The department of mathematics and computer science maintains a tradition of commitment to nurture students intellectually, ethically and socially, helping them reach their full potential.

Grambling State University produces quality graduates who create, enhance and support Louisiana’s workforce.

Grambling has awarded 33,763 degrees over the last 50 years. More recently, the last 10 years have seen 7,843 graduates from GSU that includes 6,352 bachelor’s degrees 1,247 master’s degrees, 450 associate’s degrees, and 75 doctoral degrees.

Not only is Grambling State University producing a significant amount of degrees, the university is also meeting the needs of Louisiana’s workforce.

The only Historically Black College in the UL System, Grambling has a commitment to educate minorities across the state as well as across the globe. Its many graduates are proof of GSU’s success in providing educational opportunities to a diverse community.

GSU has generated a significant amount of advanced degrees over the last ten years. Over 144 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates at the master’s level as well as 182 master degrees in security and protective services came from Grambling. Also, Grambling State University is the only university within the UL System that offers a master’s program in parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies.

Prominent baccalaureate degrees awarded at Grambling State University include computer and information sciences and support and protective services. Those degrees totaled 781; 649 and 46 respectively over the past ten years.

The university’s commitment to enhancing Louisiana and the north central region’s workforce is evident through the amount of quality of graduates produced over the past 10 years. As a member of the University of Louisiana System, Grambling is a key contributor to the largest degreeproducing higher education system in Louisiana.

With approximately two-thirds of UL System graduates remaining in the state, graduates of the eight universities make up a large proportion of Louisiana’s professional workforce.

Even still, there remains a need in Louisiana for professionals in critical shortage areas. Governor Bobby Jindal has made strengthening Louisiana’s work force a top priority of his administration.

“One of the goals of our redesign of the workforce development system in Louisiana is to connect the dots between market demand for employees with particular skills and the education and training institutions that can turn out graduates with those skills,” said Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Tim Barfield.

Once we can draw a straight line between them, we will have overcome one of the largest obstacles to economic development in our state. The eight campuses of the University of Louisiana System are an important component of that solution,” said Barfield

Degree attainment is especially important in a state where only 20 percent of the population hold a bachelor’s degree or higher as compared to 27 percent nationally. per the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The Council for a Better Louisiana’s 2009 Fact Book also shows our state as the third highest in the nation in overall poverty at 16 percent. That is a problem that can be solved, in part, by education.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, higher learning equals higher earning. Associate degree graduates make an additional $4,294 in wages per year over high school graduates. That annual additional salary grows by $17,287 for a bachelor’s degree and $27,856 for a master’s degree.

Taking into account the incremental earnings per year as a result of degree attainment and in-state retention, Grambling State University graduates have added about $453 million to Louisiana’s economy over the last 10 years.

The benefits of Grambling graduates go beyond quantifiable measures. According to the Institute for Higher Education Policy, college graduates have improved health and longer life expectancies, participate more in their communities through service and charitable giving, have more hobbies and leisure activities, are more likely to participate in civic activities such as voting, make better consumer decisions, have a better appreciation of diversity, are less likely to participate in crime, and have an improved quality of life for themselves and their children.

U.S. Census Bureau data reinforces these claims in Louisiana. Ninety-one percent of bachelor’s degree holders reported good to very good health versus only 80 percent of those with high school diplomas. Additionally, 85 percent of bachelor’s degree holders voted in the 2000 Presidential election versus 64 percent of high school graduates.