We teach Mathematics differently
Our Mathematics Department focuses on creative classroom instruction and active learning. The Mathematics Department offers its students an energetic and dedicated faculty who find the world of mathematics exciting and challenging, and coursework that provides students with opportunities to experience the wonders of mathematics. Our courses are inquiry based, interactive and exploratory.
- Hands-on learning with activities and projects, portfolios, group work and cooperative learning
- Small department, with classes capped at 25 and a 1:7 faculty/student ratio
- We “go outside and play” with mathematics activities, such as sidewalk chalk mathematics
- You'll be writing about mathematics and reading and writing about mathematical literature
- You're encouraged to present at conferences and volunteer in the community
- Many faculty have developed customized course materials instead of using standard textbooks
Contact us
Jesse Johnson
Chair - Mathematics Department
Wilson Hall 328D
Academic Programs
Major
Minor
Post-Baccalaureate Licensure
Competencies Developed
Mathematical Knowledge
- Students will be able to read and explore modern mathematical concepts from a variety of fields in both abstract and applied settings.
- Students will be comfortable independently exploring new ideas in the mathematical arts and sciences.
- Students will appreciate the power of mathematical philosophy with regard to proof, truth, infinity, logic, and axiomatic structures.
- Students will appreciate the power of mathematical philosophy with regard to proof, truth, infinity, logic, and axiomatic structures.
- Students will recognize the importance of understanding why various phenomena work the way they do.
- Students will appreciate the interconnectedness of mathematics and be able to apply concepts from multiple areas simultaneously.
Communication
- Students will use the language of mathematical proof effectively to demonstrate the validity of mathematical conjectures.
- Students will be able present questions, analyses, and solutions from a variety of mathematical scenarios to both an expert audience and general audience.
- Students will objectively analyze and critique mathematical arguments and processes.
Applying Mathematics
- Students will develop skills in problems solving.
- Students will be able to approach new problems comfortably and use problem-solving skills to develop analysis approaches.
- Students will use modern technology like R, Geogebra, Sage, Python, or Excel to analyze data and mathematical structures.
- Students will be able to use the fundamentals of mathematics to construct and evaluate models for complex problems.
Professional Development
- Students will be able to effectively work in a team and lead work on projects.
- Students will be prepared for new careers through internships and courses dedicated to using mathematics in real settings.
- Students will be earn all needed licenses/credits for relevant careers in education or the actuarial sciences.
Department Highlights
Mission:
The Westfield State Department of Mathematics supports students in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in becoming active, competent mathematical thinkers who promote the central role of mathematics in the world around us. We are grounded in the liberal arts tradition; we develop our students’ understanding and appreciation of the role of mathematics in many other disciplines and the broad importance of the developments within mathematics itself. We offer students a diverse range of general-education courses that promote students’ skills in critical thinking, information literacy and analysis, integrative learning, and problem solving. We help our students thrive by teaching with supportive options that reach a broad range of learning and appeal to a variety of learning styles. We also offer robust intermediate and advanced coursework to prepare students for graduate study in advanced mathematics or careers in the actuarial sciences, statistics, education, data analysis, and newly-emerging fields such as data science.