Research with Faculty
Dr. Joshua Bowman:
- Topics: dynamics, topology, configuration spaces
- Recent projects: (1) Computing topological properties of a configuration space (2)
Determining the dynamical behavior of geodesics on a surface
Dr. Courtney Davis:
- Topics: Mathematical biology
- Recent project: Creating mathematical models for studying biological systems such
as newt, trout, and crayfish populations during droughts
Dr. Kevin Iga:
- Topics: Mathematical physics: supersymmetry, codes, topology
Dr. Kendra Killpatrick:
- Topics: Combinatorics: permutation patterns, enumerative combinatorics, Young tableaux,
Catalan polynomials
- Recent project: Giving a combinatorial proof of a Catalan binomial identity
Dr. Timothy Lucas:
- Topics: Mathematical biology, programming educational apps
- Recent projects: (1) Designing a mobile app for graphically investigating differential
equations (2) Creating a mathematical simulation for investigating chaparral vegetation
in response to frequent wildfires (3) Modeling emergency airplane evacuations (4)
Modeling gang violence in an urban setting (5) Investigating the effectiveness of
iPads in the mathematics classroom
Dr. David Strong:
- Topics: Linear algebra, image analysis
While it is possible to work with a professor outside of any formal program, Pepperdine
offers a number of undergraduate research programs that provide structure and occasionally
funding for these projects.
Academic Year Undergraduate Research Initiative (AYURI): AYURI is a competitive program to conduct research with faculty during the academic
year.
Faculty/Student Mentor Program: The faculty/student mentor program provides funds for students to engage in research
under the direction of a faculty member.
Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biology (SURB): While predominantly focusing on biology, SURB is a summer program that includes
mathematical biology programs.
Beyond conducting research at Pepperdine, there are additional undergraduate research
opportunities across colleges and universities nationwide. For a list of research
opportunities, visit the AMS or Math Programs website.
Learning and Leadership Opportunities
Students earning their degree in mathematics have a variety of learning and leadership
opportunities outside of the classroom. The following represent some of the extra-curricular
activities available to students:
- Serving as a teaching assistant or grader
- Serving as a mathematics tutor
- Listening to or giving a Tuesday Tea Talk
- Participating in the Mathematics or Science Modeling Club
- Being the lunch guest of a mathematics professor
- Conducting undergraduate research with a faculty mentor
Additional opportunities available throughout the summer include:
SURB: While predominantly focusing on biology, SURB is a summer program that includes
mathematical biology programs.
Mathfest: A four-day mathematics conference, generally in late July or early August, that
features mathematical talks, social events, and a wide-range of opportunities to explore
mathematics. Students who have been conducting research can present their work at
the conference.
National Security Agency: The NSA offers multiple summer opportunities for students interested in cryptography,
signals, and number theory. Click here to learn more.
Park City Mathematics Institute: Hosted by the Institute for Advanced Study, the institute is held every summer in
Park City, Utah. While there are separate programs for undergraduates, graduate students,
researchers, and high school teachers, there are also many opportunities for these
groups to interact with each other. The institute provides a wonderful opportunity
for undergraduate students to learn math and network with fellow mathematicians.
A list of semester and summer opportunities can be found here.
Clubs and Associations
Pepperdine Math Club
The Pepperdine Math Club provides students with the opportunity to become leaders
both in the Pepperdine community and the community at large. The club offers a variety
of activities that span department and campus-wide events including:
- Tuesday Tea Talks
- Semester barbecues
- Pi Day Celebrations
- Annual Math Formal
- Pi Mu Epsilon Honor Society meetings
- Campus and community outreach through math class visits at local elementary and high
schools
Science Modeling Club
Science Modeling Club is a venue for learning mathematical and scientific modeling
in a fun environment. It is open to students of all majors and academic backgrounds.
In the club, students ask quantitative questions and then explore modeling approaches,
model writing, analysis, simulation, parameterization, and interpretation of results
that feed back into asking new questions. Students are also encouraged to participate
in team modeling competitions such as COMAP's Mathematical Contest in Modeling and
Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling.
Pi Mu Epsilon Honor Society
Pi Mu Epsilon is an honor society dedicated to recognizing students who successfully
pursue mathematical understanding. Undergraduate students are eligible for membership
once completing two semesters of calculus, two additional math courses (at or above
the calculus level), and maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Additional Clubs and Associations
Non-Pepperdine clubs and organizations that math majors might be interested in are
listed below:
Tutoring
Tutoring is available through the Seaver Student Success Center for the following courses:
- Math 103
- Math 120
- Math 140
- Math 141
- Math 150
- Math 151
- Math 250
Next Steps for Graduates
The mathematics major at Seaver College is designed to prepare students for graduate
school, careers in teaching, or careers in industry. The mathematics education major
is designed specifically for students preparing to become math teachers in high school.
Students who complete mathematics majors are generally viewed by industry, government,
and academia as being well prepared for jobs that require problem solving and creative
thinking skills. Pepperdine mathematics majors have been highly successful in securing
employment or in completing advanced degrees in graduate, medical, and law schools.
For those directly entering the job market, students have taken their problem solving
and data management skills into a myriad of other fields.
The critical thinking and technical skills acquired during completion of a mathematics
degree are desirable to a wide range of careers and fields including:
- Education
- Computers
- Engineering
- Cryptography
- Law
- Medicine
- Actuary
- Statistician
- Government
- Finance
- Management Consultant
Additional career options based on a degree in mathematics are listed at American Mathematical Society. Individual career profiles can be viewed at https://www.maa.org/careers/career-profiles
Preparation for Graduate or Professional Schools
Over half of our graduates have been admitted to graduate or professional schools
in mathematics, computer science, statistics, medicine, law, engineering, or education.
Our majors are accepted in to some of the finest institutions for advanced studies
after graduation, including the University of California, Duke, University of Washington,
Washington University, University of Oregon, and many more. Of all majors, mathematics
majors nationally have recently had the highest acceptance rates in medical and law
schools.
International Studies
Many mathematics majors choose to study abroad in one of Pepperdine's distinctive
programs, typically opting to do so during the summer or for just one semester. If
you are interested in studying abroad, it is recommended that you meet with a math
professor to discuss a four-year plan and ensure you will be able to take the required
courses when they are offered. As some courses are prerequisites for other courses
and since some required courses are only offered every other year, it is important
to plan ahead carefully. If you plan on studying internationally, other than during
the summer, please be sure to complete Math 320 during your first year at Pepperdine
and consult with your math advisor.
Our international programs are designed to provide all students—regardless of major—the
opportunity to study, live, and travel overseas without interrupting other studies
or postponing a career. This offers students a unique opportunity to gain both an
academic and a personal understanding of other cultures, institutions, and languages.
In addition to the international programs offered by the University, below are additional
semester and year-long international programs that focus on math:
- Budapest Semesters in Mathematics: A math-based international program in Budapest, Hungary that overlooks the Danube.
By participating in this program, you'll be able to learn from famous Hungarian mathematicians.
All courses are taught in English and focus on problem-solving. Courses focus on an
invitation into advanced mathematics, including abstract algebra, number theory, and
combinatorics.
- Budapest Semesters in Mathematics Education: Located in Budapest, Hungary, students participating in this program will learn
about the Hungarian system of mathematics education. All courses are taught in English.
Students interested in a career involving teaching might be interested in attending
this program.
- Mathematics in Moscow: A semester-long mathematics study abroad program in Moscow, Russia. All courses
are taught in English and students can choose to study abroad either fall or spring
semester.
Secondary Teaching Credential
Students who plan to teach mathematics in secondary schools of California should complete
their degree with a mathematics or mathematics education major and obtain a California
Teaching Credential. Several of the courses required for the California Teaching Credential
are already part of the mathematics education major. If you plan on teaching in another
state, you will need to obtain a credential for that state. (Some states will accept
the California credential, while others will have their own specific rules.)