Undergraduate Program: MENU
Overview | The Courses |
Beyond the Courses | The Faculty
Admission Criteria | Course Equivalences | FAQ | Contact Information
Mathematical Experience for Northwestern Undergraduates (MENU) is a flexible program of courses designed to provide qualified undergraduates with a thorough foundation in mathematics suitable for advanced study in mathematics and its applications across a wide range of disciplines.
MENU offers students an opportunity to expand their mathematical knowledge while retaining flexibility about their majors. MENU is especially well suited for students considering a major in mathematics, the natural sciences or economics, although MENU attracts participants with a variety of interests and majors.
Read the MENU FAQ
During the first year MENU participants typically enroll in one of two yearlong sequences: Math 290-1,2,3 or Math 291-1,2,3. Each provides a strong background in linear algebra and multivariable calculus. In contrast to standard mathematics courses, Math 290 and Math 291 first develop linear algebra and then apply it to the study of multivariable calculus.
Math 291-1,2,3 emphasizes theory and proofs and is appropriate for students who are particularly skilled in and passionate about mathematics. Students may transfer from 290 to 291 during the first two weeks of Fall Quarter and may move from 291 to 290 throughout Fall Quarter and at the end of Winter Quarter.
After the first year MENU participants may choose among the three upper-level MENU sequences described below, or may enroll in other advanced courses in the department.
- Math 360-1,2 MENU: Applied Analysis is a two-quarter sequence in ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations and Fourier analysis with an emphasis on applications and mathematical modeling. Students use a software application such as Maple®, Mathematica® or MATLAB® to analyze models chosen from physics, biology, chemistry and economics.
- Math 321-1,2,3 MENU: Real Analysis is an intensive sequence in metric space topology, advanced calculus, and Lebesgue measure and integration. Students carefully develop limits, continuity, differentiation and integration from a deep understanding of the real number system.
- Math 331-1,2,3 MENU: Abstract Algebra is a challenging sequence in group theory, ring theory and Galois theory, the mathematics arising from Fermat's last theorem and problems of classical antiquity such as squaring the circle and trisecting the angle.
During their junior and senior years, MENU participants choose course work to satisfy the requirements of their majors, which might be mathematics, a field to which mathematics can be applied, or something entirely unrelated to mathematics.
MENU participants can enroll in 300- and 400-level mathematics courses to complete a major or minor in Mathematics. Advanced MENU participants might engage in independent study with a faculty member on a project of mutual interest. Such a project may lead to a senior thesis, an important component in earning departmental honors.
Beyond Northwestern, MENU participants often pursue advanced degrees or careers in finance, law, social policy, management, or the sciences that employ their mathematical skills. Recruiters in many fields value a solid background in mathematics. Director of MENU.
The Mathematics Department at Northwestern is strongly committed to undergraduate teaching and curricular innovation. The MENU faculty includes award winning teachers and internationally recognized scholars.
Students satisfying any of the criteria listed below qualify for
MENU even though they will not automatically receive an
invitation. They may obtain permission to enroll by sending email
which includes their names and netids to the the Director of MENU at
menu
.
- International students who have completed single-variable calculus.
- Students who have completed a college-level sequence in single-variable calculus with high grades.
- Students earning a 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher-Level Mathematics Examination
Here are the correspondences between standard mathematics courses and MENU courses:
| Standard Courses | MENU Substitutes |
| 220-0, 224-0 | AP Calculus BC exam with a score at least 4, or AP Calculus AB exam with a score of 5, IB Higher-Level Mathematics exam with a score of 7, or departmental permission |
| 230-0 | 290-2 or 291-2 |
| 234-0 | 290-3 or 291-3 |
| 240-0 | 290-1 or 291-1 |
| 250-0 | 360-1 |
| 320-1,2 | 321-1,2 |
| 330-1,2,3 | 331-1,2,3 |
| 351-0 | 360-2 |
| 353-0 | 360-2 |
MENU: Frequently asked questions
Who participates in MENU?
MENU enrolls a
diverse group of students. The common characteristic of successful
MENU students is a passion for mathematics!
What are the benefits of participating in MENU?
MENU courses develop topics in more depth than do standard
mathematics courses. Many departments at Northwestern offer courses
that use advanced mathematical concepts and techniques which our
standard courses may only touch upon. MENU covers many of these topics
in detail. The analytical skills acquired from a serious study of
mathematics will benefit you throughout your future career.
Do MENU participants receive more attention than
students in standard mathematics classes?
In general, yes.
Class sizes are usually small, and you are more likely to have the same
instructor for an entire course sequence. The longer-term
relationships you build with MENU instructors and with its director
enhance opportunities for advising, letters of recommendation, and
independent study.
How will participating in MENU affect my other
studies at Northwestern?
MENU courses replace some standard
courses and serve as prerequisites for more advanced ones. (The
tables below detail how MENU courses substitute for standard courses
in the mathematics curriculum.) Participating in MENU will neither
require you to take more courses in mathematics, or fewer courses in
other areas, than you otherwise would have taken. Nor will
participation in MENU obligate you to major or minor in mathematics,
although many MENU students choose to do so.
What first-year courses are available to MENU
students?
There are two year-long sequences available to MENU
students, 290-1,2,3 (accelerated linear algebra and multivariable
calculus), and 291-1,2,3 (accelerated linear algebra and multivariable
calculus, with an emphasis on theory). Both sequences develop linear
algebra before multivariable calculus and treat their subject matter
in greater depth than the standard curriculum. Those invited to
participate in MENU may enroll in either sequence.
What is the difference between 290 and 291?
Math 291 places greater emphasis on mathematical theory and
rigor than does Math 290 and is appropriate for students who are
particularly skilled in and passionate about mathematics. During the
first week of classes, students are free to move between 290 and
291.
When do Math 290 and 291 meet?
Both 290
and 291 meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from noon to 12:50 pm,
with a required discussion section on either Tuesday or Thursday at
the same hour. If you have been invited to participate in MENU, but
have been assigned to a freshman seminar which conflicts with these
times, please email the Director of MENU immediately. We will work
with the Dean of Freshmen to change your seminar to one which doesn't
conflict with Math 290 and 291.
Can students who have already taken multivariable
calculus still participate in MENU?
Yes. Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies at
dus for
advice specific to your background.
What courses do MENU participants take after the first
year?
After the first-year MENU participants can opt for one of the
300-level MENU courses or for standard 300-level courses in
mathematics. There are three 300-level MENU sequences:
- Math 321 Real Analysis
- Math 331 Abstract Algebra
- Math 360 Applied Analysis
Must I take only MENU courses after the first
year?
No. Standard mathematics courses that are popular among MENU
participants include Math 310 Probability and Stochastic Processes and
Math 300 Foundations of Higher Mathematics.
Do MENU participants have to take all of the
300-level MENU courses?
No. MENU is flexible. Admission to the program allows you to enroll in MENU courses, but
does not require you to do so. However, the earlier quarters of each MENU sequence are
prerequisites for the later quarters, and each 300-level MENU sequence has one of the 200-
level MENU sequences as a prerequisite.
Can participants withdraw from MENU?
Yes. No formal withdrawal from the program is necessary. Admission to
the program allows you to enroll in as many, or as few, MENU courses
as you wish, subject to satisfying the prerequisites.
Can students in the Integrated Science Program (ISP) participate in MENU?
First-year ISP students should enroll in Math 281, the first-year ISP
mathematics sequence. ISP students who have completed the Math 281
sequence may consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies about
enrolling in 300-level MENU courses.
Can students in Mathematical Methods in the Social
Sciences (MMSS) participate in MENU?
First-year MMSS students entering directly from high school should
enroll in Math 285, the first-year MMSS mathematics sequence. However,
if you have not been accepted to MMSS directly from high school, you
may apply for sophomore entry into MMSS. Those accepted as sophomores
who have already completed Math 290 or 291 will be exempt from Math
285. MMSS students who have completed Math 285 may consult with the
Director of Undergraduate Studies about enrolling in 300-level MENU
courses.
Can students from schools other than WCAS
participate in MENU?
Yes. Students from other schools should consult with their academic
advisers for help in planning their schedules around their school
requirements and MENU courses.
Is there a separate application for MENU?
No. Students satisfying the admission criteria through an Advanced
Placement Calculus examination should receive an invitation to
participate in MENU during the summer before their first
year. Qualified students who do not receive an invitation may request
permission to enroll by sending email to the the Director of MENU at
menu. Please
include your name and netid in your email.
I did not take an AP Calculus exam. Are there
alternative criteria for admission to MENU?
Students satisfying any of the criteria listed below qualify for MENU
even though they will not automatically receive an invitation. They
may obtain permission to enroll by sending email which includes their
names and netids to the the Director of MENU at
menu.
- International students who have completed single-variable calculus.
- Students who have completed a college-level sequence in single-variable calculus with high grades.
- Students earning a 6 or 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher-Level Mathematics Examination
Do MENU courses require more time and work than
standard courses?
In general, yes. Examinations and assignments are more demanding,
expectations are higher, and MENU courses often demand a greater time
commitment than standard mathematics courses.
How many students enroll in MENU?
At the
beginning of the 2008-2009 academic year, 133 students enrolled in
five sections of Math 290, and 34 enrolled in two sections of Math
291. In addition, 57 students enrolled in Math 321, Math 331 or Math
360.
How do I obtain a permission number to register for
a MENU course?
Visit the Mathematics Department Office in
Lunt 201. If you have accepted our invitation to enroll in MENU, then
a staff member can provide you with a permission number to
register.
How can I obtain answers to additional questions about
MENU?
Send email to menu; we'll
get right back to you. Please include your name and netid in your
email.
Dr. John M. Alongi
Director of MENU
menu
(847) 467-1874
