Hands-on Learning

In the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, you’ll gain the confidence to apply your skills in meaningful ways — from community-focused outreach to faculty-led research and real-world projects.

A classroom full of mathematics students tosses plastic balls around in front of a whiteboard

Mathematics and statistics are best learned by doing, and at Cal State Monterey Bay, you’ll find plenty of ways to put your knowledge into practice. From your very first courses, you’ll see how mathematics and statistics connect to real-world challenges and opportunities. Along the way, you’ll work side by side with faculty on projects that expand access to mathematics in local schools, advance innovative teaching practices, and explore new ways to support your community through data science.

These hands-on experiences help you move beyond memorizing formulas. You’ll learn to apply mathematical thinking in ways that matter: mentoring younger students, analyzing data that informs decision-making, or testing out research questions alongside professors. By the time you graduate, you’ll have not only a strong foundation in theory, but also the confidence to use your skills in graduate programs, classrooms, or professional careers across industry.

Gain Experience within the Classroom

Dive into mathematics and statistics through hands-on projects and real research built directly into your classes. With every class project, you’ll go beyond the textbook and explore concepts in depth while building an impressive portfolio of experience. As you approach graduation, you’ll bring everything together in a dynamic Capstone Experience designed to showcase the knowledge and skills you’ve developed throughout your degree. Each spring, you’ll have the opportunity to present your work at our annual Capstone Festival where you will share your research with the campus community, as well as your family and friends, in celebration of all your accomplishments.

Serve the Local Community

Take your mathematics, statistics, and data science skills beyond the classroom and into the Monterey Bay region. Through meaningful service-learning placements, you’ll apply what you learn to projects that make a tangible impact in the community. Whether you’re analyzing data for regional nonprofits or supporting math classrooms in local school districts, you’ll build valuable professional experience while making a difference. Here, your education doesn’t just prepare you for your future career, it allows you to start living it.

Explore Service Learning at CSUMB

Learn by Doing

Launch your future in mathematics, statistics, or data science with an internship. Apply your analytical skills to real datasets, tackle meaningful quantitative challenges, and gain hands-on experience in professional settings, often while earning pay or credit towards your degree. Our students have interned in actuarial science, agricultural management, sports analytics, and tech-driven data science roles. These internships help you sharpen your problem-solving skills, build a competitive résumé, and see how math and data power decision-making across industries—all before you graduate.

Get Started with the Science Internship Program

Advance Mathematics and Statistics Research

Jump into discovery in mathematics, statistics, and data science alongside passionate faculty research mentors. Prove new results in number theory or algebra, build models to solve real-world problems, analyze complex datasets, or investigate how students learn math through paid research positions or through independent research courses, or pursue competitive summer research experiences at universities nationwide. Share your discoveries at local and national conferences or as published articles, supported every step of the way by faculty mentors dedicated to helping you succeed.

Start Your Research Journey

Be Inspired by Great Minds

At our Department Colloquium, you’ll explore the exciting frontiers of mathematics, statistics, and data science beyond your coursework. Each semester, we host engaging speakers—from leading researchers to industry professionals—who share cutting-edge ideas, real-world applications, and career insights. You’ll discover how the concepts you study connect to solving meaningful problems in science, technology, business, and society. It’s your chance to broaden your perspective, spark new interests, and become part of a vibrant community of curious, motivated mathematicians and statisticians.

Student and Alumni Stories

Our students are our focus in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Cal State Monterey Bay. Here are a few of their stories.

Noah Kan

Statistics and Data Science B.S., Class of 2026

From the moment Noah stepped onto campus, he knew CSUMB was where he belonged. What may seem like a small university quickly revealed itself to be a place rich with opportunity, connection, and support. Surrounded by a stunning coastal setting, Noah can walk to the beach, access free technology resources, and engage in hands-on research that brings his studies to life.

As a statistics and data science major, he has analyzed monarch butterfly data for the Pacific Grove Natural History Museum and worked with data for Second Harvest Food Bank—applying his skills to meaningful community impact. He now tutors introductory statistics in the Cooperative Learning Center and is conducting research on innovative ways to teach programming in data science classrooms. Above all, Noah values the close mentorship from professors and the small class sizes that foster genuine relationships and a strong sense of belonging. His experience reflects what prospective students can expect within the Department of Mathematics and Statistics: real opportunities, personal support, and a community that helps you thrive.

The amount of support you receive from the professors is unmatched. I’ve never felt alone in a class at CSUMB. These professors with the small class sizes make you feel a sense of community that a larger school cannot offer.

Stephanie Lara-Sotelo

Statistics and Data Science B.S., Class of 2027

Stephanie is majoring in statistics with a minor in business, combining her love of numbers with her interest in the business world. Although she didn’t always enjoy math, inspiring high school teachers helped her discover a passion for the subject and the complexity behind data and quantitative problem-solving. At CSUMB, she has taken that passion even further. As a participant in the NREUP program with Dr. Kim as her mentor, Stephanie presented her research at MAA MathFest in Tampa, Florida, where she earned an Outstanding Poster Award. She has also presented at the MAA Golden Section Conference in Santa Cruz, attended SACNAS in Portland, and participated in the Modern Math Workshop—building connections with others who share her enthusiasm for mathematics and statistics. On campus, she serves as treasurer of the Math and Stat Club, strengthening the Department’s vibrant community.

Stephanie chose CSUMB not only for its affordability and convenient location close to home, but also for its small, supportive environment. As a commuter, she values being just 30 minutes away while still benefiting from close faculty mentorship and meaningful involvement on campus. The university’s coastal setting is an added bonus—offering a place to recharge by the beach whenever she needs it. Her experience shows how the Department of Mathematics and Statistics empowers students to grow academically, professionally, and personally.

I chose CSUMB because college is expensive. I am a commuter, and CSUMB is conveniently only a 30 minute drive away from my home. But apart from its location, I chose CSUMB because… I knew that I could thrive better and be more successful in a school that is smaller because it can be easier to build a community here.

Oscar Murillo-Espinoza

Mathematics B.S., Class of 2024

Oscar, who was born and raised in Watsonville, chose CSUMB after hearing about its outstanding faculty and supportive learning environment—and he quickly found a place where he could thrive. As a mathematics major, he is drawn to the challenge and depth of each course, especially the abstract ideas that go beyond calculus and statistics. His curiosity drives him to explore the theory behind the concepts many take for granted—questions like why integrals represent infinite sums or why rational numbers are dense in the real numbers. After transferring in Fall 2023, Oscar became a McNair Scholar with Dr. Alison Lynch as his mentor, launching a research journey that included a summer REU at Occidental College. He has since presented at national conferences, winning both a Poster Award at the National Diversity in STEM Conference and a Speaker Award at the Joint Mathematics Meetings. A recipient of the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship and numerous other honors, Oscar is now pursuing a PhD in Mathematics at Oregon State University—an inspiring example of how the Department of Mathematics and Statistics supports students in reaching the highest levels of achievement.

I transferred to CSUMB because I heard great things about the faculty and the learning environment created here. I also enjoy the cooler weather! My own curiosity motivates me because I always want to know the theory behind the things we sort of just "accept"... which I explored as a McNair Scholar mentored by Dr. Alison Lynch.