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Hendrix College's mathematics program functions within Hendrix's mission and its motto of Unto the Whole Person while providing an outstanding mathematics education, which can serve as good preparation for graduate schools in mathematics-oriented disciplines, careers in mathematics-related industries, or professional school programs where analytical thinking is of the utmost importance. Students graduating with a major or minor in mathematics learn to:

1. Employ the methodologies used in mathematics, including calculation, proof, discovery of new mathematics, and application.

2. Understand basic content and principles in each of the broad divisions within mathematics: discrete (algebra and combinatorics), continuous (calculus and analysis), and geometric (linear algebra and topology).

3. Master at least one field of mathematics to a depth beyond that typical of a single advanced undergraduate courses in the topic.

4. Understand the motivation and aesthetic understanding underlying mathematics, including the historical and cultural context in which it was developed.

5. Communicate mathematical ideas in written papers, oral presentations, and group discussions. Possess the ability to argue mathematical proof validity in both written and oral work.

The mathematics program is supported by four full-time mathematics professors, as well as a faculty member who divides time between teaching mathematics and college administration. The department offers a traditional undergraduate curriculum in mathematics including sequences in algebra and analysis. This curriculum supports a major in mathematics and a minor in mathematics.

Through the interactive nature of its curriculum and the accessibility of its faculty, the department intentionally fosters a community of learners. Our department's facilities, which are open 24/7 to students, include a study library, two classrooms, and computer laboratories. Our introductory students benefit from the close mentorship of faculty and upper-class students, the latter as assistants who staff the Mathematics Help Center & Computer Laboratory on afternoons and evenings. The curriculum of the majors is designed as a springboard for their required senior projects under the direction of the faculty.

A distinctive feature of our long-standing emphasis on undergraduate research. During the academic year the faculty direct students in independent projects which often lead to papers published in undergraduate journals and talks presented at regional and national conferences sponsored by NCUR (National Conference on Undergraduate Research), Pi Mu Epsilon, and the Mathematical Association of America. We also share a more exclusive undergraduate research conference with Rhodes College and the University of the South. We encourage students to pursue support for summer research, including at Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs sponsored by the National Science Foundation. A problem-solving seminar is also available to students in the department.