Mathematics

Technology & Textbooks

Technology Information

Calculators - Students in mathematics courses may be expected to have a scientific calculator. Scientific calculators can be purchased for around $10 to $15 at discount retail stores. Please view your course syllabus for details with regard to your class.

Computers - Starting in Fall 2022, all Winthrop students are required to have a laptop. You can learn more about this and find out which configurations are suitable for mathematics majors on IT's Student Laptops page. Entry-Level and High-Performance models are available for purchase in the Bookstore and online, and students who have Financial Aid set up may use it to purchase a laptop through the bookstore during the charging period. If you have any questions about purchasing laptops in the Bookstore, e-mail SM8167@bncollege.com.

Departmental Computer Lab - The Mathematics Department has a student computer lab located in Bancroft 173. Mathematics majors who have completed or are enrolled in MATH 202 can fill out and return the Bancroft 173 Access Form  in order to obtain the access code for this lab.  This form is available in the Mathematics Department Office (142 Bancroft Hall).

Software - Students who enroll in MATH 300 or MATH 301 must enroll in MAED 200 during the same semester. In MAED 200, students learn to use Mathematica as a tool for exploring and visualizing mathematical concepts. Mathematica is installed on computers in the student computer labs.  Mathematica notebooks may be used in lower-level math courses as well, but students in those courses will not be required to learn how to use that software. Notebooks created by professors for students to use outside of class can be viewed on the free Mathematica Player.

Winthrop's site license for Mathematica allows students to download a copy of Mathematica onto their own computers for free, as long as those computers are on campus for the download process. To download Mathematica:

  1. A window will open called the Wolfram User Portal. Select the "Create Account" button and create an account at Wolfram.
  2. Return to the original page, log in to the account just created and request a license key.
  3. Wolfram should send the key to the e-mail address that is also the Wolfram ID for the account.
  4. Download the appropriate product from the Wolfram User Portal using the key provided.

Mathematics education students may use Geometer's Sketch Pad for class assignments. Geometer's Sketch Pad is installed in the student computer labs.

Textbooks

Please visit the Winthrop University Bookstore's web page to find information regarding the required textbook(s) for your mathematics classes.