Bard Learning Commons courses: (no distribution credit)

 

Course:

BLC 150  Algebra Workshop

Professor:

Japheth Wood  

CRN:

90303

Schedule:

 Tue      7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Hegeman 204

Distributional Area:

 

Class cap:

22

Credits:

2

This course provides a review of the algebra used in math, science, and social science courses. It is designed for students who would like to improve their algebra skills while taking or in preparation to take an introductory math, science, economics or statistics course. Topics include linear equations and their graphs, quadratic equations, fractions, rational expressions, and exponents. This course will be graded Pass/Fail. No distributional credit is earned. This course will meet for the first 10 weeks of the semester.

 

Course:

BLC 190  Algebra, Trigonometry, and Functions

Professor:

Japheth Wood  

CRN:

90305

Schedule:

  Wed     7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Hegeman 204

Distributional Area:

 

Class cap:

22

Credits:

2

This course is designed for students who have taken a pre-calculus course in high school or at Bard, but would like more computational practice with algebra, trigonometry, logarithms and exponentials. This course can be taken at the same time as a math, science, or economics course, or in preparation to take such a course in a subsequent semester. This course will be graded Pass/Fail. No distributional credit is earned.  This course will meet for the first 10 weeks of the semester. Prerequisite: passing score on Part I of the Mathematics Placement.

 

Course:

MATH 103 A Quadrivium: Math & Metaphysics

Professor:

Daniel Newsome  

CRN:

90086

Schedule:

Mon  Wed     2:00 PM - 3:20 PM Hegeman 102

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

What does the Music of the Spheres sound like? What influence did astrology have on mathematics?  Why does Newton's rainbow (ROYGBIV) have 7 colors? Does mathematics exist if there is nobody to think about it? These questions are addressed by the quadrivium, a term coined by the 6th century philosopher Boethius for the mathematical program of the medieval university. The quadrivialdisciplines make up 4 of the 7 Liberal Arts: arithmetic, music, geometry and astronomy.  Taken as a whole the quadrivium is the metaphysics of Pythagoras and Plato.  Number is the structure of the universe and One-ness is its source. This course will explore each of the quadrivial disciplines using primary sources in English translation and show how mathematics was seen as the structure of everything.  Primary authors will include Plato, Euclid, Ptolemy, Boethius, Martianus Capella, al Khwarizmi, Sacrobosco, Fibonacci, Oresme, Alberti, Cardano, and Kepler.  Other than a working knowledge of basic algebra, the class requires only a willingness to explore new ideas and construct convincing arguments. Prerequisite: Passing score on Part I of the Mathematics Placement.

 

Course:

MATH 103 B Quadrivium: Math & Metaphysics

Professor:

Daniel Newsome  

CRN:

90087

Schedule:

Mon  Wed     3:50 PM - 5:10 PM Hegeman 102

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

What does the Music of the Spheres sound like? What influence did astrology have on mathematics?  Why does Newton's rainbow (ROYGBIV) have 7 colors? Does mathematics exist if there is nobody to think about it? These questions are addressed by the quadrivium, a term coined by the 6th century philosopher Boethius for the mathematical program of the medieval university. The quadrivialdisciplines make up 4 of the 7 Liberal Arts: arithmetic, music, geometry and astronomy.  Taken as a whole the quadrivium is the metaphysics of Pythagoras and Plato.  Number is the structure of the universe and One-ness is its source. This course will explore each of the quadrivial disciplines using primary sources in English translation and show how mathematics was seen as the structure of everything.  Primary authors will include Plato, Euclid, Ptolemy, Boethius, Martianus Capella, al Khwarizmi, Sacrobosco, Fibonacci, Oresme, Alberti, Cardano, and Kepler.  Other than a working knowledge of basic algebra, the class requires only a willingness to explore new ideas and construct convincing arguments. Prerequisite: Passing score on Part I of the Mathematics Placement.

 

Course:

MATH 106  Mathematics and Politics

Professor:

John Cullinan  

CRN:

90711

Schedule:

Mon  Wed     8:30 AM - 9:50 AM Reem Kayden Center 101

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

The course examines applications of mathematics to political science. Five major topics are covered: a model of escalatory behavior, game-theoretic models of international conflict, yes-no voting systems, political power, and social choice. For each model presented, its implications and its limitations are discussed. Students are actively involved in the modeling process. There is no particular mathematical prerequisite for this course, though algebraic computations and deductive proofs of some of the main results are required. Prerequisite: passing score on Part I of the Mathematics Diagnostic.

 

Course:

MATH 110 A Precalculus

Professor:

Japheth Wood  

CRN:

90088

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    12:10 PM - 1:30 PM Reem Kayden Center 101

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

A course for students who intend to take calculus and need to acquire the necessary skills in algebra and trigonometry. The concept of function is stressed, with particular attention given to linear, quadratic, general polynomial, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Graphing in the Cartesian plane and developing the trigonometric functions as circular functions are included.  Prerequisite: passing score on Part I of the Mathematics Placement.

 

Course:

MATH 110 B Precalculus

Professor:

Jules Albertini  

CRN:

90089

Schedule:

  Wed  Fri   10:20 AM - 11:40 AM Hegeman 308

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

A course for students who intend to take calculus and need to acquire the necessary skills in algebra and trigonometry. The concept of function is stressed, with particular attention given to linear, quadratic, general polynomial, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Graphing in the Cartesian plane and developing the trigonometric functions as circular functions are included.  Prerequisite: passing score on Part I of the Mathematics Placement.

 

Course:

MATH 141 A Calculus I

Professor:

Daniel Newsome  

CRN:

90090

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    3:50 PM - 5:10 PM Reem Kayden Center 102

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

An introduction to the basic ideas of differentiation and integration in one variable. Topics include limits, techniques of differentiation, definite integrals, the fundamental theorem of calculus, and applications. Prerequisite: MATH 110 or the equivalent.

 

Course:

MATH 141 B Calculus I

Professor:

Ethan Bloch  

CRN:

90091

Schedule:

Mon  Wed     10:20 AM - 11:40 AM Hegeman 204

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

An introduction to the basic ideas of differentiation and integration in one variable. Topics include limits, techniques of differentiation, definite integrals, the fundamental theorem of calculus, and applications. Prerequisite: MATH 110 or the equivalent.

 

Course:

MATH 141 C Calculus I

Professor:

Ethan Bloch  

CRN:

90092

Schedule:

Mon  Wed     2:00 PM - 3:20 PM Hegeman 204

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

An introduction to the basic ideas of differentiation and integration in one variable. Topics include limits, techniques of differentiation, definite integrals, the fundamental theorem of calculus, and applications. Prerequisite: MATH 110 or the equivalent.

 

Course:

MATH 141 D Calculus I

Professor:

Stefan Mendez-Diez  

CRN:

90095

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    12:10 PM - 1:30 PM Hegeman 308

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

16

Credits:

4

An introduction to the basic ideas of differentiation and integration in one variable. Topics include limits, techniques of differentiation, definite integrals, the fundamental theorem of calculus, and applications. Prerequisite: MATH 110 or the equivalent.

 

Course:

MATH 142 A Calculus II

Professor:

Lauren Rose  

CRN:

90096

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    2:00 PM - 3:20 PM Hegeman 204

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

This course, a continuation of Calculus I, reinforces the fundamental ideas of the derivative and the definite integral. Topics covered include techniques of integration, l'Hopital's rule, improper integrals, applications of integration, sequence, series and power series. Prerequisite: MATH 141 or the equivalent.

 

Course:

MATH 142 B Calculus II

Professor:

John Cullinan  

CRN:

90097

Schedule:

Mon  Wed     10:20 AM - 11:40 AM Reem Kayden Center 101

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

20

Credits:

4

This course, a continuation of Calculus I, reinforces the fundamental ideas of the derivative and the definite integral. Topics covered include techniques of integration, l'Hopital's rule, improper integrals, applications of integration, sequence, series and power series. Prerequisite: MATH 141 or the equivalent.

 

Course:

MATH 242  Elementary Linear Algebra

Professor:

Caitlin Leverson  

CRN:

90099

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    8:30 AM - 9:50 AM Hegeman 204

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

This course will cover the basics of linear algebra in n-dimensional Euclidean space, including vectors, matrices, systems of linear equations, determinants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, as well as applications of these concepts to the natural, physical and social sciences.  Prerequisite: MATH 142 or permission of the instructor.

 

Course:

MATH 261  Proofs and Fundamentals

Professor:

Lauren Rose  

CRN:

90101

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    10:20 AM - 11:40 AM Hegeman 308

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

15

Credits:

4

This course introduces students to the methodology of mathematical proof. The logic of compound and quantified statements, mathematical induction, and basic set theory including functions and cardinality are covered. Topics from foundational mathematics are developed to provide students with an opportunity to apply proof techniques. Prerequisite: MATH 142, or permission of instructor.

 

Course:

MATH 313  Discrete and Computational Geometry

Professor:

Ethan Bloch  

CRN:

90102

Schedule:

Mon  Wed     3:50 PM - 5:10 PM Hegeman 204

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

15

Credits:

4

Cross-listed:  Computer Science

Discrete and computational geometry, which has applications in areas such as pattern recognition, image processing, computer graphics and terrain modeling, is the study of geometric constructs in two-and three-dimensional space that arise from finite sets of points. This class will treat fundamental topics in the field, including convex hull, Delaunay triangulations, Voronoi diagrams, curve reconstruction and polyhedra. The class will combine both theory and algorithms; the work for the class will involve both traditional proofs and implementation of algorithms using the programming language Python, which will be discussed in class. Prerequisites: MATH 261, or CMSC 145 and some programming experience.

 

Course:

MATH 332  Abstract Algebra

Professor:

Stefan Mendez-Diez  

CRN:

90103

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    2:00 PM - 3:20 PM Albee 106

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

15

Credits:

4

An introduction to modern abstract algebraic systems. The structures of groups, rings, and fields are studied together with the homomorphisms of these objects. Topics include equivalence relations, finite groups, group actions, integral domains, polynomial rings, and finite fields. Prerequisite: MATH 261 or permission of the instructor.

 

Course:

MATH 351  Point Set Topology

Professor:

Caitlin Leverson  

CRN:

90104

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    10:20 AM - 11:40 AM Albee 106

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap:

15

Credits:

4

An introduction to point set topology. Topics include topological spaces, metric spaces, compactness, connectedness, continuity, homomorphisms, separation criteria, an introduction to knots, and, possibly, the fundamental group. Prerequisite: MATH 261, and one prior 300-level MATH course is recommended, or permission of the instructor.

 

Cross-listed courses:

 

Course:

CMSC 275  Statistics for Computing

Professor:

Kerri-Ann Norton  

CRN:

90083

Schedule:

Mon  Wed     10:20 AM – 11:40 AM Reem Kayden Center 107

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap

16

Credits:

4

Cross-listed:  Mathematics

 

Course:

PHYS 221  Mathematical Methods of Physics I

Professor:

Antonios Kontos  

CRN:

90109

Schedule:

Mon  Wed  Fri   2:00 PM - 3:20 PM Hegeman 201

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing

Class cap

16

Credits:

4

Cross-listed:  Mathematics