Learning outcomes

math1ba  2019-2020  Louvain-la-Neuve

By the end of the course the student will have acquired the knowledge of the discipline and the transferable skills needed to pursue studies in mathematics or in closely related fields (physics. statistics, actuarial science, computing). This knowledge and skill-set will also be developed by the end of the Master programme in the many and varied contexts and problems that come from other fields (economics and finance, actuarial science, statistics and biostatistics, computing and cryptography, telecommunications, biochemistry and pharmacology, physics and astronomy, climatology and meteorology).

The programme offers a broad education in the fundamental fields of mathematics and an introduction to closely related fields (especially physics, but also statistics, applied mathematics, and computing).

During the Bachelor programme, future graduates in mathematics will be able to bring to bear a critical, constructive and innovative view on the present-day world and its problems. They will have developed their educational and personal plans, which they will pursue during the Master programme with increasing independence.

On successful completion of this programme, each student is able to :

1) recognise and understand a basic foundation of mathematics.

  • Choose and use the basic tools of calculation to solve mathematical problems.
  • Recognise the fundamental concepts of important current mathematical theories.
  • Establish the main connections between these theories, analyse them and explain them through the use of examples.

2) identify, by use of the abstract and experimental approach specific to the exact sciences, the unifying features of different situations and experiments in mathematics or in closely related fields (probability and statistics, physics, computing).

  • Follow an abstract reasoning in order to solve problems concerning mathematics and their applications.

3) show evidence of abstract thinking and of a critical spirit.

  • Argue within the context of the axiomatic method Recognise the key arguments and the structure of a proof.
  • Construct and draw up a proof independently.
  • Evaluate the rigour of a mathematical or logical argument and identify any possible flaws in it.
  • Distinguish between the intuition and the validity of a result and the different levels of rigorous understanding of this same result.

4) communicate in a clear, precise and rigorous way, in French and in English.

  • Write a mathematical text in French according to the conventions of the discipline.
  • Structure an oral presentation in French, highlight key elements, identify techniques and concepts and adapt the presentation to the listeners’ level of understanding.
  • Communicate in English (level C1 for reading comprehension, level B2 for listening comprehension and for oral and written expression, CEFR).

5) learn in an independent manner.

  • Find relevant sources in the mathematical literature.
  • Read and understand an advanced mathematical text and locate it correctly in relation to knowledge acquired.