Information and Departmental Plan of Study
Most first-year students and sophomores interested in science, engineering, or finance take courses from the standard calculus and linear algebra sequence 103-104-201-202, which emphasizes concrete computations over more theoretical considerations. Note that 201 and 202 can be taken in either order.
Students who are not prepared to begin with 103 may take 100, an introduction to calculus with pre-calculus review.
Prospective economics majors can minimally fulfill their mathematics prerequisites with (100)-103-175. Note that 175 covers selected topics from 201, with biology and economics applications in mind. It is recommended that prospective math-track economics/finance majors take the standard sequence 103-104-201-202 instead of 175.
More mathematically inclined students, especially prospective physics majors, may opt to replace 201-202 with 203-204, for greater emphasis on theory and more challenging computational problems.
Prospective mathematics majors must take at least one course introducing formal mathematical argument and rigorous proofs. The recommended first-year sequence for prospective majors is 215-217-300. Prospective majors who already have substantial experience with university-level proof-based analysis courses may consider the accelerated sequence 216-218 instead. Other possible sequences for prospective majors include 214-204-203 and 203-204-215, although the latter two are relatively rare. Note that 203 and 204 can be taken in either order.
Placement Guidelines
Students who need placement advice about 214, 215, or 216 should consult the Department of Mathematics home page(link is external) (the "Undergraduate" tab has a section on placement) or contact Professor McConnell(link sends e-mail), the junior adviser.
Students with little or no background in calculus, but with strong pre-calculus skills, should take 103. Alternatively, 100 offers intensive pre-calculus review, along with an introduction to the main ideas of calculus, as preparation for 103. To succeed in 104 or 175, a background in differential calculus at the level of a 5 on the BC Advanced Placement Examination is advised. Students with a stronger calculus preparation in differential and integral calculus, as well as infinite series, may opt to start in 201. Students who possess, in addition, a particularly strong interest in mathematics as well as a SAT mathematics score of at least 750 may opt for 203 or 214 or 215 or 216 instead.
The placement workshops for incoming students at orientation are designed to help students consider all these issues in order to make a good initial self-placement in the mathematics curriculum, which can then be adjusted during drop/add if necessary.
Advanced Placement
Incoming first-year students who report a score of 5 on the BC Advanced Placement Examination (or a 7 on the IC [higher level] math examination, or an A on the British A-level math exam) will receive one unit of advanced placement credit for MAT103. For more information, please consult the website(link is external) of the Office of the Dean of the College.
One unit of advanced placement credit is provisionally granted when a student enrolls in MAT 104 or 175 in the fall term of their first year. Two units of advanced placement credit are provisionally granted when a student enrolls in MAT 201, 203, 215, or 216 in the fall term of their first year. Provisional credit will be converted to advanced placement credit upon successful completion of the relevant course.
Prerequisites
Generally, either 215(link is external)-217 or 216(link is external)-218 or 203(link is external)-204-215(link is external) are strongly recommended for admission to the department. Other paths involving 201, 202, and 214 are also possible. Prospective mathematics majors should consult with the department early and plan a program that includes as much of the 215-217-300 or 216-218 sequence as possible. Most majors begin taking courses at the 300-level by the second semester of sophomore year, in preparation for their junior independent work.
Some of our successful majors became interested in mathematics as a major after taking 103 or 104. Such students should consult with the junior adviser or the associate director of undergraduate studies as soon as possible.
Further information for prospective majors is available on the department home page.
Program of Study
Students must complete four core requirements:
- one course in real analysis (e.g., 300 or 320 or 325 or 425 or 385)
- one course in complex analysis (e.g., 330 or 335)
- one course in algebra (e.g., 340 or 345)
- one course in geometry or topology (e.g., 355 or 365 or 560)
It is recommended that students complete some of these core requirements by the end of their sophomore year. Completing these core courses early allows for more options for junior and senior independent work.
Note: One course in discrete mathematics (e.g., 375, 377, or 378) can replace the geometry/topology core requirement, if desired.
In addition to the four core requirements, students must complete an additional four courses at the 300-level or higher, up to three of which may be cognate courses outside the mathematics department, with permission from the junior or senior advisers or the director of undergraduate studies. No more than two of the eight courses may be reading courses.
The departmental grade (the average grade of the eight departmental courses) together with grades and reports on independent work is the basis on which honors and prizes are awarded upon graduation.
Students should refer to Course Offerings(link is external) to check which courses are offered in a given term. Programs of study in various fields of pure mathematics and applied mathematics are available. Appropriate plans of study may be arranged for students interested in specialized related fields such as physics, the biological sciences, finance, and computer science, for example. For students interested in these areas, a coherent program containing up to three courses in a cognate field may be approved.