Mathematics at FRC
Feather River College offers two pathways in mathematics, each with its own review course, just in case you need one to get you started. One pathway offers courses from Intermediate Algebra through a sequence of Calculus courses and Differential Equations. This path will lead you towards a career in science, technology, engineering, or math. The second pathway leads to a course in statistics that will satisfy the mathematics requirement for other careers. The Math Department also offers courses for future elementary or early childhood teachers.
Why Major in Mathematics?
You like it and/or you're good at it. Do you really need another reason? If you need a little more convincing, read on.
How About Salaries?
The chart on the left below, extracted from the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2005 salary survey, provides a comparison of average starting salaries for students by undergraduate major to the average starting salary for an English major. The chart on the right shows the highest and lowest paying undergraduate majors according to a 2013 study by NPR.
Salary Differential (compared to English)
| Major |
Salary Differential |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | +37.7% |
| Biology | +0.8% |
| Chemistry | +22.8% |
| Economics | +33.5% |
| English | 0% |
| Foreign Languages | +5.1% |
| History | +0.9% |
| Political Science | +4.9% |
| Psychology | -4.4% |
| Sociology | -0.3% |
Majors with Highest & Lowest Earnings
What about Job Satisfaction?
In addition to higher pay, a math major's employment promises higher levels of job satisfaction. The 2018 Jobs Rated Report ranks 220 jobs according to four criteria: income, stress, growth outlook, and work environment. Mathematician ranks 2nd out of 220. Plus, most jobs rated in the top 10, such as Actuary, also involve significant mathematical reasoning and knowledge.
| Job | Satisfaction Rating |
|---|---|
| Mathematician | 2 |
| Statistician | 5 |
| Data Scientist | 7 |
|
Information Security Analyst |
8 |
| Actuary | 10 |
| Software Developer | 11 |
| Physicist | 15 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | 24 |
| Petroleum Engineer | 26 |
| Veterinarian | 41 |
| Psychologist | 89 |
| General Physician | 95 |
| Social Worker | 123 |
| Attorney | 126 |
| Senior Corporate Executive | 146 |
Want to be a doctor or a lawyer?
A study by the National Institute of Education, compared the scores of 550,000 college students who took the LSAT and GMAT, the tests to gain entry into medical or law school, with data collected over the previous eighteen years. Here’s what they found out about the effect different majors had on scores.
| Major | LSAT | GMAT |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | +12.8% |
+13.3% |
| Arts and Music |
-0.05% |
-1.2% |
| Biology |
+4.0% |
+3.3% |
| Business |
-4.5% |
-0.8% |
| Chemistry |
+7.6% |
+7.5% |
| Economics |
+9.6% |
+7.3% |
| Education |
-8.7% |
-4.2% |
| English |
+5.6% |
+4.1% |
| Foreign Languages |
+5.7% |
+3.3% |
| History |
+2.9% |
+4.6% |
| Philosophy |
+8.7% |
+11.0% |
| Political Science |
-1.6% |
+0.06% |
| Psychology |
+0.9% |
+0.8% |
| Sociology |
-7.0% |
+0.8% |
Degrees
The problem-solving, logical reasoning, and critical thinking skills taught in mathematics prepare students for a great number of job opportunities in areas such as science, technology, engineering, industry, and education. This degree prepares students to transfer to a university at the junior level where they can complete a bachelor’s (4 year) degree in mathematics. It can also help students prepare for advanced (master’s or above) degrees in business, law, or medicine. Unlike the AS-T degree, the AS degree’s general education requirements are not specifically matched to those for CSU’s.
Credit Hours: 60
Mathematics encompasses logic and the methodology of reasoning. It provides the tools for critical thinking and decision-making. The Associate in Science in Mathematics for Transfer, AS-T, degree prepares students for transfer at the junior level and with priority admission into the CSU system for further study in either pure or applied mathematics. A bachelor’s (4 year) degree in mathematics prepares students for a variety of careers, including science, technology, engineering, industry, and education. It can also help students prepare for advanced (master’s or above) degrees in business, law, or medicine. The AS-T degree assures that students will complete the appropriate lower-division general education courses required by the CSU’s.
Credit Hours: 60
Ready to take the next step
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