At Earlham, we strive to teach our students mathematical fundamentals and problem-solving skills that they can apply in a variety of disciplines or in further study of mathematics. We encourage our students to participate in weekly "mathophiles" seminars and informal lunches, to attend regional meetings of professional mathematicians, and to participate in mathematically related off-campus programs during the academic year or the summer.

The Association for Women in Mathematics (Careers That Count) describes mathematics as "… a powerful tool for solving practical problems and a highly creative field of study, combining logic and precision with intuition and imagination. The basic goal of mathematics is to reveal and explain patterns — whether the pattern appears as electrical impulses in an animal's nervous system, as fluctuations in stock market prices, or as fine detail of an abstract geometric figure."

A solid preparation in Mathematics can lead to a career in any field where the ability to recognize and exploit patterns is fundamental. Over the past few years, Earlham Mathematics graduates have gone on in various directions. Some are in graduate school studying applied mathematics, actuarial science, computer science, education, engineering, environmental science, law, mathematics, medicine, musicology or theology. Others have become high school teachers, business managers, computer programmers, systems analysts, environmental statisticians, actuaries or mathematics professors. Some Mathematics graduates have enrolled in Earlham College's Master of Arts in Teaching Program, while others have attended Earlham School of Religion, Indiana, Oregon State, Miami and Stanford universities and the universities of Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin.