Career Planning and Mathematical Skills Development

Module Identifier
MA10700
Module Title
Career Planning and Mathematical Skills Development
Academic Year
2026/2027
Semester
Semester 1 Taught over 2 semesters
Co-ordinator
Dr Daniel Peck
Reading List
View on Aspire
Other Staff
Dr Kim Kenobi
Dr Alexander Pitchford
Professor Simon Cox
Miss Manon Charles
Dr Adam Vellender
Dr Jukka Kiukas
Dr Tudur Davies
Dr Robert Douglas

Assessment

Assessment Type

Assessment details

Proportion
Semester Assessment Biography: Write a short biography of a Mathematician 1000 Words 20%
Semester Assessment Proof: Proof Assignment 400 Words 20%
Semester Assessment Careers Skills: Create a CV or Linked-In profile and write a cover letter for a job application 400 Words 20%
Semester Assessment Python: Python programming assignment 200 Words 20%
Semester Assessment Presentation: Individual presentation on a topic in Mathematics 10 Minutes 20%
Supplementary Assessment Proof: Proof Assignment 400 Words 20%
Supplementary Assessment Python: Python programming assignment 200 Words 20%
Supplementary Assessment Presentation: Individual presentation on a topic in Mathematics 10 Minutes 20%
Supplementary Assessment Careers Skills: Create a CV or Linked-In profile and write a cover letter for a job application 400 Words 20%
Supplementary Assessment Biography: Write a short biography of a Mathematician 1000 Words 20%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

  1. Work individually to research and present a topic in Mathematics.
  2. Use software packages to produce simple documents such as a Curriculum Vitae and a presentation.
  3. Critically evaluate proofs in Mathematics
  4. Understand how to apply for a job, highlighting skills and experience to a potential employer.
  5. Write and debug computer programs to solve mathematics problems and visualize graphs.

Brief description

On this module student will discuss the skills and preparation necessary to successfully study a degree in Mathematics. They will be introduced to an important area of mathematics such as formal proof or problem solving. On an individual basis, students will prepare and make a short presentation on a topic in Mathematics.

Students will be introduced to computer programming through a range of software packages: word-processing software, presentation software, spreadsheets and formal programming in Python. Exercises will use simple ideas in mathematics to illustrate simple uses of the software and skills in the workplace.

The Careers Service will provide a careers awareness programme during which each student prepares a letter of introduction and establishes an online Curriculum Vitae. Students will research the careers available to graduates in their discipline and the relation of the skills they acquire in their course to these careers.

Aims

The module provides an opportunity to develop a selection of both mathematical, computational, study and transferable skills designed to enhance students' learning experience and employment prospects.

Content

Study Skills for Mathematicians: a discussion of different learning environments and ways of presenting Mathematics.

Word-processing Presentation software packages (Latex, Powerpoint): introduction, simple documents, formatting, mathematical expressions, presentations.

Mathematical proof: critical evaluation of methods of proof.

Individual presentation on a topic in Mathematics.

Skills awareness programme, including advice on the preparation of an introductory letter and CV, run by the Careers Service.

Group poster presentations on the relation between the skills acquired by Mathematicians and the careers available to them.

Spreadsheets: overview, entering and formatting information, formulae and functions, manipulating and visualizing a dataset.

Programming: basic introduction to python and the principles of computer programming, with some visualisation.

Module skills

Skills type

Skills details
Co-ordinating with others Students are expected to work in groups during the in-class activities
Creative Problem Solving Problem solving skills are developed in this module in dealing with proofs, with the spreadsheet and programming assignments, and in preparing for the presentation of a topic in Mathematics or Physics.
Critical and analytical thinking Analytical skills are required in undertaking research for the biography assignment and the individual presentation, and in researching the skills needed for various forms of employment.
Digital capability Students will use software packages to produce simple documents, work with a spreadsheet to do various calculations, produce summaries, visualise the data and results, and write and debug computer programs to solve mathematics problems.
Professional communication Written communication is developed and tested by the written assignments and the CV. Verbal communication is developed and tested by the presentations.
Subject Specific Skills Mathematical skills are developed in evaluating proofs. Numerical/visualization concepts and techniques are addressed in connection with spreadsheet and computer programming.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4