New Program: Master of Arts in Teaching

Course News

Major topics include divisibility theory, Euclidean Algorithm, prime numbers, congruences, Fermat's little theorem, number theoretic functions, and quadratic reciprocity. Other topics include cryptography and perfect numbers, as time permits.

Text: Elementary Number Theory, 6th edition, by David M. Burton.

Prerequisite: Any mathematics course where proofs were given in class or expected of the students. See the instructor if you have a question about your background.

Instructor: Peter Dragnev, Ph. D.

Peter Dragnev studied at Sofia State University and the Institute of Mathematics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He received a Ph. D. from the University of South Florida in 1997. His research interests are in analysis, in particular, approximation theory and potential theory.

Time and location: MTWR, 5:30-7:15 p.m. beginning June 29, in Kettler G49.

This is a second course in linear algebra, with applications. The course starts with a quick review of matrix algebra, then covers vector spaces, linear transformations, and a variety of topics related to eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Text: Linear Algebra, 4th edition, by Friedberg, Insel, and Spence.

Prerequisite: An undergraduate course in linear algebra, such as MA 351.

Instructor: Safwan Akkari, Ph. D.

Safwan Akkari joined the IPFW faculty in 1988. He has a B.S. from the Lebanese University and an M.S. from the University of Tennessee Space Institute. He received a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in 1988. His research interests are in matroid theory and graph theory.

Time and location: Mondays and Wednesdays 6-7:15 p.m. in CM 144 starting August 24.

This course presents the basic theory of some algebraic structures of importance in modern mathematics: groups, rings, and fields. The theory will be applied to the solution of polynomial equations, geometrical straightedge and compass constructions, and other topics.

Text: Abstract Algebra, 3rd edition, by John A. Beachy and William D. Blair.

Prerequisite: A first course in abstract algebra, such as MA 453, or consent of instructor. Some background in linear algebra is also helpful.

Instructor: Doug Weakley, Ph. D.

Doug Weakley received a Ph. D. from Northwestern University. He has published papers in algebra, combinatorics, graph theory, and coding theory.

Time and location: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30-5:45 p.m., beginning August 25, in Kettler 132.

This course is an introduction to probability as a foundation for statistics. Topics include sample spaces and random variables; joint, conditional, and marginal distributions, special discrete and continuous distributions; moment generating functions, distribution of functions of random variables; limit theorems.

Text: An Introduction to Probability and Statistical Inference by George Roussas.

Prerequisite: Multivariable calculus. See the instructor if you have a question about your background.

Instructor: Yihao Deng, Ph. D.

Yihao Deng joined the faculty in fall 2006, after receiving his Ph.D. in statistics from Old Dominion University. His areas of specialization include longitudinal data analysis, regression analysis, and generalized linear models. He has done consulting work on leadership and organizational change, youth violence prevention, adolescent ADHD, and other topics.

Time and location: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7:15 p.m., beginning August 25, in Kettler 218.

STAT 512 - Applied Regression Analysis

Topics covered include inference in simple and multiple linear regression, polynomial regression, model building with real data, nonlinear regression; one-way and two-way analysis of variance, analysis of covariance; use of existing statistical computer programs.

Text: Applied Linear Statistical Models, 5th ed., by J. Neter, M. Kutner, C. Nachtsheim, and W. Wasserman.

Prerequisite: A statistics course similar to STAT 511, 517, or 528. See the instructor if you have a question about your background.

Instructor: Yvonne Zubovic, Ph. D.

Yvonne Zubovic received a Ph. D. from The Ohio State University in 1988 and has taught at IPFW since 1991. In 1997, she received the Outstanding Teacher Award for IPFW. Her main research interests are in biostatistics.

Time and location: Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30-5:45 p.m., beginning August 24, in Kettler 216.

First-order quasi-linear equations and their application to physical and social sciences; the Cauchy-Kovalevsky theorem; characteristics, classification and canonical form of linear equations; equations of mathematical physics; study of the Laplace, wave, and heat equations; methods of solution.

Text: Introduction to Partial Differential Equations with Applications by E. C. Zachmanoglou and Dale W. Thoe

Prerequisite: a first course in differential equations, such as MA 363. See the instructor if you have a question about your background.

Instructor: Yifei Pan, Ph. D.

Yifei Pan received a Ph. D. from the University of Michigan. His thesis was written on a topic in several complex variables and he has published in complex analysis and PDE. His current interest is in PDE that connects with several complex variables.

Time and location: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 3:30-4:20 p.m., beginning August 24, in Kettler G50.