• MSc degree in mathematics, branch financial and business mathematics

• MSc degree in mathematics and computer science

• MSc degree in mathematics, branch mathematical economy and statistics

• MSc degree in mathematics, branch industrial and applied mathematics

Every year applicants will be admitted to:

• the first-cycle study programme in mathematics (Bachelor level),

• the MEd programme in mathematics and computer science,

• one of the four branches within the Master level programme with the greatest interest shown at that moment.

Students who enrolled in the previous four-year study programme granting a BSc degree in mathematics and physics will be able to complete their studies and obtain their degrees according to the old curriculum.

As can be seen from the approved curricula, within the framework of the first cycle study programme (Bachelor level) in mathematics students will acquire fundamental knowledge falling into the scope of the core of mathematics as well as necessary knowledge of computer science and physics. Special attention is also paid to learning English and German for specific purposes (as used in mathematics, computer science and physics). The aforementioned first-cycle study programme enables acquiring mathematical-computing fundamentals and introduction to basic mathematical and computer science theories. After successful completion of the first cycle study programme graduates will be awarded the title Bachelor of Science (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) in mathematics, as well as the diploma and a diploma supplement certifying which examinations the student in question passed by which grade, and providing data on the contact hours and course contents. With this diploma a student will be able to try to find a job or enrol in a second cycle study programme (Master level) not necessarily at the Department of Mathematics, University of Osijek.

A MEd programme in mathematics and computer science will train future mathematics and computer science teachers professionally and methodologically to be able to teach all types of classes in mathematics and computer science at primary and secondary schools of all profiles: regular, extra, elective and remedial. They will be trained to research the literature, write and present a professional paper in the fields of mathematics and computer science. They will also be especially prepared to work with groups of pupils - young mathematicians and computer scientists, to prepare pupils for competitions in mathematics and computer science at all levels as well as to tutor and supervise pupils when doing, presenting/ defending their seminar papers or high-school graduation papers. After successful completion of this programme granting a degree in mathematics and computer education graduates will be awarded the title MEd in Mathematics and Computer Science, as well as the diploma and a diploma supplement certifying which examinations the student in question passed by which grade, and providing data on the contact hours and course contents.

In addition to fundamental knowledge of mathematics, within the framework of the second cycle study programme in mathematics (Master level) future MSc degree holders will acquire knowledge sufficient to enable them to apply mathematics to other fields of science, especially computer science, statistics and economy. Bearing this in mind, emphasis will be placed on some targeted field depending on the branch. E.g., an MSc degree holder in mathematics, branch financial and business mathematics, will possess knowledge of fundamental mathematical and computer science disciplines, basic knowledge of economy, but also some special knowledge in the fields of financial, actuarial and business mathematics. That will give him/her a very good status on the labour market, especially in the fields in which financial, actuarial and business mathematics are applied. A great number of elective courses enables curriculum flexibility and acquisition of additional specific knowledge. After successful completion of this programme graduates will be awarded the title Master of Science in Mathematics as well as the diploma and a diploma supplement certifying which examinations the student in question passed by which grade, and providing data on the contact hours and course contents.

Principles followed by developing the curriculum

The curricula of the above mentioned study programmes have been developed on the basis of the most recent knowledge and the corresponding competencies and skills, whereby it has been taken into account that in the last ten years there have been many conceptual changes at all levels of education, in particular referring to new information and communication technologies that entered the teaching process. These study programmes have been made on the basis of our own awareness of the need for innovation and modernisation of course contents, but also on the basis of numerous contacts and discussions with colleagues from other Croatian universities (especially of the Department of Mathematics, University of Zagreb), as well as results obtained by the study progress analysis and the feedback information obtained from our graduates. We have also appreciated opinions and suggestions of visiting lecturers at the Mathematical Colloquium in Osijek (which has been taking place on Thursdays at 7 p.m. continuously for the last 13 years), and particularly opinions and proposals of the committee sent in 2002 by the National Council for Higher Education for the purpose of evaluating mathematics at the Department of Mathematics (Dr. D. Miličić, University of Utah, Dr. K. Veselić, Fernuniversität Hagen), as well as conclusions drawn at the Round Table held in 2004 within the 3rd Mathematical Congress in Split.

An important guideline for developing the approved study programmes was a series of articles in the journal "Mitteilungen der Deutschen Mathematiker-Vereinigung" (2002–2005) whose authors were members of «The Mathematics Tuning Group» within the pilot project «Tuning Educational Structures in Europe». The project was approved in 2001 by the European Commission. We would also like to emphasise useful suggestions given by eminent professors working at famous European, American and Canadian universities: Dr. Mladen Bestvina (Department of Mathematics, University of Utah), Dr. Reinhard Wilhelm (Department of Computer Science, Universität des Saarlandes), Dr. Rudolf Fritsch (Department of Mathematics, Universität München), Dr. Nikolai N.Leonenko (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Cardiff University), Dr. Andro Mikelić (Department of Mathematics, Univeriste’ Lyon), Dr. Franz Rendl (Department of Mathematics, Universität Klagenfurt), Dr. Harry I. Miller (Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Department of Mathematics, University of Sarajevo), Dr. Sanjo Zlobec (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McGill University, Montreal), Dr. Jadranka Skorin-Kapov (State University of New York at Stony Brook), Dr. Jesse Barlow (Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University).

In this way the proposed study programmes are made considerably comparable to related study programmes at the aforementioned foreign universities.

Head of the Department of Mathematics
J.J.Strossmayer University of Osijek
Dr. Rudolf Scitovski, Full Professor