The Two Programs of the M A C S Department

 Mathematics                        Computer Science

The MACS Logo is embedded in the Poincaré model in the Lobachevskian plane of hyperbolic non-Euclidean geometry. Any point is interior to the fundamental circle, S A line is part a circle interior to and orthogonal to S. Any part of a diameter of S is considered a line. ABCD would be such a line with B & C interior while A & D are on the circumference of S. The Poincaré metric is computed as the length of the lineBC = ln(BC,AD) :i.e. log of Cross Ratio = ln(BD/DC)/(BA/AC). Seen also is the famous Saccheri quadrilateral (named after the Jesuit geometer Girolamo Saccheri, S.J.) with its two right base angles and two equal and acute summit angles. The acronym MACS runs along the summit of this Saccheri quadrilateral.

Why would anyone want to pursue Mathematical Studies at Fairfield University?

Mathematics is an interesting and beautiful discipline in itself. In a world increasingly dependent on science and technology, the study of mathematics is essential. Women and men trained in mathematics, statistics and computer science are employed in industry, teaching and research at all levels. They work with economists, business analysts and scientists in allied fields such as physics, chemistry, biology and psychology. Fairfield University's strong Liberal Arts program provides students studying mathematics with an excellent background for collaboration with professionals in other disciplines.

The Mathematics Program

A collection of Mathematics Majors

Our program provides the foundation for further graduate studies in mathematics and other areas in which strong quantitative skills are needed. The program consists of eight required mathematics courses, and six mathematics electives. A thorough grounding in logic, set theory, calculus and algebra prepares students for the elective courses in geometry, algebra, statistics, operations research, number theory, topology, differential equations, numerical analysis and computer science.

Polyhedra at Paris' Louvre

MACSStudents

Our students are always enthusiastic about their education and their life in the Department. Graduates have earned advanced degrees in mathematics at institutions such as Yale, SUNY, Stanford, Harvard, RPI and NYU. A disproportionately high number of them won honors at Fairfield graduation ceremonies such as summa and magna cum laude, valedictorian, and the Loyola Medal. After graduation a surprising number of the Mathematics majors have spent some time in service organizations such as International Jesuit Volunteers. Some have become teachers and many others have honored Fairfield University by proving successful in jobs traditionally thought to belong to other majors: some are now members of law firms, others own construction firms, others direct computer advisory firms and some use their skills in such places as the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder. Available on request is a partial list of their occupations.

Picture of the 1985 Induction of MACS
students into the National Mathematics
Honor Society Pi Mu Epsilon

Why would anyone want to pursue Computer Science Studies at Fairfield University?

Computer Science is a new and exciting discipline, which is growing and changing at an explosive rate. The rapid proliferation of new ideas and applications has created tremendous opportunities for people who are both capable and willing to meet these challenges. More than in most fields, it is difficult for people in Computer Science to predict what they will be doing ten, or even five years from now. The continual expansion of computers into almost every aspect of our lives offers computer scientists opportunities to become involved in a wide variety of areas.

The Computer Science program

Our Computer Science program is designed to give students the broad-based scientific and theoretical training needed as a foundation for long-term involvement in a Computer Science career. All majors take two required Introductory courses; five required Fundamentals courses; and two required Mathematics courses. Each major also chooses one of three possible tracks- These tracks allow majors to emphasize an area of interest. Each track has associated with it three required courses. The Systems track emphasizes the hardware and software that embody computer systems. The Cognitive track emphasizes the relationship between computation and intelligence; as embodied in humans; animals; and machines. The Mathematics track emphasizes the relationship between Computer Science and Mathematics. Each major must choose two additional elective courses. Majors must include at least one semester of a lab science towards completing their core requirement in the natural sciences. Students who are interested in double majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics should meet with either the chair of Mathematics or the program director of Computer Science about course reductions.

Some of the 1997-98 MACS faculty

The faculty members have excellent credentials and are active in many research areas of mathematics. Faculty doctoral degrees represent a wide variety of universities: Univ. of Warwick (GB), Penn. State, Wisconsin, N.Y.U., Purdue, Columbia, Wesleyan, U.C. San Diego, Brooklyn Polytechnic, Idaho State U. and Birmingham (GB). The research interests of the faculty are also quite varied: Dynamical Systems, Topology & Fractal Geometry, Structural Dynamics, Group Theory, Statistics, Computer Science, Non Euclidean Geometry, Ruled Surfaces, Group Actions on R-trees, Number Theory, Digitial Simulators, Numerical Analysis, Differential Geometry and Lie Groups.


For further information about Fairfield University Mathematics and Computer Science
contact Chris Bernhardt (Chair)
telephone: (203)254-4000 extension: 2516
email: weiss@fair1.fairfield.edu






Return to:

The MACS Department

MACS Faculty
Some Occupations of Our MACS Graduates

Fairfield University's most interesting class of mathematicians - 1974

The two MACS Programs

Mathematics Minor
Descriptions of Mathematics Courses

For information about the MACS offerings
call chairman, Dr. Christopher Bernhardt: 203-254-4000 ext-2516
or email: cbernhardt@mail.fairfield.edu

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Contact Information and Table of Contents for This Site
Mathematics Department Fairfield University Fairfield, CT 06430		email: macdonnell@fair1.fairfield.edu Voice mail - 203 256-7222 FAX 203-255-5947

These 13 polyhedra symbolize the 13 items of this page which is maintained by Joseph MacDonnell, S.J. They are the 13 Achimedean semiregular polyhedra.

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