About the Department

Mathematics is one of the oldest disciplines of study. For all its antiquity, however, it is a modern, rapidly–growing field. Only 70 years ago, mathematics might be said to consist of algebra, analysis, number theory, and geometry. Today, so many new areas have sprouted that the term "mathematics" seems almost inadequate. A new phrase, "the mathematical sciences" is coming into fashion to describe a broad discipline that includes the blossoming fields of statistics, operations research, biomathematics, and information science, as well as the traditional branches of pure and applied mathematics.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Smith offers a major and three minors. It also cohosts, with the education department, a masters of arts in teaching program.