Undergraduate programs in AM

Overview

The department offers three year programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science and four year programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honors. The department's policy in its undergraduate teaching is that an applied mathematician must be a skillful mathematician with good training in at least one of the natural or social sciences. The emphasis in the teaching of the department is on the mathematical description and solution of problems in different fields of application, rather than on the study of the abstract topics of pure mathematics. A sound training in the use of computers is part of our undergraduate programs. We can summarize the program offerings of the Department of Applied Mathematics here. There's a lot more detail on all our other department web pages.

In the Honors program, there are eight main lines you can follow - each will involve a strong core of useful mathematics and some computing. Then these are combined with any one of the following areas of application:

Continuum Mechanics - the study of complex fluid flow patterns
Theoretical Physics - directed largely to the study of atomic and subatomic particles
Mathematical Computational Methods which concentrates more heavily on numerical and computational solutions of problems
Chemistry - leading to a career as a theoretical chemist
Applied Mathematics and Computer Science joint program which will develop expertise in scientific applications of computing.
Applied Mathematics and Statistics joint program directed largely to the joint study of statistics and applied mathematics for those seeking employment in industry.
Applied Mathematics and Statistics Environmetrics joint program - emphasis is on applying statistical and applied mathematical methods to a quantitative understanding of physical problems in the environment.
Applied Mathematics and Geophysics (Environmental Modeling) joint program -involving the dispersion and transport of pollutants through air and water.

Incidentally Applied Mathematics undergraduates are frequently employed in the department during the summer months (and even during the school year on a part-time basis). These students earn money but equally importantly they gain experience to help them choose a future career.

One further point: We encourage students who are able to maintain an A or A+ standing to talk to us about Western's unique Scholar's Electives and Faculty Scholars Programs. Basically, these allow you to create your own program of study in consultation with the Dean and the department. They are described in the UWO calendar. If you think this may be of interest to you, visit us and talk it over with a counsellor.

Undergraduate courses currently offered by the department include:

Calculus I
Calculus II for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Calculus II
Advanced Calculus and Vector Analysis
Matrix Algebra and Linear Systems
Engineering Mathematics
Methods of Applied Mathematics
Numerical Analysis
Advanced Classical Dynamics
Introduction to Fluid Dynamics
Mathematical Methods for Scientists
Electrodynamics
Nonlinear Differential Equations
Quantum Mechanics
Advanced Fluid Dynamics
Elementary Particle Physics
Advanced Numerical Analysis

In addition to these courses, students may choose from a wide range of specialized courses offered by other departments.

Our first year calculus courses, Calculus 050, 051, 081 and 026 are open to all incoming students with credits in OAC Calculus. Students are also encouraged to take Linear Algebra 040a/b for a good grounding in this widely used subject. AM 026 is the first course for engineers while Calculus 050/051 lead to all other mathematical science programs at the university.

Click here if you have any questions or comments you would like to e-mail to an Applied Mathematics counsellor.