Students study mathematics and information science at the Department of Mathematical Sciences. At our Department, we want mathematics to be exciting! When you studied math in high school, did you ever think “Why does the answer come out like this?” or “I don’t really get this but it’s really interesting!”
At the Department of Mathematical Sciences, we start with carefully examining any doubts, however simple, that students may have about the field. Next, we systematically study the world of mathematics both broadly and deeply. To achieve this, students are trained to engage in correct logical thinking, because mathematics is about more than just getting the correct answer by plugging numbers into formulas.
Computers have now developed to a level where massive amounts of data can be processed — data volume so large that it could not possibly have previously been processed by humans by hand. In other words, the science of mathematics is no longer simply about the pursuit of pure, beautiful theory, since we are now more and more able to carry out specific mathematical experiments in practice. Sophisticated mathematical theory is required in any authentic research on chaos and fractal theory, encryption, game theory, etc., and basic probability equations are used in the field of economics. In our world of highly developed information technology and scientific technology, individuals who are steeped in the basics of mathematics at the university level are in great demand.
At the Mathematical Sciences Faculty, we train students to meet these kinds of societal demands, and at the same time we conduct specialized research to advance the fields of mathematics and information science. Our curriculum includes the following types of lectures: First year students study calculus and linear algebra, and also attend small basic studies classes where they learn how to read books on mathematics and to correctly explain the content. Second-year students learn the basic theory of algebra, geometry, and analysis. Third-year students study even more sophisticated modern mathematical theory and also identify the fields of mathematics that they are interested in. Fourth-year students select a faculty member working in their chosen field of research and do their graduation research project with that faculty member. Approximately two students study under each advising facility member, a system enabling students to study their field of specialization in depth.