University of Central Arkansas

Welcome to the Department of Mathematics at the University of Central Arkansas.  The Department of Mathematics is committed to excellence in education. The primary mission of the department is to help students obtain a solid foundation of mathematical knowledge and to make skillful use of appropriate technology and apply it to the work force.  The department is also committed to scholarly activity and service to enhance the professional and academic growth of students and faculty while at the same time, serving the university and community by consulting with business and industry and delivering supplemental mathematics instruction through seminars, workshops, conferences, and in-service teacher training.

There are 19 graduate faculty members with doctoral degrees which include six in mathematics education, eight in applied mathematics,  and five in pure mathematics. The mathematics education faculty are active in the areas of  curriculum development and alignment, professional development, performance evaluation and assessment, innovative instructional strategies, instructional technology, and math anxiety.  Regardless of their expertise, all faculty are dedicated to student success. We maintain a collegial environment where collaboration within the department and college faculty provides a supportive atmosphere.

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA), located in Conway, is only 30 miles from downtown Little Rock. The Department of Mathematics is located in the Mathematics and Computer Science Building (MCS).

Academic Focus

The focus in the Department of Mathematics is two-fold: Applied Mathematics and Mathematics Education. In our undergraduate program, students learn to apply techniques needed to model and analyze complex problems and at the same time are exposed to the underlying theories. In addition, technology is integrated in the curriculum in the forms of graphics calculators, computers, and computer algebra systems. 

Academic Programs

There are currently three tracks for mathematics majors: Mathematics (B.S. & B.A.), Applied Mathematics (B.S.), and Mathematics Education (B.S.E.). Since beginning the applied mathematics option of the B.S. degree in 1998, the number of applied mathematics majors has increased from four to 70. We believe this will continue to rise as we revise the curriculum to fit the needs of industry and business and replace retiring faculty with tenure-track applied mathematicians. The B.S. in applied mathematics offers career opportunities in industry, business, and government where mathematicians are highly valued for their logical thinking and analytical and problem solving skills. The B.S.E. in mathematics education offers almost immediate employment in teaching due to the shortage of mathematics teachers in secondary education.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in mathematics education was developed to increase the mathematical knowledge of secondary school teachers, prepare candidates for teaching in community colleges, and enrich the mathematical background of professionals. The new Master of Science (M.S.) program  in Applied Mathematics, was developed to train students in the process of mathematical modeling, prepare students to serve both business and government agencies or for further graduate studies.

Please contact me if you would like additional information about our department or to arrange for a campus visit.

Ramesh Garimella, Chair
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035
Phone:  (501) 450-3147   
Fax:  (501) 450-5662
rameshg@uca.edu