, Managing Director, and Head of AI Research, Nasdaq.

Title: An Invitation to Enumerative Geometric Combinatorics
Speaker: Andrés R. Vindas Meléndez(University of California, Berkeley)
Video Recording: An Invitation To Enumerative Geometric Combinatorics
When: 1:00 pm, Friday, March 10, 2023
Where: Zoom (see the link above)
Abstract: Enumerative geometric combinatorics is an area of mathematics concerned with counting properties of geometric objects described by a finite set of building blocks. Lattice polytopes are geometric objects that can be formed by taking the convex hull of finitely many integral points. In this talk I will present background on polytopes, lattice-point enumeration, and share some results on a special family of polytopes that can be further studied. Throughout the talk I will present questions and open problems. (No prior knowledge will be assumed, and I will attempt to explain all concepts.)

Mathematical Sciences News

Apr 08, 2024

Navigating the Intersection of Math, Poetry, and AI: The Crossroads in Helena Soares’ Pursuit

Helena Soares is a double major in Mathematics and English. She delights on the synergy between these seemingly disparate fields. Her love for both subjects…

Oct 07, 2024

A Journey from Art to AI and Mathematical Modeling

Congratulations to Chris Denq! His paper, "Hempel and the Raven Paradox," has been accepted by Ephemeris, an undergraduate Philosophy journal published by the…

Mar 01, 2024

UIS Faculty Research on Mathematical Modeling, AI, and the Dynamics of COVID-19 Spread

Recently, my colleague, Professor Liang Kong, gave a very interesting talk at the Conference on Security and Information Technologies with AI, Internet…

Feb 29, 2024

UIS to host a panel discussion on unveiling AI bias through a multidisciplinary approach

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield AI Campus Learning Community and the Center for Faculty Excellence will host an event on artificial intelligence…

Jan 21, 2024

Faculty Revolutionizing Science: CHST's Breakthroughs in AI and Computational Research

In a forthcoming special journal issue, faculty from the College of Health, Science, and Technology are making waves at the forefront of integrating…

Sep 06, 2023

Maria Corpuz, Outstanding Student in Mathematics 2023

Congratulations to Maria Corpuz, our 2023 Outstanding Student in Mathematics! Every year a math graduate is selected for this award, recognizing her/…

The Directed Research/Reading (DRR) Program

lkong9 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 20:32:20 +0000

The Directed Research/Reading (DRR) Program lkong9 Mon, 10/03/2022 - 15:32

The Directed Research/Reading (DRR) Program

Are you interested in doing a project with a MAT faculty member? If so, applying to the Directed Research/Reading (DRR) program is something you should seriously consider!

The DRR mission is to: (1) enhance student learning experience, and (2) recognize students who successfully complete the project. The project involved could be an original research project, or a reading project (exploring advanced topics beyond what is taught in classes).

To apply to DRR:

Find a MAT faculty member who agrees to mentor you in a project (research or reading). The project should last for at least one semester.
Email the MAT Chair (hchan1@uis.edu) to apply to DRR. Ask your faculty mentor to write a letter of recommendation and email it to the MAT Chair.
Once accepted, you will be notified.
At the end of your project, you will need to submit a report on your project.

If you have questions, please contact Hei-Chi Chan (hchan1@uis.edu).

Keywords: undergraduate research experience, reading projects, research projects

DRR Alumni

Maria Corpuz, Spring 2023. Project title: Mathematical Modeling for Improved HIV Drug Effectiveness: Targeting Latent CD4 T Cells. Faculty Mentor: Prof. Liang Kong.
Christopher Denq, Spring 2024. Project title: A Meshfree Deep Learning Approach for Numerical Solution of Differential Equations with Implementation in Python. Faculty Mentor: Prof. Liang Kong.

Featured Students

khobb2 — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 16:08:23 +0000

Featured Students khobb2 Wed, 08/10/2022 - 11:08

Hannah Jansen

Elementary Education and Mathematical Sciences

Rafael Lopez

Mathematical Sciences

Yamani Shareef

Mathematical Sciences

Mathematical Sciences & Philosophy

ppinn2 — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 19:27:57 +0000

Mathematical Sciences & Philosophy ppinn2 Thu, 07/21/2022 - 14:27

In Fall 2022, the Mathematical Sciences and Philosophy programs here at UIS formed in one department, creating a community of passionate scholars who provide a unique student-centered educational experience.

Students in the Mathematical Sciences and Philosophy Department join that community, where they can connect with each other and with our faculty and staff, whether through online or face-to-face communication.

The Mathematical Sciences Program is designed to meet the ever-increasing demands for quantitative skills. It offers a challenging, goal-oriented, and effective curriculum that prepares students well for their next endeavor. Many go on to graduate study in mathematics, statistics or other fields which emphasize math; others return to their workplace with increased skills and competency. Graduates who pair their degree program with teacher certification preparation go to secondary education classrooms, where they pass on their love for math to a new generation.

UIS’s Philosophy Program strives to be a national leader in offering advanced undergraduate education online while serving the entire student population, graduate and undergraduate. Our students ask the same fundamental questions about the world and how we, as human beings fit in as does everyone at some in their life. But they seek the answers in a disciplined and systematic way. In this program, students examine the theory of knowledge, explore moral reasoning, and improve their critical thinking and analytical skills. The skills gained as a philosophy major are extremely useful in many other disciplines, in graduate study, and for a range of careers.

Our Programs

MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

Teaches students diverse quantitative skills through its junior/senior level program or through the math minor

PHILOSOPHY

Teaches students basic knowledge in the main areas of philosophy, increased their awareness of ethical issues, improves their analytical skills, and assists them in developing problem-solving experience in at least one of the main areas of philosophy

Mathematical Sciences & Philosophy News

Apr 08, 2024

Navigating the Intersection of Math, Poetry, and AI: The Crossroads in Helena Soares’ Pursuit

Helena Soares is a double major in Mathematics and English. She delights on the synergy between these seemingly disparate fields. Her love for both subjects…

Mar 01, 2024

UIS Faculty Research on Mathematical Modeling, AI, and the Dynamics of COVID-19 Spread

Recently, my colleague, Professor Liang Kong, gave a very interesting talk at the Conference on Security and Information Technologies with AI, Internet…

Feb 29, 2024

UIS to host a panel discussion on unveiling AI bias through a multidisciplinary approach

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield AI Campus Learning Community and the Center for Faculty Excellence will host an event on artificial intelligence…

Jan 21, 2024

Faculty Revolutionizing Science: CHST's Breakthroughs in AI and Computational Research

In a forthcoming special journal issue, faculty from the College of Health, Science, and Technology are making waves at the forefront of integrating…

Sep 06, 2023

Maria Corpuz, Outstanding Student in Mathematics 2023

Congratulations to Maria Corpuz, our 2023 Outstanding Student in Mathematics! Every year a math graduate is selected for this award, recognizing her/…

Sep 06, 2023

David Watson, UIS alumnus

It is always great to reconnect with our alumni. Recently, I had an opportunity to catch up with David Watson, one of our math majors who graduated in 2017…

Hannah Jansen

bwood8 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 16:05:45 +0000

Hannah Jansen bwood8 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 11:05

Rafael Lopez

bwood8 — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:11:16 +0000

Rafael Lopez bwood8 Wed, 06/22/2022 - 10:11

Academic Programs

dagui3 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 22:50:39 +0000

Academic Programs dagui3 Mon, 11/29/2021 - 16:50

Curriculum Overview

��ýs focus on a well-rounded curriculum in the humanities, social sciences, arts, and physical and natural sciences, including mathematics and computer science. Students learn professional skills, but also the blend of critical thinking, scientific logic, and appreciation of the humanities that is so important in the development of personal enrichment.

Students interested in studying mathematics at UIS may do so on campus or online.

Mathematical Sciences B.A.

The B.A. in Mathematical Sciences is designed to prepare students for careers using mathematics, operations research, and statistics in the fields of teaching, research, industry, insurance, and management or for graduate study in mathematical sciences or related areas.

Mathematical Sciences Minor

To earn a minor in Mathematical Sciences, students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours, at least 12 hours of which must be upper-division coursework taken at UIS. Transfer credit for lower-division coursework and for upper-division mathematics courses is evaluated on a case-by-case basis through a Student Petition. Upon completing the core course requirements, students must then select an area of specialization (mathematics, operations research, or statistics) and complete 12 semester hours as detailed below.

Advising

Students should consult with academic advisors in the major for specific guidance regarding completion of general education requirements.

Mathematics Placement

All mathematics courses have prerequisites to assure appropriate placement. Students may meet prerequisites by taking the prerequisite courses. For mathematics courses at or below 100-level, students may meet prerequisites by having an appropriate standardized test score (ACT Math Score or SAT Math Score) or by earning an appropriate score on the placement test (ACCUPLACER Math test).

Enrollment Capacity

The Mathematical Science Department will accept new students each fall and spring semester. For best consideration, students should submit application materials as early as possible prior to the semester in which they would like to attend. Contact the online coordinator for specific information.

FAQ for Students

dagui3 — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 22:17:24 +0000

FAQ for Students dagui3 Tue, 11/23/2021 - 16:17

FAQ and Checklist for New Math Majors

The information below is for new math majors who have just been accepted to the University. If you are not accepted yet, there is an FAQ for applicants as well.

If you have looked through the pages on the math site you probably know something about the 60 semester hours in the standard bachelor’s completion program. There are 32 hours of core math courses, 18 hours of upper division general electives, and 10 hours of the University’s required Engaged Citizenship electives. There are, however, many different transfer situations, and many of you will have somewhat more or less than exactly 60 transfer hours. Some have much more than two years coming in, and their extra upper division hours will apply to those 18 hours of general electives; completion of the B.A. for them may only involve 42 hours. Other students may still need to be working on Calculus and/or general education courses such as Composition and Humanities. We would like you to review the general information below to get started off well, and if necessary for particulars to your situation, refer to a math advisor.

Disclaimer: This page is informal information (not the official catalog), and is primarily directed to math degree-seeking students. Some of the information below does not apply to students who are non-degree seeking, or working on secondary math certification with the Teacher Education Program. Being in TEP as a minor will also affect your ECCE requirements, as some of their requirements cover those.

Topics

First things first: Where do I get started?

With your initial notification of acceptance from Admissions, you should have your UIN, which you will need to log on to UIS systems, and to communicate with us so that we can look up your information to better help you. As you start searching for courses to take during your first semester, the Registration page will give you some registration tips and links, and you will be immediately directed to create your NetID and Enterprise ID. You will need an activation code to set it up, which Admissions would have sent you.

Begin using your student email as soon as possible, because official information about upcoming registration, billing, events, and other items of interest to students will be sent out on the student distribution lists.

In your first semester here, most of you will sign up for MAT 330, the entrance assessment. However, if you don’t have all three of your calculus prerequisites done, you should wait until you have completed them to sign up for this. The entrance assessment is not a course, although you sign up for it in the course registration system, so it won’t add to your overall course load. It is a test which you take and submit once. This one, and the exit assessment, are the only courses in the schedule you will sign up for as a credit/no credit option. Everything else you must take for a letter grade.

For your first semester as an online student, it is probably advisable to take a smaller course load if you can, to allow yourself to adjust to the demands of studying online. In any given semester, we do not recommend taking more than two core math courses at the same time. Do not sign up for courses for which you have not taken all the prerequisites. Expect registration for Summer and Fall to open in April; for Spring, in November. Important: be sure to sign up for at least one class in the semester for which you were accepted, OR fill out a deferral form at the Admissions website, or you may be deactivated and have to reapply.

Students who were registered for classes in the preceding semester may start registering a week earlier than brand new students. Don’t wait too long—the online courses are popular and will fill up quickly.

Some courses in the schedule will have special restrictions on them, such as instructor approval required, or restricted to majors of that particular program. Sometimes you’ll have to email for an approval, or sometimes the restriction will be dropped later in registration. If you get confused about registration quirks, ask the math program coordinator. If it’s a technical issue, contact tech support.

Do not sign up for courses with a number below 330. Those are service courses, offered as electives for other majors. They are not the core for a math major. Note this one: MAT 302 Discrete Mathematics does NOT count as a math elective for math majors or minors.

Prerequisites

Many math classes have prerequisites, and these are not arbitrarily set up– you will need the topics taught in the earlier classes to succeed in the later ones.

Do not take MAT 432, Mathematical Statistics II, without having completed MAT 431, Mathematical Statistics I. You must have at least two full semesters of Calculus before taking MAT 332, Linear Algebra.

Linear is a key course, and you should take it as early as possible. It must be completed (not taken concurrently) before attempting MAT 403 Abstract Algebra, MAT 404 Geometry, MAT 444 Operations Research Methods, and MAT 336 Differential Equations.

You will need the third semester of Calculus, and Linear, before taking MAT 415 Advanced Calculus. Advanced Calculus must be completed before taking MAT 416 Real Analysis.

You may take MAT 401 History of Math after completing at least one semester of Calculus, and Mathematical Statistics I after completing at least two semesters of Calculus.

When browsing for the courses you want in the online schedule, click on the link to “view catalog entry”. This will take you to a course description which lists prerequisites, if any. If there is a course you want to take, and the prerequisite is an upper division course which you have already had at another university, such as Linear or Advanced Calculus, make sure that this course was officially approved to transfer in by the math faculty. If it hasn’t transferred officially, it’s not good for a prerequisite.

How will I contact my instructors?

You may contact them by phone or email, or visit them at the university (check first; COVID has interrupted many of our normal operations). Email is often the best bet, unless you know the particular instructor’s office hours. Of course, when you are enrolled in a course, most contact will occur in Canvas. Outside of that, you may find the math program’s contact information at our Faculty page. When looking at courses (from any department, not just math) in the dynamic schedule, the instructor’s name should appear, as well as an envelope icon which links to the instructor’s email. This is for you to use if permission is required to get into the course.

Although you will have communicated with Admissions and the online coordinator using your personal email address during application, you should start checking your official student email account after acceptance. Expect program and instructors’ contacts and other college correspondence to come through that.

Buying Textbooks: How do I know what textbooks to buy?

The University bookstore should have lists of all required texts a few weeks before the first day of class.

Graduating: I’ll be graduating soon. What do I need to do to get ready?

You’ll need to fill out a graduation application from Registration’s Forms page. This should be completed in the semester before you graduate; however, you may start a little earlier and that is advisable. Contact your faculty advisor to finalize this (see the next question below if you don’t know who that is.)

If you would like to come to Springfield for graduation, let us know early. A few online students do this, and we would like to meet you. If we know early enough how many are coming, maybe we can set aside a time for all of us to get together. There is also usually an online students’ graduation brunch the morning of graduation, for those who were in online degree programs across the university.

Advising: Who is my advisor?

The online coordinator advises most new students. The graduation application at the end of your studies must be signed between you and a department advisor. This FAQ page is also an advisement aid to help you get started, but you should also be aware of and in compliance with the official version of program entrance and graduation requirements for your particular cohort (the first semester you were accepted as a student, registered for and completed a course), which is accessible in the online catalog.

There is an individualized electronic record for each student of all degree requirements, called the Degree Audit. Instructions and the login link are on the registration page. Your advisor will probably be looking at this report, and you should too, to help understand what you still need to take.

If you have upper division math courses which you want to apply toward math requirements here at UIS, Admissions will not make this determination, and the courses will not automatically show up in your notice of admission or on your degree audit. Each one must be approved by the math faculty, and if they ok it, you need to write it on a petition and send it in. The faculty will allow up to two courses, or eight hours, of math to be transferred in to the upper division requirements.

ECCE and Gen Eds: How do I know what will meet these requirements?

A list is published each semester at the general education pages. The first sections on this list are courses which are approved for the semester to meet certain General Education requirements, for those of you who were admitted lacking those. At the end of the list are the courses approved for that semester to meet ECCE requirements.

The courselist contains links to course descriptions and schedule, so you can easily click through and find out if there are seats available. Courses offered online also have “online” in parentheses.

The current catalog toward the bottom of the undergraduate page, explains the ECCE requirement in some detail. Generally, students will take the Speaker’s Series and 9 additional hours for 10 hours of ECCE. Do not take all these courses in the same ECCE category.

Be sure that you take ECCE classes which are 300-400 level. If you are minoring in Teacher Education, coordinate all of your ECCE requirement with them, because student teaching and other of their requirements will count toward ECCE.

Any student who was deficient in the lower division gen eds, and must take those, would have been so notified on their Notice of Admission; you can also see this in your degree audit.

Career Services: Does UIS offer help in job placement?

Absolutely. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Our Career Development Center offers professional counselors, a very extensive job search tool, a Virtual Career Center, and on-campus workshops which you can attend online. Select UIS-SUCCESS on their website to establish your profile and receive passwords to access career resources. To properly hone your job search, searching skills, and resume, you should start working with the Career Development Center in your first semester at UIS—don’t put it off until the end.

Miscellaneous Fees: What are all those fees listed in the tuition page?

If you are accepted into a degree-seeking online program, and take only online courses, you qualify for e-tuition. This is listed on the Tuition & Fees website as a per-credit-hour amount; remember that the math courses are 4 credit hours each. In addition, there is an online academic support fee which is also per-credit-hour. This applies if you are in-district, out-of-district, or anywhere in the world. If you are taking only online courses, many of the other fees are waived under the current system.

There is also a flat per-semester services fee listed. (Students who will be taking on-campus courses have additional health insurance, immunization, and recreation fees. Online students should encounter these only if they are near campus and sign up for an on-campus course.) There is a small student-to-student grant which is automatically assessed. If you don’t want to participate in the grant, you must contact the Office of Records and Registration. For other questions regarding your student account, contact the University Bursar’s Office at 217/206-6727, PAC 182 or for more information, please refer to the U of I Bursar site.

If you see other fees on your account, it might be simply a mistake. In a few instances, students who do not even come to the campus have been charged for immunization non-compliance, or have had a hold placed on their registration. If you are an online degree-seeking major and this happens to you, contact Health Services and represent to them that you are only online and never come to campus; they can reverse it.

If you are normally online, but do plan on coming to campus occasionally, you may get a parking hang tag to avoid a parking ticket. There is an online application at the parking webpage.

First Semester Checklist

Register as early as possible in the registration period (April for Summer and Fall, November for Spring).
Ensure that you have the prerequisites for any class you are signing up for.
Check the bookstore to see if your classes have any required texts. (topic #4, above)
Log in to Canvas on the first day of classes.
If you were still taking classes at time of application, and Admissions indicated in your notice of acceptance that they were waiting on transcripts, be sure to arrange to have those final transcripts sent.
Look over your degree audit report and plan out what courses you will need to take. If you are planning on having math courses transferred from elsewhere, have this officially approved by the math faculty–and do this immediately if such course is a prerequisite for a class you want to take now.

FAQ for Applicants

dagui3 — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 22:15:11 +0000

FAQ for Applicants dagui3 Tue, 11/23/2021 - 16:15

Taking Online Courses or Becoming a Math Major at UIS

Taking online math classes here at UIS is a very accessible means for anyone to get an affordable, accredited education from an Illinois public institution. While UIS is a four-year institution and we have some onground math majors who are freshmen, the online degree program is meant for transfer students only.

It is anticipated that transferring students will have approximately two years of credits (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours), and take another 60 hours here for the bachelor’s. In an ideal world, this transfer credit would already include the math prerequisites of 3 semesters of calculus, as well as all the lower division general education requirements. You may, of course, have somewhat less transfer credit or much more–possibly even a bachelor’s already completed. So for the many other situations that students find themselves in, and for the pressing questions that you want answered before embarking on this path, we have put together the FAQ below. If you don’t find an answer here, be sure to contact us for advisement. Information is on the contact page.

1. What are the guidelines for transfer students who have more or less than 60 hours of credits?

There is an official minimum and maximum for transferable credits to ��ý at Springfield. You will notice as you review the UIS Admissions website that there is a minimum of 30 hours for students to be accepted into the University.

Applicants with 30-59 credit hours will receive a conditional acceptance and can begin doing coursework here, but this does not mean they simply skip those other 30 hours. These hours must also be complete for a total of at least 120 hours in order to earn a B.A. We have a few lower division courses available online here, but generally these transfer students will have to take additional hours elsewhere and transfer them in when they are completed.

Students who transfer in as seniors with the maximum 90 hours do not merely need to take the final 30 hours for the graduation requirement; they also need to ensure that they have fulfilled the requirements specific to their major. For math majors, this means they usually will need 42 hours: 32 core Math hours and 10 hours for the Engaged Citizenship (ECCE) requirement. General electives are usually not necessary for these students, unless Admissions has specifically informed them of a general education deficiency such as an English composition course or a lab science. For a list of the lower-division general education courses that Admissions will be looking for in your transcript, see the “Transfer” tab at our General Education webpage, or view the Illinois Articulation’s website.

PLEASE NOTE: as you estimate the number of hours which Admissions may accept toward your UIS degree, understand the difference between lower-division and upper-division courses. Courses for freshmen and sophomores generally begin with a 1 or a 2. These courses are fine for your first two years, but by the time you are in your third and fourth year of college you should be taking courses at the 300 and 400 level. Our Admissions evaluators will accept a little more than two years’ worth of 100- and 200-level courses (72 semester hours). Any courses transferred beyond these 72 hours must be of a higher level.

It is common today for students to go from college to college amassing credit hours, each time starting over at the freshman level, particularly if most of their transcripts are from 2-year community colleges. If this is the case with you, understand that you may very well have 150 credit hours on your transcripts and still never have passed beyond the sophomore level; thus you would enter here with the maximum 72 undergraduate transfer hours. Also, if all of those courses were just taken for interest, or are technical courses which were not part of an undergraduate degree plan, you may be lacking in the general education requirements. See the Illinois Articulation link above.

2. Which application form am I supposed to use?

On the Admissions page, when you click on Apply Now, you will see a list of several online applications. This means that all of the applications listed are available online, not that they are all applications to online programs. Capital Scholars, for instance, is a four-year on-ground program.

The mathematics program currently only offers a B.A., so you would not use a graduate application for math. (At the graduate level, we do coordinate with Computer Science to offer a Data Analytics degree.) You also would not want to apply as non-degree seeking student. The non-degree seeking application is for those who want only a course or two, not to graduate. That application process is faster and easier, but non-degree students are limited in the number of hours they may take, and do not qualify for e-tuition. This can be cost-ineffective for students who don’t reside in Illinois.

The application you will probably want to use is either the Undergraduate Transfer Students application, or the International Undergraduate Transfer Students application if you are out of the country.

3. What is this “ECCE requirement”? Can’t I just take math classes?

The University of Illinois at Springfield has a mandate for the public and community involvement of our students. The Engaged Citizenship courses reflect and encourage that involvement. It is a standard requirement for all of our undergraduate degree-seeking students; transfer courses from other institutions will not waive the requirement.

You should review guidelines in the current catalog and with your advisor as you choose ECCE courses. Students coming will need ten hours of ECCE to graduate, in at least two of the ECCE areas plus the speaker series. The speaker series is made available to distance students by webcast. There is a more detailed description of the ECCE requirements on page 34 of the catalog.

As far as taking only math classes and nothing else, and getting a degree–(we do get this question fairly often)–no, not at the undergraduate level you can’t, and this is true everywhere in the country. Every state has their version of a general education requirement designed to give undergrad students a balanced education and a broad range of experience. Once you get to the master’s level and beyond, you can focus just on your desired subject area.

4. How long does it take to finish the 60 credit hours?

UIS is a traditional university, and all of our online courses follow a standard semester schedule along with the on-campus courses. We have live instructors, not just pre-posted material on a server. What this means to you is that if you receive your acceptance letter in March, you do not just register and begin courses the next day. You would get a time ticket for registration, register for a course in the next available semester, and begin on the first day of classes for that semester with everybody else. There is flexibility in class time (you may access the course material at 3:00 a.m. if you wish), but not in the semester schedule. Homework and tests must be completed by their scheduled completion date, and all coursework must be done by the final day of classes for that semester.

Anticipate spending a standard two years finishing the degree if you work at it full time (assuming that you have met all prerequisites and general education requirements coming in). We offer at least two core program courses online each fall and spring semester, so if you take each one at its first offering, you could finish the 32 core hours in two fall and two spring semesters. Some electives and colloquia are offered in the summer; these may be taken at that time or concurrently with the math courses.

Even if more than two required math courses are offered in any given semester, we discourage any student from being enrolled in more than two core math courses at the same time. It can be done, but usually it’s a recipe for hardship and lesser grades–and many of our students are trying to work at the same time as well.

You may have heard that for each hour in a typical class, you should spend two hours outside of class preparing for it and finishing assignments. The same holds true for online courses; they are not made to be easier or completed more quickly, just more accessible. Setting aside at least 12 hours in your week to sign up for a 4-hour course is a good policy.

5. I haven’t finished all the Calculus prerequisites yet, but I will take them. Can I get into the math program now?

Yes, but you will be limited in the core math courses you can take until you have satisfied the prerequisites: three semesters of calculus and one course in a computer programming language. Most of the core requires at least two semesters of calculus, or you will be lost in the course content. MAT 415, a required course, needs three semesters of calculus as a prerequisite. So you will need the three semesters of prerequisite calculus to complete the math program, and you would be better off starting the program having already finished them.

What you can do if you are accepted but don’t have all the prerequisites yet is to start taking general electives (if any are needed) and ECCE courses, and if a math course is offered that you are ready for, go ahead.

If taking your prerequisites at other colleges, avoid themed courses with titles such as “Calculus for Business”, or “Applied Calculus”. Look for simply Calculus I, II, and III, or Calculus with Analytical Geometry.

We have three semesters of lower-division calculus available on-campus, but only Calculus III is usually offered online. If you get into one of these prerequisite courses here (whether onground or online), it does not count toward the 32 core math hours or as a general elective. All of the lower-division calculus will have course numbers below 330, and thus are not core courses.

6. Can I use my general electives to also get a minor online?

Yes—Math and some other programs have online minors. The list of current undergraduate majors and minors and graduate degrees is at uis.edu/online. If you are applying to another program, and want to get a math online minor, it doesn’t mean you are automatically earning a minor just because you are accepted into that major program. You must contact the math program to discuss requirements for the minor.

Likewise, if you apply to math or math online as a major, and another program as a minor, and are accepted, it doesn’t mean you are also automatically accepted into the minor program just because you wrote that on your application. You must contact that other program to work out the requirements.

The Teacher Education Program is also an available minor for math majors, but it will require some campus visits. See the teaching certificate FAQ (#10) below.

7. How are the courses taught?

We currently use Canvas, a common online course delivery platform. You will need a reliable internet connection but won’t be required to come to campus at any time.

8. How are assessments done? Are tests proctored?

An instructor may elect to have tests proctored in order to enforce a time limit or make sure that no resource materials are used. Some of our instructors use test proctoring; many do not. If your instructor asks you to find a test proctor, contact a college in your area, or a public library, military base, or superintendent of schools. Ask about costs; most proctors charge some fee, commonly between $10 and $50, for supervising a test.

9. Can I really get all the degree requirements online?

Yes. The choices of math electives are still somewhat limited for online students, but we have enough core courses available to allow you to earn the degree without any campus visits.

The core courses which are available online are listed as follows. Some semesters may have 3 or 4 of these classes available; do not attempt more than 2 math courses simultaneously. MAT 330 should be completed in your first semester (provided you have all your calculus prerequisites), and MAT 332 is prerequisite for 403, 404, and 415, so take that one as early as is feasible. The math core is 32 hours, or 8 4-hour courses besides the Entrance and Exit Assessments. The classes with an asterisk (*) are required for all math majors.

MAT 330 Entrance Assessment (0 hours)*
MAT 332 Linear Algebra *
MAT 336 Introduction to Differential Equations
MAT 401 History of Mathematics
MAT 431 Mathematical Statistics I*
MAT 404 Geometry
MAT 415 Advanced Calculus*
MAT 444 Operations Research Methods*
MAT 403 Abstract Algebra
MAT 421 Statistical Methods
MAT 432, Mathematical Statistics II
MAT 405, General Topology
MAT 491, Exit Assessment*

Additionally, of course, you will need to take any required ECCE courses, general electives, or lower-division general education deficiencies as noted at the time of your entrance to the program.

An important note in selecting math elective courses: do not register for a course with a number below 330, because it will not count toward your degree requirements. Do not take MAT 302 Discrete Mathematics, for instance. If these are offered, they are intended as electives for non-math majors. Also, all math courses other than MAT 330 and 491 must be taken for a letter grade, not a credit/no-credit option or just auditing.

10. Can I work toward a math B.A. and a math teaching certificate at the same time?

Yes, there are quite a few who do that. The UIS math program allows for 16 hours of general electives; all of these hours and more will be taken up by the Teacher Education Program’s requirements, so the total number of hours you’ll need to take will be higher. Some of the requirements you must complete for TEP will apply toward the UIS requirement (ECCE); you should coordinate closely with the TEP program on everything.

The Math TEP minor, while technically online, will require you to appear on campus periodically, and of course, student teaching must be done in a school. Teaching certificates are state-specific, so for the most part TEP students come from Illinois.

As you outline the courses you plan to take, note that TEP will not allow you to take other coursework in the semester you do your student teaching. Learn more about TEP math certification on the Teacher Education page.

11. What is the Entrance Assessment?

MAT 330: It is a one-time test you take during your first semester of coursework as a Math major, provided you have entered with all of your calculus prerequisites complete. If not, register for this in your first semester after you complete Calculus III. It will involve questions of varying difficulty from precalc up to Calc III.

You will sign up for it as if it were a course (MAT 330), but notice that it is worth 0 credit hours on the schedule. Then during that semester you will take and submit it through the standard online course management system, Blackboard. This is the only math course that you sign up for as a credit/no credit option rather than for a letter grade.

12. What are the costs for your program?

UIS’s current tuition page will explain the current e-tuition rate. Within the fees chart, there is also a per-credit-hour online fee, so add that to the e-tuition. Online majors will not need to pay the health insurance fees, and pay a flat services fee per semester. In order to qualify for e-tuition, you must be accepted into a degree-seeking online program (see question 13 below), and take only online courses. The easiest way to get a total cost estimate is to look for the tuition calculator on that tuition page and plug in the number of hours you think you may take in a semester. This will immediately show you the entire cost, minus books.

Math courses are 4 semester hours each, and where required, some of those textbooks today can run $150 or more.

A word about scholarships: yes, online students can apply for scholarships too, provided you fit the criteria that particular scholarship is looking for. Financial aid has a page on some available scholarships for both onground and online students. This is not an exhaustive list; feel free to look other places out there too. Look into organizations and clubs that you–or your family members–are associated with. Ask whether they offer any scholarships. Check with your employer, or your parent’s employer. International students will not typically be eligible for scholarships from here, but may investigate grants from their own employer or country.

There are scams out there, so beware. A scholarship should be based on either merit or need. Be very suspicious of those which offer money to anyone who can fog a mirror. Also you should probably avoid any which ask for an application fee. A true scholarship is offered by a legitimate organization for a reason–it is not a 50/50 raffle.

13. How do I make sure I am accepted into the degree-seeking program?

When applying through the Admissions page, be sure that you declare you are applying to math online. If you have any difficulty in specifying this, contact your Admissions evaluator directly (admissions@uis.edu). If you are presently in another program at UIS and wish to be in Mathematics, you can download the form for Change of Curriculum. It needs to be signed and sent in by U.S. mail. (Unless you are in the TEP program only, which is technically a minor. In this case, if you want to add degree-seeking status, you need to fill out a full application.)

14. May I take a math course or two without signing up to be a math major?

In a word, yes. You must have the prerequisites for the course you want to take, of course, and since the department will not have received transcripts for non-degree seeking students, you may need to scan and email us proof that you have the prerequisites. There is a non-degree undergraduate application at the Admissions page, and it is a faster application process. You can often register within a day or so after completing the application. However, you will not qualify for the e-tuition rate without degree-seeking status. Non-degree students are limited to taking a total of 12 hours of coursework.

Double-check the tuition—there is a calculator for an accurate estimate of tuition and fees at the registration website. The cost could be prohibitive for you if you are out of state. Also, some math courses fill up very quickly in registration, so coming in late in the registration period and quickly filling out a non-degree seeking application may still not get you into the class you want.

15. Is this alternative education going to be right for me?

UIS online math and all the UIS online programs are very much grounded in our nearly fifty-year history of traditional on-campus programs—they have the same instructors, content, and schedule. They are not “alternative” in any way except delivery of lessons. Our students do not start midway through semesters, “learn at their own pace”, test out of core courses, or finish a course in just a couple of weeks.

The online programs do have the advantage of making a traditional degree accessible to people who might be unable to get to the campus, due to transportation, disability, distance, or conflict with work or family schedules.

You will have a good chance for success in online education if you are:

self-directed, able to plan ahead and meet deadlines, and disciplined in setting your own goals
comfortable in a text-based learning environment
able to communicate electronically and adept at working online

16. Is the online program accredited?

All online degrees are academic programs of ��ý at Springfield, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

This is the standard form of accreditation for U.S. colleges and universities, and it is regional. You can look up accreditation for any institution at the U.S. Department of Education; what you are looking for is something like North Central, Western, Southern, etc. This type of accreditation makes our courses and degree programs recognized and transferrable; higher education institutions must revisit this every ten years and get it renewed. Other types of “accreditation” by national groups and special interests do not necessarily make coursework transferrable; some may be desirable and sought out by programs for the recognition, but most are not worth the effort.

A few have asked whether we are accredited by CASI, the Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. This is also a division of the North Central Association, but it accredits elementary and secondary schools, so no.

You are also welcome to visit our campus whether just to see us or to look into our onground programs. See us on Google Maps.

17. Can I study from overseas?

Certainly. There are no restrictions on where you can study from as long as you have internet access. Where your transfer credits come from may be a consideration, however. As this is a transfer program, you should have 1-2 years’ worth of college credit to transfer in, and this needs to be from an accredited institution. Admissions may require you to have foreign transcripts evaluated by an independent evaluator. Also, foreign institutions often do not require general education courses such as composition and speech, which an undergraduate degree in Illinois requires. If you are an international student with no transferrable credits, contact us and we can work with another institution to meet this and ensure that you can complete the degree from where you are. If an on-ground international student graduates with a degree in mathematics, you are eligible to apply to the STEM-OPT program, a two year visa extension to stay and work in the U.S.