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Requirements

Mathematics Major

A major consists of at least nine courses numbered 1800 or higher.

Students who have mastered the material in ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2000 Linear Algebra prior to enrolling at º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ may substitute another course numbered MATH 1751 or higher if they have received an appropriate placement. The same holds for ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2020 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning if they also obtain approval of the department chair.ÌýAll students must submit a planned program of courses to the department when they declare a major.

The requirement of an advanced course (3000–3969) is meant to ensure that all majors have sufficient experience in at least one specific area of mathematics as listed below:

Mathematics Minor

A minor in mathematics consists of a minimum of five courses numbered 1800 or higher.

Interdisciplinary Majors

The department participates in the interdisciplinary major programs of computer science and mathematics and mathematics and economics and mathematics and education. See the .

Additional Information and Department Policies º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ

• Each of the courses required for the major or minor must be taken for a regular letter grade, not Credit/D/Fail, with a minimum earned grade of C-.
• At most, two of the nine courses required for the major, or one of the five courses required for the minor, can be transfer credits from other institutions.
• Independent studies and honors projects can count toward major and minor requirements with prior departmental approval. The department does not restrict the number of independent study and honors projects which count toward the major.
• Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate scores, in addition to the mathematics placement questionnaire, are only used for placement.
• Courses from other departments or programs do not count toward the major or minor, but students may use mathematics courses toward another major or minor if that department or program allows.Ìý

Recommended Courses

Regardless of mathematical interests, students are encouraged to take a wide variety of courses in theoretical and applied mathematics as well as statistics. We offer the following suggestions for students exploring different career pathways open to mathematics majors. We encourage all majors and minors to develop a strong relationship with their departmental advisor as they formulate a curriculum for their goals.

Secondary Education

• Obtaining a broad base of knowledge in mathematics is important for secondary education, and recommended courses are listed as part of the . There are two formal ways to combine interests in mathematics and education at º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ, namely the mathematics and education interdisciplinary major, and the coordinate major with education. However, neither is formally required to pursue a career in secondary education.

Actuarial Mathematics

• Actuaries are leading professionals in finding ways to manage risk. In addition to courses in finance, economics, and computer science, students interested in actuarial science should include the following courses in their major: ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1800 Multivariate Calculus, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2000 Linear Algebra, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2206 Probability, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2606 Statistics.

Engineering

• Mathematics provides a firm foundation for students interested in a degree in engineering and for participation in one of the shared studies programs between º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ and other institutions. For more information about the recommended coursework and its timing, please see .Ìý

Finance, Economics, and Operations Research

• Students interested in the fields of finance, economics, and operations research are encouraged to explore the courses required for the .

Graduate Study in Mathematics

• Students interested in graduate study in mathematics should thoroughly explore the multiple perspectives present among courses offered by the department. Both breadth and depth in coursework are valuable. Ideally, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2000 Linear Algebra and ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2020 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning should be completed early in the major in order to meet the prerequisites of advanced courses. Students interested in graduate study in mathematics are encouraged to form close relationships with faculty in the department to receive mentoring and advice on their studies.Ìý

Statistics

• Students interested in pursuing studies in statistics or biostatistics are encouraged to enroll in courses from the following list: ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2000 Linear Algebra, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2020 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2206 Probability, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2209 Numerical Methods, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2301 Intermediate Linear Algebra, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2603 Introduction to Analysis, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2606 Statistics, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2805 Mathematical principles of machine learning,Ìý²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý3606 Advanced Topics in Probability and Statistics.

Information Security

• Mathematics is at the core of modern information security research, including cryptography and network analysis. Students interested in this field are encouraged to obtain a solid foundation in both theoretical and applied mathematics, supplemented with courses in the computer science department. Courses to support an interest in this field include the following: ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2000 Linear Algebra, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2020 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2206 Probability, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2301 Intermediate Linear Algebra, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2502 Number Theory and Cryptography, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2601 Combinatorics and Graph Theory.

Data Science

• Understanding large data sets and drawing inferences and conclusions from their structure rely on an increasing variety of mathematical skills. The following courses in both theoretical and applied mathematics as well as statistics form a solid mathematical foundation in this area. ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1756 Data Science,Ìý²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2000 Linear Algebra, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2020 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2206 Probability, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2301 Intermediate Linear Algebra,Ìý²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2601 Combinatorics and Graph Theory, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2603 Introduction to Analysis, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2606 Statistics, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2805 Mathematical principles of machine learning,Ìý²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý3606 Advanced Topics in Probability and Statistics.ÌýStudents are also encouraged to complete coursework in .

Theoretical Computer Science

• Students interested in a mathematical foundation complementing their studies in theoretical computer science are encouraged to explore courses from the following list: ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2000 Linear Algebra, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2020 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2206 Probability, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2209 Numerical Methods, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2301 Intermediate Linear Algebra, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2502 Number Theory and Cryptography, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2601 Combinatorics and Graph Theory,Ìý ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2602 Group Theory, ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý3602 Advanced Topics in Group Theory.

Information for Incoming Students 

Understanding Mathematics Placements

• Visit º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ's for a description of all courses currently offered.
• Students considering a major in economics, psychology, or sociology should first consider a course in that major, including ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý2557 Economic Statistics,Ìý±Ê³§³Û°äÌý2520 Data AnalysisÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý³§°¿°äÌý2020 Quantitative Analysis in Sociology instead of ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1300 Introduction to Statistics and ComputationÌý´Ç°ùÌý²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1756 Data Science.
• Students receiving a placement of either ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1700 Integral Calculus,Ìý²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1750 Intermediate Integral Calculus,Ìý²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1800 Multivariate Calculus, or ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2000 Linear Algebra and above who additionally have a year of high school or college biology are eligible to enroll in MATH 1758 Biomathematics. This course is appropriate for students interested in how differential calculus is used to address questions from biology.

Mathematics Placement Options

• See Chair of the Mathematics Department: please contact Professor Thomas Pietraho
• See Director of Quantitative Reasoning: please contact Professor Eric Gaze
• ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1050 Quantitative Reasoning is based on high school mathematical preparation and appropriate for students who may benefit from additional preparation before enrolling in further quantitative courses.
• ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1600 Differential Calculus is for students who have not yet seen calculus, or have seen up to one semester of calculus in high school.
• ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1700 Integral CalculusÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1750 Intermediate Integral Calculus is for students who have had AB calculus or its equivalent in high school.
• ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1800 Multivariate Calculus is for students who have had BC calculus or its equivalent in high school.Ìý Student scores on the AP or IB exam do not affect this placement.
• ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2000 Linear Algebra/²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý2020 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning is recommended for students with advanced preparation. These are courses for students who have already completed multivariate calculus. Students with this placement should attend the information session offered by the department outlining these courses.

Statistics Placement Options

• ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1300 Introduction to Statistics and Computation is an introduction to the statistical methods used in the life sciences. The course assumes minimal or no background in calculus or statistics.
  • Incoming students placed in ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1600 Differential Calculus or ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1700 Integral Calculus may enroll.
• ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1756 Data Science is an introduction to data science with an emphasis on the use of computational methods to explore, visualize, and contextualize data using a variety of statistical and probability models.
  • Incoming students placed in ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1750 Intermediate Integral Calculus or higher may enroll.
• MATH 1758 Biomathematics is a more comprehensive introduction to statistics as it is used across the natural and social sciences and assumes some background in calculus or statistics.
  • Incoming students placed in ²Ñ´¡°Õ±áÌý1700 Integral Calculus or higher may enroll.