About the Department of Mathematics
Union's mathematics program seeks to further students in their quest for increased understanding of Creation and the created order and to equip students to serve God, church and society through excellence in thinking and the use of mathematics. We do this through a curriculum that develops the student's ability to think logically, analytically, and abstractly; to pursue a body of knowledge whose basis is largely independent of both empirical observation and culture; and to learn humility and a sense of wonder at the complexity, beauty, and applicability of mathematics.
Faith and Learning
At Union University we take the integration of faith and learning seriously, even in mathematics. While mathematical content does not change from one worldview to another, the way one thinks about mathematics - and the way mathematics helps us think about the world - can and definitely does differ.
Members of our faculty are actively involved in the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences (ACMS). A recent project undertaken by members of the ACMS produced the book Mathematics through the Eyes of Faith. We have adopted the book for use in MAT 207 Transition Mathematics, a required sophomore-level course for mathematics majors, and in MAT 498 Mathematics Seminar, taken during the senior year, in order to ensure that all of Union's mathematics graduates have had the opportunity to thoughtfully consider the many ways that the discipline of mathematics and the Christian faith can inform one another.
Our department encourages the integration of faith and learning in other ways, as well. In our classrooms and through the invitation of guest lecturers, we continually challenge and encourage our students to live a holistic life, integrating their faith not only with their study of mathematics but also with the rest of their lives. The goal is to enable our graduates to live faithfully and to flourish well beyond their collegiate years.