Department Requirements

Requirements for the Major in Mathematics

A major consists of at least eight courses numbered 200 or above, including at least one of the following Mathematics 262, 263, or a course numbered in the 300s.

A student must submit a planned program of courses to the department when he or she declares a major. That program should include both theoretical and applied mathematics courses, and it may be changed later with the approval of the departmental advisor.

All majors should take basic courses in algebra (e.g., Mathematics 222 or 262) and in analysis (e.g., Mathematics 223 or 263), and they are strongly encouraged to complete at least one sequence in a specific area of mathematics. Those areas are:

  • algebra (Mathematics 222, 262, and 302);
  • analysis (Mathematics 243, 263, and 303);
  • applied mathematics (Mathematics 224, 264, and 304);
  • probability and statistics (Mathematics 225, 265, and 305); and
  • geometry (Mathematics 247 and 307).

In exceptional circumstances, a student may substitute a quantitative course from another department for one of the eight mathematics courses required for the major, but such a substitution must be approved in advance by the department. Without specific departmental approval, no course which counts toward another department's major or minor may be counted toward a mathematics major or minor.

Majors who have demonstrated that they are capable of intensive advanced work are encouraged to undertake independent study projects. With the prior approval of the department, such a project counts toward the major requirement and may lead to graduation with honors in mathematics.

Requirements for the Minor in Mathematics

A minor in mathematics consists of a minimum of four courses numbered 200 or above.

Guidelines For Groupwork Submission

A course may employ various kinds of collaborative assignments on homework, in the computer laboratory, and in class. One kind allows students to collaborate with their classmates on the analysis of the problems, but requires individual submission of final solutions. In this situation, the specific phrasing and organization of each student's final submission is expected to be his or her own.

Another kind of collaborative assignment involves group work where students are required to collaborate with their group members on all aspects of the assignment. In this situation, all members of the group must not only participate in the analysis of the problems, but should discuss the specific phrasing and organization of their final submission. On such assignments, the names of all participants should appear together on one joint final submission. If a particular group member did not participate in some aspect of the project, the details of this should be reported in the final submission.

Interdisciplinary Majors

The department participates in interdisciplinary programs in computer science and mathematics and mathematics and economics.

Mathematics and Economics Requirements

Six courses in mathematics:

  • Mathematics 181, 222, 225, 265; and two of Mathematics 224, 249, 264, 304.
  • Either Computer Science 210 or Mathematics 244, 255, or 305.

Four courses in economics:

  • Economics 255, 256, 316, and one other 300-level course.

Computer Science and Mathematics

  • Computer Science 107 and 210.
  • Mathematics 181 and 200.
  • Computer Science 231 and 289.
  • Two additional Computer Science courses from: 250, any 300-level, and 401.
  • Three additional Mathematics courses from: 224, 225, 244, 249, 262, 264, 288, and 401.
  • Independent study (291) may be applied to the major upon approval of the appropriate department.

In addition, listed below are some of the recommended courses for students with the indicated interests.

For secondary school teaching:

Computer Science 107, Mathematics 222, 225, 242, 247, 262, 263, 265, 288.

For graduate study:

Mathematics 222, 243, 262, 263, and at least one course numbered in the 300s.

For engineering and applied mathematics:

Mathematics 223, 224, 225, 243, 244, 264, 265, 288, 304.

For mathematical economics and econometrics:

Mathematics 222 or 263, 225, 244, 249, 265, 288, 304, 305, and Economics 316.

For statistics and other interdisciplinary areas:

Mathematics 222, 224, 225, 243, 244, 255, 265, 305.

For computer science:

Computer Science 231 and 289; Mathematics 200, 222, 225, 244, 249, 262, 265, 288.

For operations research and management science:

Mathematics 200, 222, 225, 249, 265, 288, 305, and Economics 316.