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Mathematics & Computer Studies

About

This department was founded in Mary Immaculate College in 1975 to provide a subject programme in Mathematics for the newly established Bachelor of Education degree. Today, the Department of Mathematics & Computer Studies continues to offer specialized elective Mathematics modules for the B Ed degree as well as undergraduate Mathematics modules for the BA (Liberal Arts).

The name was changed to its present form in 1987 to reflect the involvement of the department in Computer Studies courses for all students and in a number of action-research projects on the applications of computers in education. We offer first year BA students a Computer Skills unit within their Foundation Studies and in second year, we offer BA Elective modules through which students may further advance their knowledge and skills in the area of Information Technology.

Postgraduate research opportunities are also available in mathematics for MA and PhD degrees.

The department also offers undergraduate modules in Business Studies and Accounting, as part of three concurrent BA in Education (post-primary teaching) programmes offered at MIC, St Patrick's Campus, Thurles.

Contact
Head of Department
Bernd Kreussler
+353 61 204578

Staff

Niamh Armstrong

BA; HDip Ed; Software Design (NUIG) and MA E-Learning Design & Development (UL)
Lecturer
  • Phone: +353 61 204952
  • Email: Niamh.Armstrong@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: S102

Dr Bernd Kreussler

Dipl Math (HU Berlin); Dr rer nat (HU Berlin) and Dr rer nat habil (Univ. Kaiserslautern)
Lecturer
  • Phone: +353 61 204578
  • Email: Bernd.Kreussler@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: N29

Dr Norbert Hoffmann

Dipl.-Math. (Universität Göttingen); Dr. rer. nat. (Universität Bonn); Priv.-Doz. (Freie Universität Berlin)
Lecturer
  • Phone: +353 61 774776
  • Email: Norbert.Hoffmann@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: G22

Dr Deirdre Brady


Assistant Professor/Lecturer in Business Studies
  • Email: Deirdre.Brady@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: Thurles, S-206

Dr Marian Carcary

BBS, MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor in Business and Accounting
  • Email: Marian.Carcary@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: P213

Dr Ronan Flatley

BE; BA; HDip Math Sci; MA and PhD (NUI)
Lecturer
  • Phone: +353 61 204308
  • Email: Ronan.Flatley@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: N30

Undergraduate Teaching

Limerick Campus

Broadly speaking, mathematics is the study of quantities and hidden structures through analysis, deduction and calculation. A maths degree should give you the basic ideas of pure and applied mathematics (number theory, linear and abstract algebra, geometry, calculus, computational mathematics, etc), and of probability and statistics.

Maths modules in the BA

Maths elective modules in the BEd

Information Technology modules in the BA

Mathematics Support Unit

Weekly tutorial classes in all modules provide considerable assistance towards the development of mathematical understanding and expertise. In conjuction with the Academic Learning Centre a Mathematics Support Unit (MSU) has been established. Through MSU, extra support in an individual or small-group setting is available. The support provision of MSU is coordinated by Bernd Kreussler (Email: Bernd.Kreussler@mic.ul.ie), from whom further details may be obtained.

Thurles Campus

Below is a list of Business Studies & Accounting modules currently on offer at MIC Thurles as part of programmes MI009, MI010 and MI012. 

Details to be filled in.

Accounting
AC4711: Fundamental Accounting
AC4721: Regulatory Framework
AC4712: Financial Accounting Principles
AC4713: Management Accounting Principles
AC4723: Financial Accounting 1
AC4714: Management Accounting 1
AC4715: Financial Accounting 2
AC4716: Advanced Management Accounting
AC4726: Financial Management
AC4718: Financial Reporting
BS4715: Business Studies Accounting
Business Studies
BS4711: Management Principles
MH4741: Business Mathematics
BS4721: Marketing
BS4723: Legal Environment of Business
BS4733: Economics
BS4725: Entrepreneurship and New Enterprise Creation
BS4735: Business Information Systems
BS4745: Ireland and Global Economy
BS4713: Organisational Behaviour
BS4718: Strategic Management

Postgraduate Studies

MA and PhD in Mathematics at MIC

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Studies at Mary Immaculate College invites applications from graduates who wish to pursue postgraduate research in Mathematics for an MA or PhD thesis.

Requirements

General requirements and regulations follow those set out by the University of Limerick.

While, in general, the minimum entry requirement for students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies by research and thesis is a second-class honours (grade two) at undergraduate level, it is likely that successful candidates will have a 2.1 honours degree or higher. However, the most important prerequisite is a strong interest in the subject, independent of previous academic awards.

Well-qualified and highly-motivated graduates (B.A. or B.Ed.) are encouraged to proceed by research and thesis to M.A. and Ph.D. levels of postgraduate study in mathematics.

To Apply

If you are thinking about postgraduate studies as an option for you, don't hesitate to talk to a member of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Studies.

Departmental Assistantships 2023 - Applications Open

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Studies is now accepting applications from potential research MA/PhD students for at least one funded Departmental Assistantship in Mathematics beginning in September 2023.

Application deadline: 19 May 2023.

General information on the Departmental Assistantship funding scheme

To be considered for a Departmental Assistantship, applicants should identify a research topic
and supervisor, and complete a research postgraduate application.

For further information, please contact Bernd Kreussler, Head of Department (Bernd.Kreussler@mic.ul.ie).

Research

Research activities of department members are conducted in the following areas.

Mathematics and Computer Studies

  • Pedagogical strategies that utilise ICT to enhance the Teaching & Learning environment; development and expansion of our Graduate Diploma Master in ICT to post primary sector.  (Niamh Armstrong)
  • Complex Algebraic geometry and Homological Algebra; Homological Mirror Symmetry; Bridgeland Stability Conditions; Classification of complex manifolds and Twistor spaces.  (Bernd Kreussler)
  • Algebraic Vector Bundles and Principal Bundles, Moduli Spaces and Moduli Stacks.  (Norbert Hoffmann)
  • Central simple algebras with involution; The algebraic theory of quadratic forms.  (Ronan Flatley)
  • Operator theory; discrete geometry; combinatorics.  (Derek Kitson)
  • Mathematics Education; STEM Education; mathematics curriculum change; student transition from second level to third level mathematics study.  (Páraic Treacy)

Business and Accounting

  • Qualitative and quantitative research methods, IT management and digital transformation, IT and organisational capability maturity, digital technology adoption within the education sector, digital literacy.  (Dr Marian Carcary)

Maths Enrichment

Academic mathematicians from UL and MIC help interested secondary school students to deepen their understanding of mathematics, improve their problem-solving skills and prepare them for participation in Mathematical Olympiads.

  • About
  • Staff
  • Undergraduate Teaching
  • Postgraduate Studies
  • Research
  • Resources
  • Maths Enrichment