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Course Requirements

If you are going to be a mathematics major, or are thinking about majoring in mathematics, this page is for you. Please read it carefully. You should use it--in conjunction with advice from your advisor--to plan your program of study. It also will be necessary for you to refer to the Undergraduate Catalog or a departmental brochure for course descriptions. For further information please drop by the Department to see the Mathematics Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising: Ida Chan, Room: 1115, Phone: (301) 405-7582, Email: ugadvisor@math.umd.edu.

MATH MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

The program in mathematics leads to a degree of Bachelor of Science in mathematics and offers students training in mathematics and statistics in preparation for graduate work, teaching and positions in government or industry. See our career opportunities page. Mathematical training is integrated with the computer use in several courses. Because a strong mathematical background is important in several fields, over a third of UMCP mathematics majors are double majors. For the description of all campus courses see the Undergraduate Catalog.

There are three tracks for the major, the Traditional Track, the Secondary Education Track, and the Statistics Track. The Secondary Education Track is for students seeking to become certified to teach mathematics at the secondary level (for more information click here). However, students planning to complete the Five-Year Integrated Master's with Certification Program are required to complete the Traditional Track. The Statistics Track is either for students preparing for graduate work in Statistics or who would like to prepare for one of the many occupations that require a strong Statistics background.

Traditional Track

The following must be completed, with a grade of C or better:

1. The introductory sequence MATH 140, 141, 240, 241 or the corresponding honors sequence MATH 340-341. Completion of MATH 340 satisfies the requirement for MATH 241; completion of MATH 340-341 satisfies the requirement for MATH 240-241-246.

2. Eight MATH, AMSC and STAT courses at the 400 level or higher, at least four of which are taken on the College Park campus. The eight courses must include:

(a) At least one course from MATH 401, 403, 405.

(b) At least one course from MATH 246, 341, 414,436, 462. If MATH 246 or Math 341 is chosen, it will not count as one of the eight upper level courses.

(d) MATH 410. Most students are strongly encouraged to complete Math 310 prior to attempting Math 410.

(e) A one-year sequence which develops a particular area of mathematics in depth, chosen from the following list:

(i) MATH 410-411, (ii) MATH 410-412, (iii) MATH 403-404, (iv) Math 403-405, (v) STAT 410-420.

(f) The remaining 400 level MATH/AMSC/STAT courses are electives, but cannot include any of: MATH 400, 461, 478, 480-484, AMSC 462, or STAT 464. Also, students with a strong interest in applied mathematics may, with the approval of the Undergraduate Office, substitute two courses (with strong mathematics content) from outside the Mathematics Department for one upper level elective course.

3. One course from CMSC 106, 114, 131, 132, ENAE 202, ENEE 114, ENEE150 or PHYS 165. A student may be exempt from this requirement if he or she can demonstrate adequate programming knowledge from prior course or work experience.

4. One of the following supporting three-course sequences. These are intended to broaden the student's mathematical experience. Other sequences might be approved by the Undergraduate Office--but they would have to make use of mathematical ideas, comparable to the sequences on this list.

   (a) PHYS 161, 260/1, 270/1
   (b) PHYS 171, 272, 273
   (c) ENES 102, PHYS 161, ENES 220
   (d) CMSC 132, 216, 250 (new Java sequence)
   (e) CHEM 146/7, 237, 247
   (f) CHEM 131/2, 231/2, 241/2
   (g) ECON 200, 201 (previously ECON 201, 203), and one of ECON 305, 306, 325 or 326
   (h) BMGT 220, 221, and one of 340, 343.

Secondary Education Track

The following must be completed, with a grade of C or better:

2. One of MATH 246, MATH 341, MATH 401, MATH 452, MATH 462, AMSC 460, AMSC 466.

3. Seven MATH, AMSC and STAT courses at the 400 level or higher, at least four of which are taken on the College Park campus. The seven courses must include:

(a) MATH 410 Most students are strongly encouraged to complete MATH 310 prior to attemption MATH 410.

(b) MATH 402 or 403.

(d) STAT 400 or STAT 410.

(e) At least one course from MATH 406, 445, 446, 450, 456 or 475.

(f) At least one course from MATH 246, 341, 401, 452, 462 or AMSC 460 or 466. If MATH 246or Math 341 is chosen, it will not count as one of the seven upper level courses.

(g) The remaining 400 level MATH/AMSC/STAT courses are electives, but cannot include any of: MATH 400, 461, 478, 480-484, AMSC 462, or STAT 464.

4. One course from CMSC 106, 114, 131, 132,ENAE 202, ENEE 114, ENEE150, or PHYS165. A student may be exempt from this requirement if he or she can demonstrate adequate programming knoweldge from prior course or work experience.

4. EDCI 450 and 451.

5. One of the following supporting two-course sequences. These are intended to broaden the student's mathematical experience.

(a) CHEM 131/2 and 231/2.

(b) PHYS 161 and 260/1.

(c) BSCI 105 and 106.

(d) ASTR 120 and 121.

(e) GEOL 100 and 110, and one of GEOL 322, 340, 341, and 375.

(f) AOSC 200, AOSC 201 and any 400-level AOSC course.

The student-teaching pair EDCI 450-451 is 15 credits and has further prerequisites in the College of Education. In order to take these courses the student must be admitted into the College of Education. A student in the Secondary Education Track of the mathematics major would normally be expected to receive a double major in Mathematics and Mathematics Education.

Statistics Track

The following must be completed, with a grade of C or better:

2. One course from MATH 246, 341, and 414. If MATH 414 is chosen it may count in requirement 3(g) below.

3. Eight additional courses, at least four of which must be taken at College Park. The eight courses are prescribed as follows:

(a) MATH 410. Most students are strongly encouraged to complete Math 310 prior to attempting Math 410.

(b) One course from AMSC 460 and 466.

(d) STAT 410.

(e) One course from STAT 401 and 420.

(f) STAT 430.

(g) Two additional courses from the following list:

(i) Any 400 level or higher STAT courses except STAT 464.

(ii) MATH 411, 412, 414, 424, and 464.

(iii) AMSC 477

(iii) BIOM 402.

4. One course from CMSC 106, 114, 131, 132, ENAE 202, ENEE 114, ENEE150 or PHYS 165. Students may be exempt from this requirement if he or she can demonstrate adequate programming knowledge from a prior course or work experience.

5. One of the three-course supporting sequences listed in the "Traditional Track" above.

COURSE SEQUENCE

Students majoring in mathematics should complete the basic sequence of MATH 140, 141, 240, 241 (or the corresponding mathematics honors sequence MATH 340, 341) as quickly as possible. These courses prepare you for the upper division courses. However, you are urged to take some upper division courses, and/or MATH 310, before completing the basic sequence. (Courses such as MATH 406, MATH 450, MATH 430, or STAT 400 may be taken after MATH 141 but before completing the basic sequence.)

CORE PROGRAM/UNIVERSITY STUDIES PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The University CORE program requirements must be satisfied by all MATH/STAT majors. Consult the Undergraduate Catalog for these requirements.

MATHEMATICS HONORS PROGRAM

The Mathematics Honors Program is designed for students showing exceptional interest and ability in mathematics. For those interested in this program, a special honors brochure is available from the Undergraduate Office or see the Honors Program page.

LANGUAGE

Most of the non-English mathematical literature is written in French, German, and Russian, and most graduate programs in mathematics require reading capability in at least one of these languages; students intending to continue studying mathematics in graduate school should obtain a reading knowledge of a least one of these languages. In addition, it is tremendously useful in the international world of research mathematics to be fluent in a second language, such as French, German, Russian or Spanish.

Comments and questions to ugadvisor@math.umd.edu