We intentionally integrate Math, Statistics, & Computer Science, connecting within and beyond fields
Our liberal arts approach to Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science (MSCS) means you don’t have to give up other aspects of yourself to succeed. Our faculty make connections with a broad range of fields across the liberal arts, so our courses connect different disciplinary perspectives. MSCS students can major in mathematics, statistics, data science, or computer science. Our forward-looking, innovative curriculum is project-based, so you’ll collaborate on real, fun, projects on small teams, gaining critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that apply to any career.
All are welcome in MSCS
We value diversity and inclusion. We’re proud that 43 percent of our recent graduating majors identified as women and 7 percent as non-binary. Although there’s still room for improvement, we’re committed to a climate of mutual respect, free of discrimination, that is equitable, inclusive, and welcoming.
No matter your background, there’s a place for you here. Whether you are just starting your journey in MSCS or have prior experience, check out our advice about the Math, Statistics, Data Science or Computer Science majors to get started.
Why study MSCS at Macalester?
- All majors take foundational courses in multiple disciplines within MSCS
- Students have opportunities to work as peer mentors in the classroom, and take part in student/faculty summer research projects like robotics, computing and agriculture, and media data science
- Our department offers strong gender diversity among our students and faculty members
- Our most experienced professors often lead our introductory classes
MSCS in the cities
There are over 200+ internship sites within 8 miles of campus at nonprofits, start-ups, and Fortune 500 companies.
Local MSCS alumni stop by often to lecture about topics in our fields and chat with you about their careers.
The Twin Cities are home to annual tech, analytics, and data science conferences like Minnebar and MinneMUDAC that are also open to students.
Life after Macalester
Public health; finance, management, and economic consulting; software; education; insurance; banking; and any field you can imagine when you put your mind—and your MSCS training—to it.
Join our community
Our friendly department welcomes you, and offers a great mix of fun and scholarly events:
Bounce House? We’ve got it. Our annual fall Block Party features games, the aforementioned Bounce House, food, and fun.
At our annual MSCS and Society Lecture, you’ll hear from experts in our fields and enhance your classroom learning.
We also host weekly coffee get-togethers, challenging competitions, and events like DataFest (Mac’s got one of the biggest gatherings in the nation).
Macalester students succeed in mathematical modeling competition
A team of three Macalester students achieved Finalist status in the 2022 COMAP Mathematical Contest in Modeling! Shengyuan Wang, Yixiao Wang, and Yulin Shao worked over a four-day period to design a strategy for trading in a market with gold and bitcoin options. The Finalist status represents the top 2% of results from among fifteen thousand teams in 22 countries.
Ellen Graham awarded Gertrude M. Cox Scholarship
Macalester and MSCS alumna Ellen Graham (class of 2021) has been awarded the Gertrude M. Cox Scholarship by the American Statistical Association (ASA). This national award is given each year to two women: one in or entering the early stages of graduate training (MS or PhD) and one in a more advanced stage of training. Graham is currently a PhD student in Biostatistics at the University of Washington School of Public Health. In announcing the award, ASA cited Graham’s extraordinary commitment to improving human health through statistical research, her dedication towards inclusiveness in medical research, and her academic success in pursuit of a PhD. Congratulations Ellen!
Math Professor Tom Halverson receives the 2020 Thomas Jefferson Award
The award was established in 1961 by the Robert Earll McConnell Foundation to honor faculty members who exemplify the best principles and ideals of Thomas Jefferson. Read more about Tom’s accomplishments in the award citation. Congratulations Tom!
Emeritus Professor Stan Wagon published a new book: Bicycle or Unicycle?: A Collection of Intriguing Mathematical Puzzles
Available at https://bookstore.ams.org/prb-36, Bicycle or Unicycle? is a collection of 105 mathematical puzzles selected from the Macalester Problem of the Week archive. Each puzzle in the collection was selected because of its surprising solution. Give them a try!
Phuong Vu awarded Outstanding PhD Student Award
Macalester and MSCS alumna Phuong Vu (class of 2013) has been awarded the Outstanding PhD Student Award in Biostatistics as part of the University of Washington’s 2019 School of Public Health Excellence Awards. Phuong research interests are in statistical modeling, visualization, and analysis of dependent data. She develops statistical methods and machine learning techniques for spatially correlated and high-dimensional data, and her research is motivated by applications in environmental epidemiology, public health, and medicine. Join us in congratulating Phuong on this fantastic achievement!