Bachelor's Degrees
Admission Requirements for the college are satisfied by the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the University. Undergraduates will be accepted as mathematics majors only after an interview with a departmental adviser. After a student's acceptance as a major, all of his or her course elections must be signed by a departmental adviser.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the bachelor's degree must complete 120 credits in course work including satisfaction of the College Group Requirements and the University General Education Requirements, as well as the major requirements of one of the following programs. All course work must be completed in accordance with the academic procedures of the University and the College governing undergraduate scholarship and degrees respectively.

Bachelor of Arts

The candidate must complete one of options A, B, C, D, or E as described below.

Bachelor of Science

The candidate must complete:
  1. Option A (see below) or one of Options B, C, D, or E plus MAT 560. (A candidate for the B.S. degree in another department who wishes to include mathematics as a second major may complete Option B, C, D, or E without the addition of MAT 560).
  2. Physics 217 and 218.
  3. Computer Science 102
  4. One course elected from the following: BIO 151, CHM 105, 107, 131, GEL 101, NFS 221, and PSY 101.
The Department recommends that the Group Requirement in Foreign Language be satisfied by the election of French, German, or Russian.

Honor Point Average

For majors, the cumulative honor point average in mathematics (MAT) courses must be at least 2.0.

Curricular Alternatives

Combined Curriculum for Secondary Teaching: Under the Combined Curriculum, it is possible to earn a bachelor's degree in mathematics concurrent with a secondary teaching certificate. Students in the curriculum may satisfy the mathematics part of their degree requirements by any of the degree programs specified above. Though Option C is specifically designed for such purposes, students are not restricted to Option C.

Computer Science Concentration: Mathematics and computer science are so closely related that a great many students who major in mathematics pursue careers or graduate study in computer science. A mathematics degree, being more than just welcome in the field, is highly regarded. For students who would like to complete a double major in mathematics and computer science or a major in mathematics with a minor in computer science, the Department offers a specially designed program described under Option D, below. Under this option , students are exempt from taking MAT 235 and have a choice of probability courses MAT 570 or MAT 221. Additionally, students can take certain courses that satisfy both mathematics and computer science requirements simultaneously. Specifically, MAT 510 can be used as a computer science elective and one of CSC 518, 586, 587, 651, 658, 661, 662, or 669 (depending on the topic) can be used a s a mathematics elective. An accelerated one- semester 'Discrete Mathematics' course, MAT 286,

Actuarial Science Concentration: Students embarking on a career as an actuary will be expected to pass certain exams administered by the profession. Option E (below) provides the coursework covered by the first several exams: Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics, Numerical Analysis and Operations Research. The Department also offers MAT 331, a problem-solving review course in Calculus and Linear Algebra that is designed to prepare students for the first actuarial science examination.

Option A
This Option is recommended for students who plan to pursue graduate study in mathematics.
  1. The Basic Sequence (MAT 201, 202, 203, 225, and 235).
  2. Advanced Calculus (MAT 507).
  3. Algebra I (MAT 542).
  4. Analysis I (MAT 560).
  5. Probability (MAT 570).
  6. Algebra II or Analysis II (MAT 543, or 561).
  7. One course elected from the following: MAT 523, 524, 552, 553, 561, and 582.
  8. One additional course elected from (a) mathematics courses numbered above 500, excluding service courses and MAT 615 and 616, or from (b) CSC 518, 651, 658, 661, 662, or 699 (depending on the topic). Students in the Combined Curriculum for Secondary Teaching should take MAT 614.
Option B
This option is for students interested in a broad range of topics.
  1. The Basic Sequence (MAT 201, 202, 203, 225, and 235).
  2. Mathematics 507.
  3. Mathematics 542.
  4. Mathematics 570.
  5. (MAT 560 is required for the B.S. degree, it is not required for the B.A. degree).
  6. Three additional mathematics courses numbered above 500, excluding service courses and MAT 615 and 616, or two such courses and one elected from the following: CSC 518, 651, 658, 661, 662, or 699 (depending on the topic). Students in the Combined Curriculum for Secondary Teaching should take MAT 614.
Option C - Concentration in Secondary Teaching
This option is available only to students in the Combined Curriculum for Secondary Teaching.
  1. The Basic Sequence (MAT 201, 202, 203, 225, and 235).
  2. Mathematics 507.
  3. Mathematics 614, 615, and 616.
  4. Mathematics 540 or 542.
  5. (MAT 560 is required for the B.S. degree, it is not required for the B.A. degree).
  6. Two additional mathematics courses numbered above 500, excluding service courses, or one such course and one computer science course numbered above 510. MAT 613 is strongly recommended.
Option D - Concentration in Computer Science
  1. Mathematics 201-203, and 225.
  2. Mathematics 286 or 186-187.
  3. Mathematics 507.
  4. Mathematics 510.
  5. Mathematics 542.
  6. Mathematics 570 or 221.
  7. (MAT 560 is required for the B.S. degree for students completing a minor in computer science. It is not required for students completing a double major in mathematics and computer science, nor is it required for the B.A. degree).
  8. Two additional mathematics courses numbered above 500, excluding service courses and MAT 615 and 616, or one such course and one elected from: CSC 518, 586, 587, 651, 658, 661, 662, or 699 (depending on the topic). Students in the Combined Curriculum for Secondary Teaching should take MAT 614.
NOTE: The computer Science Department accepts MAT 510 as a computer science elective numbered above 210 but not above 510.
Option E - Concentration in Actuarial Science
  1. Mathematics 201-203, and 225.
  2. Mathematics 507.
  3. Mathematics 510.
  4. Mathematics 542.
  5. Mathematics 570.
  6. Mathematics 571.
  7. Mathematics 582.
  8. (MAT 560 is required for the B.S. degree, it is not required for the B.A. degree).
  9. MAT 235 or one additional mathematics course numbered above 500, excluding service courses and MAT 615 and 616, or one computer science course numbered above 510. Students in the Combined Curriculum for Secondary Teaching should take MAT 614.

Honors Program

In order to graduate with honors in mathematics, students must satisfy the following criteria:
  1. Completion of the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree.
  2. An overall honor point average of 3.3 or above at graduation.
  3. Completion of at least fifteen credits in honors-designated course work, including at least one 400-level Honors Program seminar; and other courses such as: all or part of the honors calculus sequence, honors courses which fulfill general distribution requirements, and honors option courses.
  4. Completion of a Senior Task, for which a student registers under Mathematics 490, Directed Study, Honor Program. These MAT 490 credit honors count toward the fifteen-credit requirement.
Honors Sections in the Basic Sequence: Honors sections in Mathematics 201 and 203 are taught in the fall semester and in Mathematics 202 are taught in the winter semester. At 3.0 or higher grade point average in Basic Sequence courses already taken is required for admittance.

'AGRADE' Program

The Department of Mathematics participates in the College 'AGRADE' (Accelerated Graduate Enrollment) Program, in which qualified students can obtain a master's degree within on year of receiving the bachelor's degree. For more details about the 'AGRADE' Program, contact the Director of the College's Honors Program (577-3030), the Department Chairperson, or the Graduate Office of the College (577-2960).

Minor in Mathematics

The requirements for a Minor in Mathematics consist of MAT 201, 202, 203, 225, and either (a) three mathematics courses numbered above 500, excluding service courses and MAT 615 and 616, or (b) MAT 235 or 221 or 286 and two mathematics courses numbered above 500, excluding service courses and MAT 615 and 616.
Return to Mathematics for Undergraduates