Undergraduate Program

Major and Minor Requirements

Please note: the courses listed below are the new course numbers, as of Fall 2012. See here for a guide to the renumbering.

Mathematics Major:
To major in Mathematics, a student must take ten courses beyond Calculus II. Up to two of these courses may be replaced by certain courses in related fields approved by the department. The courses in mathematics may not include Math 4, 30, 14, 15, 16, 19, 10, 32, 34, or 39. They must include Math 44 or 42 (Honors Calc III/Calc III), Math 72 or 70 (Abstract Linear Algebra/Linear Algebra), Math 135 (Real Analysis I) and 145 (Abstract Algebra I). Students are encouraged to take Math 72 for exposure to proofs; if Math 70 is selected, they are encouraged to take either Math 61 (Discrete Mathematics) or 63 (Number Theory) in order to prepare them for proofs in analysis and algebra.

For depth, students must complete at least one of the four major year-long sequences: Math 135-136 (Real Analysis I/II), Math 145-146 (Abstract Algebra I/II), Math 151-152 (Apps of Advanced Calculus/Nonlinear PDEs), or Math 161-162 (Probability/Statistics). A strong program would include both Math 136 and 146. For breadth, students must either complete a second one of these sequences or else take an additional course chosen from among Math 126 (Numerical Analysis), Math 128 (Numerical Linear Algebra), Math 151, Math 158 (Complex Variables), Math 161, Math 162, Math 167 (Differential Geometry), or Math 168 (Algebraic Topology). Majors are advised to complete Math 42/44 and Math 70/72 by the end of their sophomore year. All of these requirements, including a list of courses in related fields, can be found on the Mathematics Major Concentration Checklist. (Students matriculated before Fall 2012 can complete the mathematics major by fulfilling the requirements produced in the Bulletin of their first year and which can be found on the old Mathematics Major Concentration Checklist.)

Students in the School of Engineering may, with certain exceptions, choose mathematics as a second area of concentration. To do so a student must notify the Dean of Engineering through the Department of Mathematics at least one semester before graduation. The student must complete a program that simultaneously satisfies the conditions for a degree from the School of Engineering and the concentration recommendations of the Department of Mathematics.

Applied Mathematics Major:
To major in Applied Mathematics, a student must take 13 courses beyond Calculus II. These courses must include the following: Math 42 or 44, Math 51, Math 70 or 72, Math 87 (Mathematical Modeling and Computing), Math 158, Math 135-136, one of Math 145, Math 61/Comp 22, Comp 15, or Comp/Math 163, one of the following three sequences: Math 126-128, 151-152, 161-162, one of Math 126, 128, 151, 152, 161, 162 (excluding the sequence referred to in the last requirement), and two electives. Math courses numbered 61 or above are acceptable electives. With the approval of the Mathematics Department, students may also choose as electives courses with strong mathematical content that are not listed as Math courses. Majors are advised to complete Math 42 or 44, Math 70 or 72, and Mathematical Modeling by the end of their sophomore year. All of these requirements, including a complete list of related courses, can be found on the Applied Mathematics Major Concentration Checklist.

Majors must email the related fields advisor (currently Prof. MacLachlan) to request approval of any elective courses taken outside of the Mathematics Department. These requests should include the syllabus (syllabi) for the requested course(s). Students are strongly recommended to obtain written approval from the related fields advisor prior to taking the course(s).

Mathematics Minor:
To minor in mathematics, a student must take six courses in the department beyond the level of Math 34 or 39. These must include Math 44 or 42 and 72 or 70, as well as Math 135 or 145 (or both). All of these requirements can be found on the Mathematics Minor Checklist.