Mathematics

Welcome to Mathematics at Nipissing

We offer the following degree options:

At Nipissing, we combine a strong foundation of academic theory with an emphasis on research. That means you’ll not only learn through lectures, you’ll also spend a significant amount of your upper years ​completing your own research work, under the close supervision of a professor, which is an amazing opportunity for undergraduate students.

Math opens up all kinds of career opportunities, from engineering to business to teaching, and more. You can even learn how to design computer games, if you opt for the Certificate in Game Design and Development.​​​​​​

Pure Mathematics stream

The Pure Mathematics Stream will appeal to those who intend to continue on to graduate studies in Mathematics or a closely related field. The stream provides a solid foundation for careers based within teaching, business, science and technology-related sectors, not to mention roles as statistician or market researcher.

Applied Mathematics stream

For those of you who seek employment in a field where mathematical tools and methods are of major importance, you will excel in the Applied Mathematics Stream. Students who take this stream are well positioned to pursue graduate studies. In addition, many find fulfilling careers within the engineering, business, management and government sectors.

General stream

The General stream combines the most fundamental courses in the Mathematics curriculum for those who do not have a strong preference toward or a desire to specialize in any of the other streams. The General Stream will keep your options open for future study and/or employment as a mathematician.

Certificate in Game Design and Development

Love video games? The Certificate in Game Design and Development, teaches you the skills you need to design game-related computer applications, and other similar types of software. You will learn skills in advanced programming, software engineering, design, and algorithm development. Some of your courses will cover the introduction to game design and development, 3D computer graphics, animation software, and artificial intelligence. This certificate will prepare you for a career in the fast-growing gaming industry.

Certificates available to all Nipissing students

Math Drop-In Centre

You can participate in math competitions like the Kangaroo Contest or in student-organized events like Pi Day. If you’re interested in teaching, you can get involved in running math circles at local elementary schools. You can also tutor your fellow students—or get some help yourself, if you need it—at the Math Drop-In Centre.

NUMERIC

The Nipissing University Mathematics Education, Research, and Information Centre (NUMERIC) represents a group of educators from the Faculty of Arts and Science (Mathematics/Physics), the Faculty of Education (Mathematics), and the local community who share an interest in promoting the learning and appreciation of mathematics through a variety of sponsored events.

We are pleased to announce that Nipissing University is an Afilliate Member of The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences. The Fields Institute, while focusing much of its attention on mathematics as a discipline, also features the Math Ed Forum which offers regular public meetings at Fields, as well as sponsoring a variety of mathematics education events and projects. 

Nipissing Computational Physics Laboratory (NCPL)

The general focus of the NCPL is to develop, implement and apply advanced numerical algorithms and computational methodologies for the solution of problems arising from nanophotonics for nanotechnology and nanomedicine applications. The NCPL is an advanced physics lab intended for junior and senior level students in science and engineering. We are primarily engaged with the design of algorithms for nanoscale and multiphysics problems described by 3D fully coupled partial differential equations. Our lab is equipped with high performance computational server and several workstations with multiple operating system environments, and running a number of computational and simulation programs including COMSOL Multiphysics, MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, Numerical Recipes, the Electronic Workbench, and others.

Topology Research Group

Topology is a study of very far reaching generalization of geometric properties of objects, invariant under special types of deformations. Topological methods are widely used in functional analysis, differential equations, algebra, and other areas of mathematic. The following topics are of particular interest for the members of the department: dimension theory (classical, cohomological, extension, and asymptotic dimensions; infinite-dimensional spaces), selections, continuum theory, dynamical systems. 

Math Drop-In Centre

At the Math Drop-In Centre, fellow students help each other master the material they’re learning. You can volunteer at the centre, too!​​​

Academic Support Services

Our goal is to support your academic and personal development. Look for assistance with accessibility services, learning style assessments, writing skills, writing formats, study strategies, time management, note-taking skills, academic resources, group seminars, peer support, career development activities, and more. Learn More...

Financial Support Services

Achieve your goals on time and on budget. We’ll help you fund your education through scholarships, awards, bursaries, government assistance, and work study programs. Learn More...

Scholarships, awards, and bursaries for students in the Mathematics programs​​​

Internationalize your Degree

If you want to experience a year or a semester at one of our partner schools across the globe, we have support services and programs to help you get there. If you want to assist International students with adjusting to life in Canada, we’ll connect you. Check out your options...

Personal Counselling Services

Our registered counsellors offer free, year-round personal counselling services, specialized therapeutic groups, referral services and a host of wellness, educational and awareness events to all full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students. Learn More...

Residences

Our top-rated residences will make you feel right at home. You will make fast friends with your residence community. Our student leaders, Residence Dons, and award winning residence staff give tutorials on everything from the basics of laundry and cooking to making connections within the community. Learn More...

Computer Science and Mathematics Department Seminars

Nipissing University’s Computer Science and Mathematics department hosts a series of research seminars, presented by students, faculty and visiting scholars.​

Math Circles

The Department of Computer Science and Mathematics at Nipissing University invites students from Grades 3-12 to participate in Math Circles. Math Circles are open format, informal enrichment meetings for students who enjoy Math and problem solving. Interested students will work on challenging problems under the guidance of Mathematics students and faculty from Nipissing University.

To learn more and register visit NU Math Circles

NU Math Club

The NU Math Club is a place for students of all years to meet, talk and form friendships. Students will be able to meet more people in their classes and upper year students and get advice and homework help from their peers. The club's goal is to strengthen the mathematics community on campus.

Visit NU Math Club on Facebook ​Email NU Math Club​ ​​NU Math Club web site

“I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.” Confucius

Experiential learning is an effective medium that enhances and reinforces classroom learning. In addition, skills and competencies in the areas of communication, teamwork, analysis, work ethic, and problem solving are all learning outcomes that assist with finding the right career path for you.

Third and fourth year Arts and Science Students will be interested in our 3 credit course, UNIV 3006 Experiential Learning for Arts and Science Students. Within this course, academic assignments and at least 60 hours of placement in the community within a field that is related to your course of study is offered.

Experiential Learning Program for Arts & Science Students (ELAS) 

The Experiential Learning for Arts & Science Program (ELAS) is an exclusive project between Student Development & Services, the North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce (NBDCC) and the Faculty of Arts & Science. This project focuses on providing students with hands-on learning experiences directly related to their academic interests. 

With a strong emphasis on learning competencies, the ELAS immerses students with enriched learning opportunities that focus on the development of professional skills resulting in confident, successful and highly employable graduates ready for the workforce. 

The ELAS program provides support for Arts & Science students to participate in activities such as: 

  • Conferences and speakers 
  • Site visits and field trips 
  • Work placements 

When it comes to experiential learning at Nipissing University, you have lots of choices. Let us help you navigate your options, so you can find the best fit for your personal and professional goals, as well as your schedule.  

Visit nipissingu.ca/academics/ELAS for more information.

Leadership and Community Engagement

If you are eager to get involved beyond the classroom, take part in the annual Undergraduate Research Conference, which gives you the opportunity to present your work to peers, professors, and family members. You may also have opportunity to work as a Research Assistant to help a professor conduct research and gain valuable experience at the same time.

Record of Student Development

Your experience at Nipissing University is more than just the time spent learning great things in lectures, labs, and seminars. It’s also about the activities you are involved in outside of the classroom, the causes you champion to make change on campus, the clubs you organize, the awards you receive, the workshops you participate in, the volunteering you do, and all the learning that occurs outside of the classroom. 

The Record of Student Development (RSD) is Nipissing University's way of recognizing that learning is happening everywhere on campus. It is a formal record, otherwise known as a co-curricular transcript, where you can include workshops, volunteer experiences, awards, activities, and on campus employment experiences that you participate in throughout your degree. 

Each RSD Approved activity in our database is linked to competency areas employers are looking for such as:    

  • Critical Thinking 
  • Leadership  
  • Digital Literacy  
  • Equity and Diversity 
  • Emotional and Interpersonal Intelligence 
  • & more!  

To see the full list of competencies and get started building your Record of Student Development go to: rsd.nipissingu.ca

Nipissing University Student Union (NUSU)

Students attending Nipissing University in North Bay and long distance students are members of the Nipissing University Student Union. Our organization strives to represent students democratically, provide a communication framework, and lobby for legislative change on issues that affect students.

Athletics

Exercise and healthy competition always help to clear the mind.

INTRAMURAL SPORTS

Nipissing’s Athletics Department offers a wide range of intramural activities to keep you on your game

LAKERS CLUB SPORTS

Club sports are available to all Nipissing students and are both recreational and competitive.

VARSITY SPORTS

Go Lakers! Our varsity athletes always bring their “A” game. Get your friends together and come out to cheer on your favourite teams.

STUDENT ATHLETICS CENTRE

Whether you are a gym enthusiast or a weekend warrior, Nipissing has just what you need.

Chair

Full-time Faculty

Part-time Faculty

Research

All full-time members of the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics are actively involved in high-caliber research projects. The fundamental, productive research of our department members is recognized nationally and internationally. Currently, six members of the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics hold NSERC grants. This gives our undergraduate students an excellent opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research in the form of senior undergraduate research projects and USRA's (summer research fellowships).

In Mathematics, the following areas of research are especially active:

Topology is the study of far reaching generalizations of geometric properties of objects, invariant under special types of deformations. Topological methods are widely used in functional analysis, differential equations, algebra, and other areas of mathematics. The following topics are of particular interest for the members of the department: dimension theory (classical, cohomological, extension, and asymptotic dimensions; infinite-dimensional spaces), selections, continuum theory, and dynamical systems. More information about research in Topology can be found at Topology Research Group website.

Computational Geometry is focused on algorithms and data structures that deal with geometric problems, and their implementations. Optimal triangulations, reconstruction of polygons based on visibility data, and computing kernels of orthogonal polygons are among the recent topics.

Algorithmic Graph Theory is focused on study of the combinatorial properties of certain graph classes and design of algorithms for efficient solution of generally hard computational problems on these graph classes. Hamiltonicity, longest paths, vertex separation, structural indices and colourability are among the recent topics.

Industrial Mathematics research is focused on techniques and approaches for optimization. Recent example is the study of optimal bus scheduling using geometric approaches, density models and multi-objective evaluation.

Computational Physics is focused on highly interdisciplinary research in the areas of nanotechnology, nanophotonics, biophotonics and nanomedicine. Our research focuses on developing fundamental theoretical approaches and computational methods for solving problems and building software tools within these fields.

I spent four years at Nipissing as a student of the department of computer science and mathematics. In this time, my peers and I formed a close-knit group, complete with our own home in room A223 and great set of faculty to support us in our educational endeavours. We shared our frustrations and our successes. We laughed with and learned from our professors. Together, we grew to love the language of mathematics.

Nipissing’s entrance scholarships are wonderful, and the campus is beautiful, but its community is its crown jewel.

Donna Keranen - B.Sc. Mathematics, Minor in Chemistry, 2012

With the broad skills and ra​nge of experiences you’ll get in mathematics, your future is wide open. You can choose from careers as diverse as business analyst, technical writer, nuclear engineer, computer consultant, financial advisor, and economist, to name only a few!

Many students decide to pass on their love of math by becoming teachers and professors. Some go onto graduate studies in Masters and Doctorate programs, or professional schools to gain even more skills.

Career and Academic Options

  • Graduate Studies in mathematics or areas of application of mathematics
  • Professional School (Education, Law, MBA)
  • Careers as a statistician, economist, data analyst, researcher, and investment fund manager