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Mathematics is a rich discipline with powerful abstract ideas, wide-ranging applications, and a long history. René Descartes once stated that "Mathematics is a more powerful instrument of knowledge than any other that has been bequeathed to us by human agency.” Many scientific laws are nowadays phrased in the language of modern mathematics. Natural phenomena, from weather patterns to the spread of a disease and the evolution of the universe are modeled and analyzed mathematically. Mathematics is used in all modern technological and scientific endeavors, from determining the optimal shape of aircraft wings to Internet search and improving transportation efficiency. Mathematical objects are studied in relation to their empirical origin, or in their own right, in pure math.
OSU's Department of Mathematics is a prominent mathematical research center. The department, joint with the Department of Statistics, is ranked 5th in the US in terms of National Science Foundation (NSF) funding for Mathematical Sciences in 2013. Faculty members have received prestigious national and international prizes and recognitions. Our faculty routinely conduct interdisciplinary research with other departments, schools, and institutes on campus. Most notably, the Department of Mathematics, jointly with the Department of Statistics, is home to the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI), one of the 8 national mathematical sciences institutes sponsored by the NSF. Our department is a well-known education center for undergraduate and graduate level mathematics. The Ohio State mathematics major introduces students to the areas of real and complex analysis, number theory, abstract algebra, topology, logic, and many other modern topics. Mathematical study can be designed to support different career goals, such as industrial employment, professional education, or preparation for graduate school.
