Independent Study

Senior Independent Study

To meet the graduation requirements of The College of Wooster, the major in mathematics requires a two-course Independent Study Project, which culminates in an Independent Study Thesis along with an oral presentation describing the Thesis. The additional college requirement of one course in Independent Study is satisfied by work in courses above 212 taken to fulfill the major.

Independent Study is of central importance in the mathematics major and in the entire academic experience of the student. The ability to engage in independent study is one of the primary goals of the major, and the successful completion of the I.S. Thesis represents the culmination of the student's academic program.

Guide to Independent Study in Mathematics

2012 Senior Independent Study Titles

Mohammad Saif Ahmad
Parity-based Measurement and Control of the Spatial Wave Function of Photons (Math and Physics)
Keisha Butler
The Prediction of Professional Basketball Games Using Artificial Neural Networks and Linear Models
Kyle Cunningham-Rhoads
Using mathematical models to evaluate NFL field goal kicking
Joshua Daily
Multivariate Statistics
Hannah Dauber
Wooster Problem: a staff scheduling problem with an application to student activities
Rachel Frank
An Exploration of Hyperbolic Geometry (Math and Studio Art)
Trisha Fultz
Exploring opinion dynamics from a computational science perspective (Math and Computer Science)
Yanlong Hu
Data mining and its applications (Math and Computer Science)
Norman Israel
Quantum Gravity: Exploring the Causal Dynamical Triangulation Approach (Math and Physics)
Meredith Kiefer
Modeling human papillomavirus with vaccination
Andrew Licking
Is Efficiency Optional? A study regarding the binomial options pricing model, transactions costs, and the implications of options on market efficiency
Daniel Pierce
Elements of understanding: mathematics, literature, and Nicolas Bourbaki (Math and French)
Evan Radkoff
Topical Web Crawlers (Math and Computer Science)
Kemal Ramic
Monte Carlo Simulations of the Clumpy Torus in Active Galactic Nucle (Math and Physics)
Kemar Reid
Entrapment and Determination of the Activity of Lipase Embedded in Swellable Organosilica: Modeling Particle Aggregation and Aging of Colloidal Sol-gels (Math and Biochemistry - Molecular Biology)
Hannah Roberts
Iteration Digraphs
Ian Sharp
Enigmatic magic: an analysis of the role of codes and ciphers within American intelligence (Math and History)
Joshua Stidham
Two-person Zero-sum Game Theory: Batter vs. Pitcher
Blake Sword
Model looking at the expected number of shots to hole out on a golf course
Nancy TInoza
Making Money, Making Sense: An analysis of the Modern Portfolio Theory and the Performance of alternative risk measures (Math and Economics)
Adam Trontz
Similarly Intriguing and Perspectively Odd: Fractal and Projective Geometry Explored in M.C. Escher's Art
Andrew Valerian
Traffic flow theory
Melissa Venecek
A Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of the Dimerization of Oxalic Acid, a Potential Reaction within Secondary Organic Aerosols (Math and Chemistry)

2011 Senior Independent Study Titles

Kevin Nicholson
Bertolt Brecht and David Hilbert: A Connection through Formalism (Math and German)
Noah Hartley-Shepherd
Fish On: A Study of Nonlinear Elasticity and Tensors
Kaleb Reed
Going Inside the Rubik's Cube
Xiaoru Bao
The Derivation of the Black-Scholes Model and Its Application to Hedging
Anne Somers
Paradox
Pamela Wales
Exploring the Effects of Initial Conditions on the Kinetics of the Decomposition of Dichloroacetic Acid through a Hydrogen Peroxide and Ultraviolet Radiation Oxidation Process (Math and Chemistry)
Itai Njanji
Exploring the Branch-and-Cut Algorithm (Math and Computer Science)
Logan Garrity
Infinity (Math and English)
Sean Twining
Printed Circuit Board Layout Optimization
Wenyuan Wu
Bayesian Statistics: An Alternative Method to Insurance Pricing Practice (Math and Economics)
Jacob Haning
The Interpretation of Homology Groups
Prachi Saraogi
Impact of Financial Access on the Efficiency of a Portfolio: A Geometric Dissection of Portfolio Theory and Empirical Analysis of the Financial Diaries of Low-Income Households in South Africa (Math and Economics)
Hannah Kurtz
An Introduction to Game Theory and its Application to Biology
Jason Van Houten
An Evolutionary Study of Multimeric Phosphagen Kinases Using Ancestral Protein Reconstruction and the Prediction of Phosphagen Kinase Substrate Specificity Using Artificial Neural Networks (Math and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology)
Dustin Eisele
What Factors Affect Jurors' Decisions: A Mathematical Modeling Approach to a Common Psychological Question (Math and Psychology)
Joshua Thomas
Go with the Lava Flow (Math and Computer Science)
Bridget Kraynik
Boom! How the Human Population Explosion Affects Our Future
Louisa Catalano
Tighten Up: A Preliminary Study of Knots (Math and Physics)
Robert Taylor
Selection Pressure on a Selfish Herd: Evolution of Ecological Relationships in an Agent-based Model (Math and Computer Science)
Derek Wyman
The Impact of Calculators on Students' Test Scores

2010 Senior Independent Study Titles

Elizabeth Ottie Agyeman
Let's See Who Takes Home the Cup this Year, 2010: Mathematical Sports Ranking
Marc Christian
Differential Gene Expression of H. Bacteriophora TTO1 in Response to Heat Stress (Math and BMB)
Eric Enoch
Analysis of Automotive Valve Train Springs
Jeff Lyman
NO MORE RED LIGHTS! A Cellular Automaton Solution for City Traffic
Kristine Mann
A Case Study Investigating Practices in Middle School Mathematics
John Mullett
Analyzing Insurgency Situations with an Emphasis on the Effect of Intelligence: An Adaptation of the Lanchester Model
Aung Maw Myo Lwin
Economic Benefits of Foot-Voting: Game Theoretic Approach (Math and Economics)
Mary Rhollans
An Introduction to Disease Modeling, with a Focus on Malaria
Priscilla Staples
Optimal Batting Order for The College of Wooster Fighting Scots Softball Team for the 2008 Season
Jared Steed
Investigation of the Kinetics of Aqueous Dicarboxylic Acids Under Tropospheric Light Conditions and the Application of Systems of Ordinary Differential Equations to Model Chemical Kinetics (Math and Chemistry)
Yang Tian
The Impact of Tariffs on Foreign Direct Investment (Math and Economics)

2009 Senior Independent Study Titles

Robert Ashmead
Topics in Multivariate Statistical Theory
Jessi Baughman
Hydrogen Bonding Complexes of Cytosine and Uracil: A Spectroscopic Investigation (Math and Chemistry)
Corbin Boisvert
Riemann Zeta Function
Allyson Buytendyk
Kinetic and Thermodynamic Analysis of Calcium Binding to Phospholipid Analogs (Math and Chemistry)
Gregory Garris
MILE 1: Exploring the Connection Between Learning Styles and Preference for Mathematical Representations
Evan Heidtmann
A Differential Equations Model of Insulin Spherulite Growth and a Surprising Connection to Algebraic Topology (Math and Physics)
Sam Hickey
An Investigation of Mathematical Models Used to Optimize Bus Timetables in Urban Transit Systems
Lorna Johnston
DNA Geometry and its Biological Significance (Math and BMB)
Frank King
/. (Math and Physics)
Rachel Lipner
Investigation of Dioxybenzone-Alcohol Complexes through Spectral Deconvolution and an Analysis of Symmetric Groups and Character Tables (Math and Chemistry)
Sheldon Masters
Waste Load Allocation for Regional Wastewater Treatment Planning in the Willamette River Using Linear Programming
Natalie Offen
Classification of Surfaces
Ellen Wagner
Secret, Secrets are so Fun, If They're not for Everyone! (Math and Computer Science)
Jeffrey Willert
A Study of the Calculus of Variations