Undergraduate Program Additional Information Mechanics of Concentration Declaring Concentration Graduation Requirements Counseling and Services Academic Advising Academic Help Around the Mathematics Department Mathematics Library Computing Facilities Career Planning Personal Counseling Complaints and Problems Mechanics of Concentration A student who is considering a mathematics concentration should begin learning about the requirements (by reading this brochure!) early in the sophomore year or before. This is also a good time to make an initial appointment in the Undergraduate Mathematics Office with a concentration advisor to discuss the programs. Note that inappropriate course election decisions made at an early stage may have serious effects later in missed opportunities to take infrequently offered courses or their prerequisites. Back to Top Declaring Concentration The decision to concentrate in mathematics should be made by the end of the sophomore year and officially registered by filling out a Concentration Declaration Form in the Undergraduate Mathematics Office. During your first counseling session as a declared mathematics concentrator you should make a tentative decision about which concentration program you want to pursue and should plan a possible sequence of courses to fulfill its requirements. Of course, as you progress through the program you may make many changes in this initial plan. Before you register for courses for each following semester you should make a counseling appointment to review your progress with an advisor and revise your plan for the remaining semesters. Regular counseling is your best guarantee for completing the program in a timely manner. Back to Top Graduation Requirements The Departmental requirements for each of the concentration programs are described in detail on their respective program pages. The final certification that you have satisfied the requirements for your program is provided to the Senior Auditors on the Concentration Release Form (available in the Undergraduate Office, 2084 East Hall). This form is to be signed by your concentration advisor before the beginning of your final semester in the program and submitted to the LS&A Academic Advising Office (1255 Angell Hall). It will list your current and future courses and declare that if these courses are completed satisfactorily, the concentration requirements will be satisfied. Early submission of this form is very important to allow time for any required adjustments. At the same time you should use Wolverine Access to Apply for Graduation electronically. The College of LS&A has a number of further requirements which must be satisfied before you can graduate. These are described in the Bulletin. General Counselors in the LS&A Academic Advising Office (1255 Angell Hall) are trained in the administration of these regulations and should be consulted regularly to ensure that all requirements will be satisfied by the time you expect to graduate. Back to Top Counseling and Services We list here some of the services most relevant to your career as a mathematics concentrator, but it is far from an exhaustive list. If you aren't sure where to go, ask at the Undergraduate Mathematics Office. Back to Top Academic Advising You should see a concentration advisor before registering for courses each semester and before you make any important changes in your program. Appointments and counseling sessions are in the Undergraduate Mathematics Office (2084 East Hall). Click here to make an appointment online. For advice on general LS&A regulations (distribution, languages, etc.) and reassurance that you understand the rules, you should see a General Counselor in the LS&A Academic Advising Office (1255 Angell Hall). Course information is available from the LS&A Course Guide. Transfer credit for courses taken elsewhere is administered by the Credit Evaluation division of the Undergraduate Admissions Office (1220 SAB). For women seeking careers in science or mathematics, the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program offers academic and career counseling, workshops on combining careers with various lifestyles, contact with female role models, lists of scholarships and awards, and a resource center listing opportunities for women in science and engineering. Back to Top Academic Help Your first source of help with course work is the instructor of the course. For introductory level courses, including Math 105, 115 and 116, the Math Lab (B860 East Hall, 936-0160) offers drop-in help during the day and many evening and weekend hours. The Department also maintains a private tutor list of advanced graduate students willing (for pay) to assist with many undergraduate courses. The national engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi (1228 EECS, 615-4187) also offers tutoring in a range of science, engineering, and mathematics courses. The LS&A Sweetland Writing Center (1139 Angell Hall, 764-0429) offers free individual assistance on a specific writing project or with general writing skills. Back to Top Around the Mathematics Department Aside from the Undergraduate Mathematics Office, there are several other departmental offices which are relevant to undergraduate students. Questions, complaints, praise, and comments about graduate students, graders, and Graduate Student Instructors should be addressed to the Graduate Program Office (2082 East Hall, 764-7436). Similar messages concerning faculty may be addressed to the Associate Chair for Curriculum and Education (2084 East Hall, 647-4461). For other administrative resources, undergraduate students may contact the Chair's Office (2074 East Hall, 764-0335). Back to Top Mathematics Library The Mathematics Library (3175 Shapiro Library, 936-2327) is an important resource for students and faculty alike. The Library houses one of the best mathematics collections in the world including most of the major periodicals, monographs, and textbooks. Course reserve books are kept here and there are terminals to the on-line general library catalog MIRLYN. Free access is also available to MathSciNet, the American Mathematical Society's Mathematical Reviews Database online, containing bibliographic data and reviews of mathematical research literature from articles published in almost all mathematical journals in the world. Back to Top Computing Facilities The Department has arranged for several software packages of special interest to students of mathematics to be available at many of the University's public computing stations. These include Matlab, Maple, and Mathematica. The Department has its own network of workstations which are available to faculty and graduate students and in exceptional cases to undergraduates who need these facilities for use in research projects. Back to Top Career Planning One of the main goals of the Undergraduate Mathematics Office is to acquaint students with the many career options that the study of mathematics affords. The office collects and makes available information on graduate study, careers in the industrial and service sectors, and mathematics education, as well as opportunities for summer employment in mathematical fields. For those students who may be considering graduate study either in mathematics or a related field, the Undergraduate Office maintains files on graduate programs at many universities in the U.S. and Canada. These include descriptions of the programs, application information, and national rankings of the departments. To help graduating students secure entry-level positions in private companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, the Undergraduate Mathematics Office provides notice of employment opportunities and on-campus recruiting. In the Fall semester, the Department hosts a Career Day, giving students the opportunity to talk with Department of Mathematics alumni who now work in industry, government, and mathematics education careers. We also maintain an extensive web page on career options. Because summer employment in a mathematical field is one of the best ways of deciding whether a career in mathematics is what you want, the Undergraduate Office assists students in finding meaningful summer experiences that will enhance their mathematical skills and give them a taste of using mathematics in the "real world." Information on opportunities for summer employment in business or industry and summer research positions are kept on file for consultation. In addition, there are many programs which support undergraduate students doing mathematical research during the summer, both at U-M and across the country; details are available in the Undergraduate Office starting each January. Back to Top Personal Counseling Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 3100 Michigan Union, 764-8312, provides individual and group counseling on a wide range of concerns by social workers, psychologists, and peer counselors. They also offer workshops which focus on relaxation techniques, strategies for managing study time, and methods for coping with test-taking anxiety. Counseling is free to students on a walk-in basis or by appointment. Back to Top Complaints and Problems We hope you won't have any, but just in case, here are a few strategies. General problems concerning instructors which cannot be resolved privately should be directed to the Undergraduate Program Office (2084 East Hall, 763-4223). In particular, any case of unprofessional attitudes or actions by an instructor or grader should be reported immediately. In many cases the Undergraduate Office can serve as an intermediary to help get the problem resolved quickly. Problems which cannot be resolved in the Department might be directed to the Office of Student Academic Affairs (1228 Angell Halll, 764-7297), the Affirmative Action Office (763-0235), or the Ombudsman (763-3545). Back to Top