Welcome to the school of Mathematics, Statistics and Information Technology

Mathematics:

• Applied Maths
  Any application of mathematical techniques to solve a problem in the real world falls within the province of Applied Mathematics. Problems vary from very simple to extremely complex - from working out the petrol consumption rate of a car to calculating the flight path of a spaceship from the earth to the moon.

  Traditionally, at University level, Applied Mathematics concentrated on problems in Physics and Engineering. However as the availability of computers became more widespread, Applied Mathematics became increasingly involved with problems in many other disciplines. For example, at the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg), Applied Mathematicians have worked on problems in ecology, agriculture, economics and sociology.
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• Pure Maths
  Historically, Mathematics arises out of a human need to develop general techniques for solving practical problems. For this reason, high-school pupils are exposed largely to the kind of mathematics that lends itself to application in physics, elementary statistics, biology, engineering, computer science and other disciplines

  Over the last 300 years, however, it has become clear that mathematics is an important subject in its own right, and not just a slave to other disciplines. Scientists have become aware that in order to develop powerful problem-solving tools, one needs quite ‘abstract’ mathematics; a body of pure mathematics is required which can be studied independently of physics, biology and other user-disciplines.

  Pure and Applied Mathematics are therefore offered as different subjects, although there is much interdependence between them and each serves as an inspiration to the other.
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Statistics & Biometry:

• Statistics
  A student wishing to major in Statistics should have a good pass in Matric Mathematics, preferably on higher grade. There are two Statistics programmmes on offer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. One within the Mathematical Sciences programme and the other in the BSc. General programme.
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• Biometry
  Biometry is offered as an honours degree in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture. Candidates will be admitted to this course only if they have demonstrated a sufficiently high standard of proficiency in their undergraduate courses.
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Computer Science

• Computer Science is concerned with the study of problem solving with computers.
  It is a field that tries to deal with questions like:
  • How can we use computers to solve certain problems?
  • What makes some problem solutions better than others?
  • How do we verify that we have a correct solution to a problem?
  • What problems can and can't be solved by a computer?
  Problems that we'd like to solve using computers come in various shapes and sizes, from developing a simple calculator to interacting with a web-server on the other side of the world. To instruct a computer to solve a problem we must program a solution using a programming language like C++, Java, Visual Basic or Perl. Learning how to program effectively takes time and dedication and will be a major part of what you learn in Computer Science.
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Information Systems

• It is well known that larger businesses today need to run along scientific lines to maintain their competitive edge. The computer is the only tool that can give effect to this; therefore the lucrative field of Business Information Systems has come into existence. In short, BIS is the study of how to effectively use computers to manage business systems, how to develop organisational information systems and how to use them better in organisations and society. This may include anything from the payroll, to sophisticated management information systems, to sales and marketing over the Internet.

  BIS is a young, exciting, dynamic and ever-evolving field. There are constantly new advancements in this field, most recently in the area of e-commerce where businesses are moving towards a global economy.
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