Outcomes

Some of our graduates are working for large employers such as Eli Lilly & Company, Facebook, Cummins, Caterpillar, USA Funds, EDS, American States Insurance, Inland Mortgage, and American United Life Insurance. Other graduates opt for smaller companies such as Premier Solutions and Software Artistry (consulting firms), Sagian Inc. (which provides software for robots used in chemical laboratories), and Prism Data Services Inc. (which implements medical software). Our graduates also are teaching in public schools and at the college level.

For those interested in graduate school, fellowships and assistantships are available which cover tuition and provide additional stipends of over $15,000 per year. Those who have chosen graduate school have compiled successful records at the doctorate and master’s level at the following schools:

• Auburn University
• Georgia Tech
• Indiana University
• Miami University (Ohio)
• Ohio State University
• University of Cincinnati
• Vanderbilt University

Recent Internships

All mathematics majors complete an internship or independent study — and many complete more than one — so all Franklin College Mathematics and Computing graduates have a professional background that better prepares them for their future career. There is a diverse array of employers who are eager to have interns from our department of mathematics and computing, and frequently these internships lead to job offers upon graduation. Our majors have recently interned at:

• Black & Decker
• Caterpillar
• Cummins (School-to-Work Program), including work with
  • Engineering Quality
  • Data Analytics
  • Materials Engineering
  • Operations
  • Information Technology
• Engineering Quality
• Data Analytics
• Materials Engineering
• Operations
• Information Technology
• Dixie Chopper
• Goldman Sachs
• Herron Associates, Inc.
• Insurance companies, including:
  • Allstate Insurance (larger)
  • Diamond Insurance (smaller)
• Allstate Insurance (larger)
• Diamond Insurance (smaller)
• Irwin Union Bank
• Lincoln Financial Services
• Maple Leaf Farms
• NCAA (Statistics Intern)
• NSWC – Crane Division
• Salesforce

Undergraduate Scholarship

Mathematics majors are offered multiple opportunities for undergraduate research. All projects involve a proposal, implementation of a solution, and a presentation of the final product. Experiences include:

• MAT 345: Statistical Consulting Project – Student teams are paired with a non-profit in need of data analysis. Those teams meet with the local non-profit, propose a solution to the problem, and implement a solution.
• MAT 490: Independent Study in Mathematics – Many students complete an independent study where they explore areas of mathematics beyond what is typically covered in regular coursework. Recent topics have included:
  • Data analysis projects (such as studies on the effectiveness of office hour attendance, predictors of student success in college mathematics, and the effect of lane assignments on competitive swimming)
  • The mathematics of the Rubik’s Cube, Monopoly, Risk, and other games
  • Non-transitivity of scoring in swim meets
  • Time series analysis
  • Numerical analysis
  • Topology and its applications chemistry
  • Ramsey theory
  • Christian apologetics
  • Intensive actuarial exam preparation

Though not a requirement, many students present their work at a conference or publish their findings in a research journal.

• PDP 330: Big Data and the Professional Workplace – This is a professional development course designed specifically for students who want to work with extremely large data sets in industry. Paired with alumni coaches who not only provide the data, but also professional coaching and feedback, students analyze industry-grade data sets for a real-world company. Students have recently worked with:
  • Crash report data under the guidance of an alumnus at LexisNexis
  • Healthcare data under the guidance of an alumnus at Covance
  • Franklin College Institutional Advancement data under the guidance of an alumnus at Eli Lilly and an alumnus working as a professional statistical consultant

Research Experience for Undergraduates – Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU’s) are off-site summer research opportunities supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). These NSF-funded experiences are competitive, and students accepted participate in faculty-mentored undergraduate research during the summer months, typically with housing and a stipend. Many FC mathematics majors apply for these experiences during the spring of their sophomore or junior year. Recent REU’s in which FC mathematics and computing students have participated in include:

• Michigan State University (Summer 2018)
• IUPUI (Summer 2018)
• Purdue University (Summer 2016)

Mathematics and Computing Awards – High-achieving students in mathematics and computing receive recognition and support through a collection of endowed awards made possible by alumni and other friends of the department. In addition, professional development funds are awarded to students wishing to pursue additional career preparation outside of the standard curriculum. Recent recipients have used these funds to purchase study materials for the actuarial science exams and to take the actuarial P and FM exams.