This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. We may add courses that expose our students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning. We may also add content to the general education program that focuses on racial literacy and a racial literacy graduation requirement, and may receive notification of additional program approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

The curriculum in mathematical sciences promotes understanding of the mathematical sciences and their structures, uses and relationships to other disciplines. To this end, the scholarly growth of the faculty and students in the mathematical sciences is nurtured through study, research and a high standard of teaching. The curriculum provides a sound foundation for the student seeking to enter a career with a technological orientation or for the student who wishes to pursue graduate study in applied mathematics, biomathematics, mathematics, operations research, statistics, teaching mathematics in secondary schools or related fields.

A Bachelor of Science is offered jointly by the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and the Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research. In the Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research, students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences can choose a concentration of operations research, which focuses on modern mathematical techniques for solving problems arising from other fields, such as engineering, business or economics.

Student learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know how to do the following:

Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences core outcomes

  • Solve mathematical problems
  • Solve and interpret mathematical problems which originate from applications outside of mathematics
  • Use technology to solve and/or explore mathematical problems

Operations research concentration-specific outcomes

  • Explain the theory of mathematical programming and apply basic mathematical programming methods
  • Explain the theory of stochastic models and decision analysis and apply these methods effectively
  • Obtain, analyze and interpret the data necessary to perform operations research projects
  • Solve a wide variety of operations research problems using the software commonly used in industry, such as Microsoft Excel’s Solver, @RISK and AMPL, and common programming software such as Matlab, Python and R
  • Model situations in which operations research can be applied
  • Apply the mathematics required to perform operations research methods
  • Clearly and concisely present technical information in writing
  • Clearly and concisely present technical information through oral presentations