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Syllabuses

Originally there were "Pass" and "Advanced" undergraduate courses, then three stages in a subject. Syllabuses were very static for the mid 1920's to 1947. A standard syllabus applied to each unit throughout the N.Z. universities. Formal term exams were held and then overseas examiners dealt with all advanced and honours trades for the final degree examinations. Once a candidate had to pass at least two units at one time (except for the final unit to complete his degree).

Some local changes since 1943 are mentioned. In 1943 Calculus was introduced into stage I rather than initially at stage II and the trigonometry component was considerably reduced and Pure Mathematics III had a third paper in its finals. Applied I then allowed some elementary calculus in its mechanics and vector methods were more prominent. In 1949 a third year level course in Mathematical Physics was introduced. By 1958 when we became a separate university, each institution had its own syllabuses. In 1959 Applied III was revised with the introduction of some gravitational theory, and vector calculus. Group and matrix theory had a more definite place at honours level. In 1963 Mathematical Physics was cancelled but an Applied II unit was introduced to fill the gap between Applied I and III. The full unit of Statistical Mathematics II was also instituted. Continuum Mechanics appeared in the Applied III syllabus. In 1965 Statistical and Numerical Mathematics III was begun and the old M.Sc.(Hons), a six paper exam, was replaced by B.Sc.(Hons), a five paper exam. There were then 3 compulsory papers and a choice of 2 out of 5 others.

• In 1966 this choice increased to 2 out of 9.
• In 1967 Comprehensive Mathematics was introduced.
• In 1968 dynamical meteorolgy appeared as an honours option, now one of 13 papers with greater freedom of choice.
• In 1969 General Mathematics was introduced.
• In 1971 the stage II courses were re-organised and five papers (each 1/2 unit = 6 credits) were offered while the Dept of Information Science introduced their own stage II course. We offered 16 options at honours.
• In 1972 the re-organisation spread to third year work, there being 8 six-credit courses available. In 1973 a Biometrics second year level paper was introduced and honours candidates wree permitted to include one third stage course not already taken.

So during the last 10 years there has been a steady revision and diversification and within subjects the most noticeable changes have been probably in algebra. Future courses are being considered to deal with the history of mathematics and a special course for teachers. A Diploma of Operations Research & Statistics is to be introduced in 1975.