Mathematics

The Major Core

A set of core courses is required of each mathematics major. These courses cover a range of fundamental fields of mathematics and position the student to pursue any one of a variety of elective programs to finish the degree.

• MATH055 HM - Discrete Mathematics
• MATH070 HM - Intermediate Linear Algebra
• MATH080 HM - Intermediate Differential Equations
• MATH131 HM - Mathematical Analysis I
• MATH157 HM - Intermediate Probability
• MATH171 HM - Abstract Algebra I
• MATH180 HM - Introduction to Partial Differential Equations

Computational Mathematics

Computational techniques are essential to many fields of modern mathematics and to most mathematical applications in business and industry. One course in computational mathematics is required of all mathematics majors, selected from the following list:

• MATH164 HM - Scientific Computing
• MATH165 HM - Numerical Analysis
• MATH167 HM - Complexity Theory
• MATH168 HM - Algorithms
• CSCI081 HM - Computability and Logic

Clinic or Thesis

Two semesters of Mathematics Clinic or two semesters of Senior Thesis are required and normally taken in the senior year. Clinic and thesis are important capstone experiences for each mathematics major: they represent sustained efforts to solve a complex problem from industry or mathematical research. To do a senior thesis, students must prepare a senior research proposal with the help of their thesis advisor. The proposal will describe the intended senior research project and must be submitted to the Department of Mathematics for approval before the end of the junior year. Clinic teams will be formed in the fall according to the requirements of the projects and student preferences. Students who do Clinic must work on the same Clinic project both semesters.

• MATH193 HM - Mathematics Clinic

• or

• MATH197 HM - Senior Thesis

Mathematics Forum and Mathematics Colloquium

All mathematics majors must take one semester of Mathematics Forum and one semester of Mathematics Colloquium, generally in the junior year. In the mathematics forum, students prepare and present talks on mathematical topics taken from the literature. As a requirement for the mathematics forum, students must submit a tentative description of their proposed elective program to the department by the end of the fall semester of the junior year.

• MATH198 HM - Undergraduate Mathematics Forum
• MATH199 HM - Math Colloquium

The Elective Program

To complete the degree, three elective mathematics courses totaling at least seven credits are required. The elective program will be designed by the student in consultation with her or his advisor. To assist students in designing their elective program, the department has prepared a variety of sample programs. These sample programs list courses that support a wide range of career goals in academics, business, or industry. About half of our graduates immediately join the workforce and about half enter graduate school. Several sample elective programs are listed below. In each of these samples, the first two courses are strongly recommended; at least one additional course is to be selected in order to complete the elective program. We emphasize that sample elective programs are advisory. Students may follow a sample program or design one of their own.