Course syllabus for Mathematics: a survey

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-05 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMatematisk orientering
  • CodeMVE235
  • Credits3 Credits
  • OwnerTKTEM
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyMathematics
  • ThemeMTS 1.5 c
  • DepartmentMATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 59116
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0108 Project 3 c
Grading: UG
3 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

The same as for admission to the programme.

Aim

The aim of the course is to stimulate reflection around mathematics: its development and impact through history and its current research directions, as well as areas in industry and society where expertise in engineering mathematics is needed. 

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  1. Explain the evolution of mathematics and how mathematics has affected other sciences and society as a whole
  2. Explain some research areas of mathematics and how they are applied in different engineering disciplines
  3. Write a summary text which constitutes a synthesis of information from different sources

Content

Some examples from the history of mathematics and contemporary areas of mathematical research, both theoretical and applied in nature, all of which together illustrate how widely applicable and important mathematics is. Examples are taken from, e.g., algebra, analysis, computational science, combinatorics, optimization, probability and statistics.


Organisation

Lectures, some of which involve guest lecturers and representatives from different areas of mathematics research and applied mathematics. Lectures about the language of mathematics and academic language.

Literature

Lecture notes.

Examination including compulsory elements

Using the lectures about mathematics as a starting point, the students write a summary text. Despite the fact that the lecture series lacks a coherent theme (other than the purpose to orient the students about mathematics), the students are expected to synthesize central and supportive information from the different lectures into a coherent text with a clear central idea. The purpose of the text should be either to (i) explain how mathematics has evolved, how it affects and interacts with other sciences and society as a whole, or (ii) explain how some ideas central to mathematics and mathematics in general is applied in engineering disciplines, that is, say something about the professional application of mathematics. 

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.