Mathematics & Computer Science

Students develop innovative, analytic and quantitative reasoning skills and have opportunities to participate in numerous opportunities outside of the classroom such as programming competitions, presenting research at conventions, and networking with successful professional organizations.

Mathematics teacher in a classroom

About the Degree

At Olivet, students receive the education, help and encouragement they need to succeed in a very competitive field. Students and faculty work together to design each student’s future.

Certifications

While in the Computer Science program, students are given the opportunity to receive up to thirteen different certifications.

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Smiling male student
Professor and student in Reed

Mathematics Clubs and Activities

Math Club

Gather once a month for food and fun. This group does some fun hands-on and interactive mathematics. Topics include, Benford’s Law, Mathematical origami, The Great pi and e debate, Mathematical Murder Mystery, Slicing pizza, Pi day and a Mathematical Photo Scavenger Hunt.

Pi Mu Epsilon

Pi Mu Epsilon is a national mathematics honor society. The purpose of the Society is to promote scholarly activity in mathematics among the students in academic institutions. To be eligible for membership a student needs to have completed two mathematics courses beyond a year of Calculus and maintain a gpa of 3.0 or higher in mathematics as well as overall.

Competitions

Competition is a great way to distinguish oneself and the university and spark innovation. The three competitions that our students have participated in are the ACCA Calculus Competition, the Putnam Exam, and the Math Modeling Competition (MCM).

Learn More About Competitions 

By the Numbers

$6363k

Average salary

for entry level computer science positions

300300k

Unfilled cybersecurity jobs

in the United States

7575%

Fastest growing careers

require math and science proficiency

Headshot of Justin Brown

Chair, Mathematics & Computer Science Department

Justin Brown

Dr. Brown joined Olivet’s faculty as a full-time professor in 2009. He currently serves as the Chair for the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and teaches calculus, linear algebra, abstract algebra and number theory. He also teaches in the university’s honors program. During his time at Olivet, Dr. Brown has supervised several student research projects; some for students graduating with honors, and others for students participating in the Pence-Boyce summer research program. He has coauthored two textbooks for graduate level students in algebraic geometry, which is the specialty area of mathematics in which he earned his Ph.D. at Northeastern University in Boston.

Mathematics & Computer Science Faculty

Headshot of SARAH LANGELAND ’13

My classes at Olivet prepared me well. I passed my first two actuarial exams on my first attempt. The overall pass rate is 40 percent.

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