To fully develop your mathematical skills and to be successful in a job or in graduate school entails more than just taking classes.  You need to be able to communicate, work cooperatively with others, and have an understanding of how people use mathematics in their jobs.   We offer many ways to help you develop these skills including

• Tutoring and teaching assistant jobs
  • Simpson College offers free peer tutoring for students enrolled in freshman and sophomore level mathematics courses through the Hawley Center.  The service is an employment opportunity for mathematics majors who wish to help others learn mathematics.  Students who enjoy working as mathematics tutors can get further experience helping others learn mathematics by becoming undergraduate assistants and teaching a lab section of intermediate algebra.  These positions offer students an opportunity to provide instruction in a classroom setting.
• Math Club
• One way our students participate in a community of learners is by supporting the Math Club.  This organization serves students who are interested in talking about mathematics with others who like mathematics.  The students sponsor talks, have parties, watch mathematical movies and generally promote mathematical activities.
• Conferences
• Each year students from Simpson College and other colleges and universities throughout Iowa attend the Midwest Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium (MUMS).  This is a forum for undergraduates in mathematics to share their research or projects with others and an opportunity to see what mathematical topics students from other schools are exploring.  In addition to MUMS, students and faculty attend regional conferences to present student work.
• Travel Abroad
  • Although many of our mathematics students spend the semester in Nicaragua, London or Germany studying language and culture, there is a mathematics study abroad program in Budapest, Hungary.  Some of our mathematics majors have completed part of the requirements for the mathematics degree while studying at Curtin University in Perth, Australia.
• Mathematical Competitions
  • Our students compete in regional, national and international mathematical competitions to be able apply the concepts they learn in a variety of classes in a real-world situation.  The success of our students in these competitions increases their confidence in their mathematical ability and helps them obtain their career objectives after graduation. 
• Internships and job shadowing
  • In order to understand what career opportunities are available and what those jobs entail, many of our students take advantage of internships and job shadowing.
• Undergraduate Research
  • Undergraduate Research allows students to explore a mathematical topic with the guidance of a faculty member.  Being able to explore a topic independently or in a group and communicate what you learned is a vital skill for anyone pursuing a career in mathematics.