The Math/CS department offers undergraduate majors in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Information Systems, as well as minors in Mathematics and Computer Science.
The Mathematics major provides a background in both pure and applied mathematics.This involves the study of why mathematics works and the development of mathematical intuition and an understanding of mathematical rigor — the essence of pure mathematics — and the study of how mathematics appears and is used in the real world — which is applied mathematics.
Underlying the courses in the mathematics curriculum are problem solving skills, which are widely applicable in many fields. Thus, while people often think of math majors as prospective teachers, people graduating with a degree in math are prepared for a wide range of careers ranging from law to engineering -- recent Wesleyan graduates may be found (among other places!) in graduate school, teaching, in actuarial positions, working in business, working as computer experts, and in engineering, as well as other less-obvious places such as in the Peace Corps.
The Computer Science major provides students with background in theory, implementation, and application of algorithmic processes that describe and transform information. Fundamental to this study is the question of what can be (efficiently) automated. Students in computer science therefore learn programming, but also the mathematics necessary to analyze the methods being studied, and the engineering necessary for their effective design. This results in a unique blend of the theoretical, experimental, and engineering aspects of science.
Many people think of computer science as leading to a career in programming. However, while CS majors are certainly equipped to obtain programming jobs, the ever increasing profusion of computers in the workplace and the problem solving skills that are developed in the course of the CS and mathematical curriculum means that they are also well prepared for positions in virtually any arena of the job market — including information systems related positions, which are currently in great demand.
The Information Systems (IS) major is designed to prepare students for immediate employment as an information systems specialist in a firm or for graduate work in an MIS (Management of Information Systems) or MBA (Master's in Business Administration) program. (To be certain that you are prepared for a particular graduate program consult the Department and the catalog describing that program). Currently, national publications list IS majors among those college graduates who are most highly sought by companies, and this trend is true locally as well. (The Department has actually received calls from companies asking how many IS majors we graduate.)
IS graduates differ from CS graduates in their preparation primarily by taking fewer CS courses and adding a Business Administration component. An IS major's work is likely to be quite varied: maintenance of networked PCs, consulting with users to design an information system to serve their needs, answering users' questions about their software, and programming in a "high-level" language like the macro language of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or Javascript, a Web page scripting language.
The Mathematics minor provides an introduction to either pure or applied mathematics. This minor requires two middle level courses and two upper level courses.
The Computer Science minor provides students with an introduction to programming. Student need to take CS 30 - Introduction to Computing, CS 40 - Program Design, CS 140 - Data Structures, and two other elective courses numbered 100 or above.