Mission, Goals, and Learning Outcomes

Mission

The primary mission of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is to serve the educational needs of Central Arkansas and beyond and, in particular, to offer programs and services that meet the special needs of its diverse student body in its metropolitan location. The B.A. and B.S. degree programs in mathematics, offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, are consistent with this mission. The primary goal of the programs is to give students the mathematical knowledge and understanding necessary for successful careers in business, industry or government, teaching mathematics at the secondary school level, and pursuing graduate studies.

Goals

To prepare our students to enter graduate school, to teach at the secondary level, and to be employed and act in a consulting capacity on matters concerning mathematics. To prepare our students to understand and use mathematics in other fields of knowledge with basic mathematical skills for everyday life.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of the B.A. and B.S. Programs in Mathematics, students will be able to:

  1. Acquire knowledge of the variety of mathematical areas and their interrelation.
  2. Acquire the mathematical knowledge and skills necessary for success in their program or career.
  3. Develop the ability to read, discuss, and speak about mathematics.
  4. Develop the ability to work both independently and collaboratively on mathematical problems.
  5. Acquire knowledge of the roles of intuition, formalization, and proof in mathematics.
  6. Develop problem-solving skills.
  7. Develop the ability to write about mathematics.
  8. Develop critical thinking skills.

At the end of the M.S. Program in Mathematical Sciences, students will be able to:

  1. Acquire knowledge of acceptable computation skills in mathematical software packages.
  2. Demonstrate acceptable written and verbal communication skills.
  3. Demonstrate a breadth and depth of mathematical knowledge.

At the end of the Graduate Certificate Program in Applied Statistics, students will be able to:

  1. Acquire knowledge of computational skills in statistical software packages.
  2. Demonstrate a breadth and depth of statistical knowledge.
  3. Acquire knowledge to apply statistical theory to solve current issues.