Mathematics, Bachelor's , Minor

At DeSales, we not only look at your past academic achievement but also your potential for future growth to determine your admission.

We find that students who have demonstrated significant achievement within a demanding curriculum are best suited for academic life at DeSales. Quality of academic performance plays a critical role in the admissions decision making process. This helps indicate a student's potential for academic growth going forward. We welcome applications from all qualified students regardless of race, religion, sex, national, or ethnic origin.

Application Checklist

• Application Fee: None
• Transcripts: Official High School Transcript
• Standardized Tests: Test-optional, however, an Admissions Interview may be requested
• Recommendations: Completed Guidance Counselor Form and Teacher Recommendation Form
• Please refer to the Program Specific Requirements section for any requirements specific to this program

All materials can be mailed to:
DeSales University Admissions Office
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley, PA 

* SAT scores are highly recommended for students applying for the Nursing and Health Science programs. Please refer to the Program Specific Requirements section for any requirements specific to this program.

Additional recommendations

High School Academics - Remember, there is no single preferred high school academic program, but a college preparatory course of study is highly recommended. Here's an example:

• Four years of English
• Three or four years of college preparatory mathematics
• A minimum of two years of modern, foreign, or classical language
• At least two laboratory science courses

Visiting DeSales - A personal, on-campus interview is strongly recommended, but is not required. We encourage you to visit so that you'll have a chance to learn more about DeSales, and we'll have the opportunity to learn more about you, too.

Learn more about Undergraduate Admissions & Aid 

Students who graduate from DeSales with a major in mathematics will be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the core concepts and techniques of calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, discrete mathematics, and probability & statistics;
2. understand and write mathematical proofs;
3. think critically and apply mathematical knowledge to solve a wide variety of mathematical problems;
4. communicate mathematically in both written and oral form with precision, clarity, and organization;
5. write basic computer programs and use technology for visualization, problem solving, and mathematical modeling.

Major specific classes will include:

• Calculus I-IV
• Statistical Analysis Using R
• Discrete Mathematics
• Differential Equations
• Probability Theory
• Linear Algebra
• Introduction to Python

Computer Labs/Classrooms

• three dedicated computer labs (one programming; one digital art; one hardware)
• labs are equipped with modern technology including dual monitor computers, digital art drawing tablets, smart boards and flat screen televisions classrooms are equipped with smart board technology and have a maximum capacity of less than 30 students

Software

• up-to-date software used in our classes include Microsoft Visual Studio, Eclipse, Virtual PC, Adobe Creative Cloud, Autodesk Maya, Unreal Game Engine, Oracle, Autodesk Mudbox, Geometer’s Sketchpad and Android Studio

Recent graduates of the department have obtained employment at companies including:

• Air Products & Chemicals, American Heritage Federal Credit Union, B. Braun Medical Inc.,
• Cigna Health Insurance, Crayola, LLC, Department of the Navy, ETS-Educational Testing Services,
• Harleysville Insurance, Hatch House Ventures, Lockheed Martin Corp., Lutron Electronics,
• Merck, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., PPL Corp., Prudential, St. Luke’s University Health Network, TD Bank,
• Trifecta Technologies, T-Mobile, Vanguard, amazon.com

Recent graduates of the department have pursued graduate studies at institutions including:

• University of Pennsylvania (Statistics/Analytics), Temple University (Applied Mathematics),
• Villanova University (Applied Statistics), Lehigh University (Pure Mathematics),
• University of Delaware (Financial Engineering), Rutgers University (Computer Science),
• University of Michigan (Data Mining; Bio-statistics), DeSales University (M.B.A., M.Ed., M.S.I.S.)

DeSales can help make your college expenses affordable through a combination of grants, loans, student employment, and scholarship resources.

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets

Cost of attendance for undergrads for 2024-2025

Resident Students

Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Room and Board - $13,800
Mandatory Fees - $1,800
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $60,800 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Total cost for resident students: $67,116

Commuter Students

Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $2,298
Total cost for commuter students: $57,122

Off-Campus*

Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $9,192
Total cost for off-campus students: $64,016
*First-year students are required to reside on campus or commute from home.

Parking Fee - $100

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets

Dual Degree Undergraduate-to-Graduate Programs

If you are enrolled in an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program — for example a 5-year, 3+2, 3+3, program — the undergraduate tuition and fees apply only to the undergraduate portion of the program. As you progress into the graduate phase of your program, graduate tuition and fees apply. Please see your respective graduate program for more information. 

Do you envision yourself pursuing a career in actuarial science? Or are you more of a high school math teacher?

At DeSales, you'll have the opportunity to choose an area of focus within the Mathematics major. Our program includes four track options: the general mathematics track, the actuarial science track, the teacher certification track, and the graduate school preparation track.

Each track leads to a BS in Mathematics, and includes coursework to help you specialize your math degree to match your specific career goals.

General Track

The general mathematics track provides a solid foundation in the major areas in the field of mathematics. This track provides the most flexibility and is often chosen by students wishing to double major or minor in another discipline.

The General track requires you to choose four electives from CS260 (Databases and Data Visualization), any MA course at the 300 or 400 level.

Actuarial Science Track

Actuarial science is the application of mathematics and statistics to the study of risk management. This concentration will prepare you for the first two exams offered by the Society of Actuaries/Casualty Actuarial Society.

The Actuarial Science track includes the following track-specific courses:

• MA 311: Actuarial Mathematics - P
• MA 312: Actuarial Mathematics - FM
• EC 209: Macroeconomics OR EC 210: Microeconomics
• CS 260: Database and Data Visualization

Teacher Certification Track

In coordination with the education department, we offer certification for those interested in teaching mathematics at the secondary level.

The Teacher Certification track includes the following track-specific courses:

• MA 351: Fundamentals of Modern Geometry
• MA 445: Advanced Calculus OR MA 471: Abstract Algebra
• ED 412: Teaching Mathematics in Secondary Schools
• Elective: any one MA course at 300 level or above

Graduate School Preparation Track

The Graduate School Preparation track will provide you with a broad foundation in the theoretical branches of mathematics to prepare you for graduate school.

The Graduate School Preparation track includes the following track-specific courses:

• MA 351: Fundamentals of Modern Geometry
• MA 445: Advanced Calculus OR MA 471: Abstract Algebra
• Two electives from any MA course at 300 or 400 level