Mathematics & Computer Science
We seek to help students in our majors to become well-rounded, Christ-like persons. This follows directly from the nature of Bethel as a Christian institution. This includes being numerate, responsible citizens in today's society. Our students should be able to establish proper priorities among the competing demands of the professional, family, private, and religious components of their lives. They should demonstrate a solid basis for quality spiritual, ethical and professional beliefs and behavior during their time at Bethel and in their own particular worlds after graduation.
We desire to present our students with the challenge to master the basic skills and fundamental principles of their disciplines. They need to engage in the learning methods peculiar to each of the disciplines, to be able to confidently and critically analyze problems and situations using techniques and technologies appropriate to these disciplines, to be able to work cooperatively with their colleagues, to communicate their results logically and clearly, and to develop life-long learning skills so that they might both maintain that competence after leaving Bethel and continue to effectively serve God with mind and heart.
Mathematics majors should have the opportunity to understand and experience the different aspects of mathematics, including mathematics as an art form and the history of mathematics. We affirm the equal importance of the theoretical and the applied aspects of mathematics.
Computer Science majors should have numerous opportunities to grapple first-hand with major new trends in the discipline. We also affirm the equal value in the theoretical and applied aspects of computer science.
We intend to be a community which is a model of unity within diversity. This should be true in issues of gender and of race. We seek to provide an intellectual and emotional home where students feel as free to ask us for advice on personal matters as they feel to ask for help on homework or programming.
In addition, the mission of the department is to provide a supportive environment for the faculty. Receiving collegial support from within the department, faculty are encouraged to engage in scholarly activities, model learning for students, effectively carry out their instructional role, and provide service to the community at large.