Maths degrees without Programming

geurrp the yard · 25-11-2008 06:21PM #1

Is there any "Pure maths degrees" were you can totally avoid doing any type of computer programming or computer related modules. Ive done the likes of C,C++,basic and pascal in a degree in electronic engineering and absolutely hated it. Also what type of degree projects have people done in there final year and did it involve any type of computer application?

Fremen · 25-11-2008 08:28PM

Assuming the course hasn't changed, you could probably get away with doing that in science in UCD. You'd have to take two science subjects in first year, and you'd need to write up lab reports in Matlab, but you could probably pick your courses so there was almost no computing.

Bit of a strange thing to do though, because you'd almost certainly end up doing at least a bit of coding in whatever job you got with a maths degree.

LeixlipRed · 26-11-2008 12:26AM

The BA in Mathematics in Maynooth is a pure maths course with two piss easy maple modules in first year. Not even programming as such. They're low credit modules as well so only 1 hour a week iirc.

TommyGunne · 28-11-2008 11:08PM

If you're doing a pure maths course, programming is pretty vital. Unless you wanna be some rando maths professor working out problems on a blackboard. In that case fire away.

Seriously though, programming/computer literacy is just incredibly vital for this area of work. If you are good at maths it shouldn't be an issue though because it uses very similar logic.

LeixlipRed · 28-11-2008 11:32PM

TommyGunne wrote: »

If you're doing a pure maths course, programming is pretty vital. Unless you wanna be some rando maths professor working out problems on a blackboard. In that case fire away.

What rubbish. Pure maths has nothing to do with programming. Pure maths is to do with the theory and aesthetics of maths. Solving problems. Which you certainly need no interest or ability in programming to study and enjoy such things.

geurrp the yard · 29-11-2008 01:52AM

LeixlipRed wrote: »

The BA in Mathematics in Maynooth is a pure maths course with two piss easy maple modules in first year. Not even programming as such. They're low credit modules as well so only 1 hour a week iirc.

Did you not use programs like matlab or latex during your degree Leixlip? In terms of content, Whats the difference between the BA in Mathematics and the BA in mathematical studies?

LeixlipRed · 29-11-2008 01:04PM

I actually did Maths Studies and later a MSc in Maths. The difference is huge. The BA in Maths is much more rigorous and theoretical. Maths Studies is more biased towards the applications as such. I never intended on doing maths when I went to college hence my choice of Maths Studies. For example, in first year in Studies you revise LC maths basically. In the BA you study analysis, linear algebra, etc. Totally different. No maths modules in Maynooth would require a knowledge of mathlab. There is a module in latex alright if you need it to do a project.

Pherekydes · 29-11-2008 02:11PM

LeixlipRed wrote: »

I actually did Maths Studies and later a MSc in Maths. The difference is huge. The BA in Maths is much more rigorous and theoretical. Maths Studies is more biased towards the applications as such. I never intended on doing maths when I went to college hence my choice of Maths Studies. For example, in first year in Studies you revise LC maths basically. In the BA you study analysis, linear algebra, etc. Totally different. No maths modules in Maynooth would require a knowledge of mathlab. There is a module in latex alright if you need it to do a project.

I agree with this. As a mature student (43) I never intended doing Maths in college so I chose Maths Studies. Some of the stuff is tough, but not mind-alteringly hard. :rolleyes: (Though I did do double honours with Stats as my other, which is a whole different ballgame). Now I'm back in the first year of an MA and covering stuff one would cover in a BA in Maths, like Analysis, as LeixlipRed mentioned, and it's very tough, especially if you haven't tackled it before. I'm not trying to put anyone off. Just be prepared to work very hard and do nothing but Maths. (I was dreaming of factorials last night

)

Fremen · 29-11-2008 03:06PM

Latex is indespensible at higher levels of maths (nitpicking here, but latex isn't a programming language). I'm going to go out on a limb and say you will have to use it at some stage if you go higher than a BSc. Someone once told me that the number theory PhD students coded more than anyone else he knew, so pure maths isn't a guarantee of being computer-free.

I think it's perhaps a little unwise to take maths if you're determined never to use a computer: you're closing off a load of avenues before you've even explored them.

It is possible that you were given crappy assingments in your EE degree. Maybe try playing around with some of the problems at project euler?
http://projecteuler.net/

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 29-11-2008 03:13PM

Fremen wrote: »

(nitpicking here, but latex isn't a programming language).

Nitpicking here but I believe TeX is Turing Complete

LeixlipRed · 29-11-2008 05:56PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

I agree with this. As a mature student (43) I never intended doing Maths in college so I chose Maths Studies. Some of the stuff is tough, but not mind-alteringly hard. :rolleyes: (Though I did do double honours with Stats as my other, which is a whole different ballgame). Now I'm back in the first year of an MA and covering stuff one would cover in a BA in Maths, like Analysis, as LeixlipRed mentioned, and it's very tough, especially if you haven't tackled it before. I'm not trying to put anyone off. Just be prepared to work very hard and do nothing but Maths. (I was dreaming of factorials last night )

How's the MA going btw? Bit different as you already mentioned

Pherekydes · 29-11-2008 07:32PM

LeixlipRed wrote: »

How's the MA going btw? Bit different as you already mentioned

My brain is undergoing a type of mental SAS training.

I'm sure it's going to crack soon. After that, everything will be just fine.

Analysis, analysis, analysis. I have analysis coming out my ears.

LeixlipRed · 29-11-2008 07:58PM

You done Real Analysis last year though right? It used to be that you had to do that at the same time as Complex if you came from studies which made it exceptionally tricky. You're getting off easy :P

Fremen · 29-11-2008 08:15PM

Sean_K wrote: »

Nitpicking here but I believe TeX is Turing Complete

Ha! I stand corrected. Maybe that's what they wrote Vista in

Pherekydes · 29-11-2008 09:25PM

LeixlipRed wrote: »

You done Real Analysis last year though right? It used to be that you had to do that at the same time as Complex if you came from studies which made it exceptionally tricky. You're getting off easy :P

Nope, I did nothing last year.

I'm doing Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Differential analysis Geometry and Rings and Fields this semester. Tis exceptionally tricky.

Fremen · 29-11-2008 10:08PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

Nope, I did nothing last year. I'm doing Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Differential analysis Geometry and Rings and Fields this semester. Tis exceptionally tricky.

Feckin' wish I knew more analysis. Gonna have to relearn it at some stage.

Michael Collins · 30-11-2008 02:53AM

Fremen wrote: »

Feckin' wish I knew more analysis. Gonna have to relearn it at some stage.

Yeh me too. It'll be learning it for me though, as I've never gone into it in any real detail (forgive the pun). I was going to try and teach it to myself at some point...but I have a sneaking suspicion that it'll be awful hard to grasp without some guidance...

geurrp the yard · 30-11-2008 02:57AM

LeixlipRed wrote: »

I actually did Maths Studies and later a MSc in Maths. The difference is huge. The BA in Maths is much more rigorous and theoretical. Maths Studies is more biased towards the applications as such. I never intended on doing maths when I went to college hence my choice of Maths Studies. For example, in first year in Studies you revise LC maths basically. In the BA you study analysis, linear algebra, etc. Totally different. No maths modules in Maynooth would require a knowledge of mathlab. There is a module in latex alright if you need it to do a project.

So im assuming the BA in Mathematics would be more highly regarded and advantageous if your doing a masters as opposed from the mathematical studies course. Can i do that BA mathematics and another arts subject all the way through the arts degree. Im a bit confused on this single honours and double honours stuff mentioned in their prospectus.

Pherekydes wrote: »

I agree with this. As a mature student (43) I never intended doing Maths in college so I chose Maths Studies. Some of the stuff is tough, but not mind-alteringly hard. :rolleyes: (Though I did do double honours with Stats as my other, which is a whole different ballgame). Now I'm back in the first year of an MA and covering stuff one would cover in a BA in Maths, like Analysis, as LeixlipRed mentioned, and it's very tough, especially if you haven't tackled it before. I'm not trying to put anyone off. Just be prepared to work very hard and do nothing but Maths. (I was dreaming of factorials last night )

Fair play to you for going back to college, sure doesnt life start at 40?

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 30-11-2008 02:28PM

Fremen wrote: »

http://projecteuler.net/

Nice site, ta.

TommyGunne · 02-12-2008 11:35PM

LeixlipRed wrote: »

What rubbish. Pure maths has nothing to do with programming. Pure maths is to do with the theory and aesthetics of maths. Solving problems. Which you certainly need no interest or ability in programming to study and enjoy such things.

Obv you don't need it to study and enjoy these, but it is almost essential at the moment when you use maths in the workplace.

Meh if you plan to use maths in a non-academic job you will kinda need to use programming. I'm sure you will be able to give me examples, but it is just so so so so so so useful, and pretty much everyone using maths to an respectable level in their workplace would be hindered by not having some level of programming aptitude. Obv you can get away with it by using IT people to do your stuff for you, but doing it yourself is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that in so so many ways.

I'm not a huge fan of programming, but from what I know is expected of me in my job atm, and other lines of work that I may eventually fall into, all are very much aided by having some form of aptitude in this line.

I can't think of a single person I know who has completed any maths related course that does not use programming of some form in their work, bar the people still working in college, and most of them that I know still use it to a pretty huge extent.

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 02-12-2008 11:47PM

TommyGunne wrote: »

Obv you don't need it to study and enjoy these, but it is almost essential at the moment when you use maths in the workplace.

Meh if you plan to use maths in a non-academic job you will kinda need to use programming. I'm sure you will be able to give me examples, but it is just so so so so so so useful, and pretty much everyone using maths to an respectable level in their workplace would be hindered by not having some level of programming aptitude. Obv you can get away with it by using IT people to do your stuff for you, but doing it yourself is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that in so so many ways.

I'm not a huge fan of programming, but from what I know is expected of me in my job atm, and other lines of work that I may eventually fall into, all are very much aided by having some form of aptitude in this line.

I can't think of a single person I know who has completed any maths related course that does not use programming of some form in their work, bar the people still working in college, and most of them that I know still use it to a pretty huge extent.

You're talking about applications as opposed to pure.

KnifeWRENCH · 03-12-2008 03:21AM

I'm doing Joint degree in Maths/Physics (2nd Year) at UCC. AFAIK my course involves no programming at all. The only computer-related module I have involves Mathematica (which isn't difficult to use, once you get the nhang of it)

It is possible to do a degree in Mathematical Science (i.e. no physics) without taking a programming module. If you enter through the course CK407 and pass 1st Year, you can then do 30 credits of maths, 10 credits of Applied Maths and 20 credits of Statistics in 2nd Year. Doing only 10 AM credits means you don't have to do C-programming.

However, in 3rd and 4th year you must (as far as I can tell) do 30 credits of pure maths and 30 credits of statistics. Would this course suit you, do you think? Or would you rather a course with more Maths and less Stats?

764dak · 27-08-2012 08:47AM

Can somebody give me examples of careers for people with math background that doesn't require a lot of programming?

TheBody · 27-08-2012 10:18AM

764dak wrote: »

Can somebody give me examples of careers for people with math background that doesn't require a lot of programming?

Teaching, banking, financial stuff, some types of engineering.

764dak · 28-08-2012 05:40AM

TheBody wrote: »

Teaching, banking, financial stuff, some types of engineering.

I thank you. Also, what types of engineering?

Maths degrees without Programming

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