Università degli Studi di Parma

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First cycle degree

Mathematics

COD. 3030
WEBSITE
A.Y. 2010/2011
CLASS:
L-35 - Classe delle lauree in Scienze matematiche
Years of study: 3
Credits (CFU): 180
Mode of study: full-time

COURSE STRUCTURE DIAGRAM WITH CREDITS

CORSO GENERICO (curriculum)

Year of study: 1

Year of study: 2

Year of study: 3

GENERALE (curriculum)

Year of study: 1

Year of study: 2

Year of study: 3

MATEMATICO/INFORMATICO (curriculum)

Year of study: 1

Year of study: 2

Year of study: 3

Admission requirements

The degree course in Mathematics does not have restricted enrolment numbers, and students who wish to enrol for the Degree Course in Mathematics have to have a secondary high school diploma, or another qualification attained abroad and recognized as equivalent in accordance with current legislation.
Essential requirements for correctly starting the course comprise the habit of disciplined thought, familiarity with the mathematical language of arithmetic, algebra and geometry, and an interest in learning new concepts. The assessment of students' possession of this knowledge will be performed using procedures that will be indicated in the Academic Regulations for the degree course in Mathematics, which will also specify the compulsory extra tuition that may be necessary in the case that results of the assessment are negative. In no case will the result of the test definitively compromise the possibility of enrolling onto the Degree Course. Students should also be familiar with basic scientific culture.

Key learning outcomes

The Mathematics Degree course was designed to provide a consolidated grounding in foundation Mathematics subjects, giving students the chance to learn the modern approach to these subjects and to become familiar with their various aspects, both as regards general and methodological themes, and practical applications. The degree course is subdivided into two syllabi. Alongside studies in the field of mathematics, there is work on Information technology, concentrating on the algorithm and computational aspects of mathematics. The fundamental tool for the development of students’ knowledge and skills consists of lectures, along with exercise and/or laboratory sessions. This seems to be the most effective method of imparting the specific content of individual subject areas and their reciprocal relations.
Exercises are essential to learn how to use knowledge, rather than being limited to purely mnemonic repetition. The assessment of the knowledge learned in each subject area is performed by evaluating a written paper, possibly with an oral interview. The many exercises set for students encourage their attainment of greater independence in their studies, along with the capability to independently assess the accuracy of their work. The use of computer tools in laboratory work, in information technology courses and in mathematics courses, enables students to learn specific skills and to greatly increase their capacity for experimenting the applied use of the knowledge that they have learned, whether under supervision or independently. The final examinations of courses that include laboratory work generally verify specific knowledge, and also the ability for working independently or in small groups. The preparation for the final examination can be considered as a way of encouraging students to gain first-hand experience of mathematics papers beyond the recommended text-books or the material distributed during individual course subject lectures, and to improve their individual skills in the consultation of texts and the papers included in a scientific bibliography, both in Italian and in English. Mathematics graduates will be able to continue their studies with a high degree of independence, in a Master’s Degree course in the Mathematics class, and in complementary areas of science if so desired. Alternatively they can enter employment in a variety of roles, utilizing their skills of mental flexibility.

Career opportunities

Even though there are no specific professional profile categories for mathematicians, there are many possible employment possibilities for graduates in Mathematics:
- in companies and industry;
- laboratories and research centres;
- in the circulation of scientific culture;
- in the services sector;
- in public administration, in various areas, including that of information technology. In general, in all those cases in which a flexible mentality is useful, along with computational and information technology skills, and familiarity with the management, analysis and processing of numerical data.

Knowledge and understanding

Graduates in Mathematics:
- are familiar with the fundamental aspects of mathematical analysis (differential and integral calculus with one or more variables), algebra (linear algebra, fundamental algebraic structures), affine and projective Euclidean geometry (general topology, the geometry of curves and surfaces) and Mathematical Physics;
- they also have foundation knowledge of differential equations, and of complex variable functions;
- have satisfactory knowledge of the fundamental techniques of Numerical Analysis;
- are familiar with and understand the basic applications of Mathematics to Physics and Information Technology;
- have adequate computational and information technology skills, including programming languages and specific software programmes;
- are capable of reading and understanding advanced Mathematical texts, and of consulting Mathematics research articles.
- are capable of constructing and developing Mathematical hypotheses, with clearly identified precepts and conclusions;
Assessment of results is performed by the following methods: progress assessment tests during courses, individual or group exercises set by professors, written and/or oral examinations at the end of courses, and the final examination.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Graduates in Mathematics:
- are capable of producing logical demonstrations of mathematical conclusions, not identical to proofs that they already know, but with a clear relation to them;
- are capable of solving moderately difficult problems in various areas of Mathematics, profitably using symbolic formulation;
- are capable of using information technology and computational tools, both to assist mathematics processes, and to obtain further information.
The exercises set for all subject areas, together with the written and oral tests set for examinations, computer laboratory work and compulsory computational tasks, enable the above-listed objectives to be obtained.

Making judgements

Graduates in Mathematics:
- are capable of constructing and developing logical hypotheses, with clearly identified precepts and conclusions;
- are capable of recognizing valid demonstrations, and of identifying erroneous steps in reasoning;
- are capable of proposing and analyzing simple mathematical models associated with real situations from other subject areas, and of using these models to facilitate the study of the original situation;
- have experience of working in a team, even though they also have a high degree of independence.
These results are attained by means of the following:
- individual work assigned as individual exercises;
- the preparation of seminars;
- the compilation of a final report;
- possible work experience at companies.
Continuous assessment of results is performed by the following methods:
- presentation of specific subjects in seminar-type work;
- assessment tests during courses;
- written and/or oral exams at the end of courses;
- final examination.

Learning skills

Graduates in Mathematics:
- are capable of continuing their studies, in Mathematics and in other subjects, with a high degree of independence;
- have a flexible mentality, and are capable of rapidly settling into their position at the workplace, quickly adapting to new tasks.

Communication skills

Graduates in Mathematics:
- are capable of communicating problems, ideas and solutions regarding mathematics, whether developed by themselves or by others, to specialists or members of the general public, in their own language and in English, in both written and oral form;
- are capable of working as part of a team, even though operating with closely defined levels of independence, and of rapidly settling into their position at the workplace.

Final examination, if any

The final examination consists of the discussion of a paper, in the presence of a specially nominated commission, in accordance with procedures defined in the Academic Regulations for the Degree Course in Mathematics. The paper will have been prepared under the guidance of a supervising professor. It may comprise the treatment of a theoretical subject, or the solution of a specific problem, or the description of a work project, or of a work experience period in a company, a laboratory, a school or another such institution. The paper may be compiled in English.