The Standard Option for the Math Major

The most common track of the Mathematics major is the standard option. This track works well for students who are interested in math but may not be focused on doing further work in pure mathematics as a graduate student and higher up in academia; some people complete a standard math major as a secondary major to complement a primary field of study, while others have the standard option as their primary major.

The standard option grants a Bachelor of Arts degree. It is not credit-intensive, which means that SAS students only majoring in the mathematics standard option are required to complete a minor—this has a few exceptions, including students completing more than one major.

Requirements

The standard option has the following requirements:

  • Calculus I-III (Math 151, 152, 251/291)
  • Introduction to Linear Algebra (Math 250)
  • Differential Equations/Calculus IV (Math 252 or 292)
    • While not listed officially, Math 244 can also be counted towards the major.
  • An introductory Computer Science course: 198:107 or 198:111 (198:121 starting 2027)
  • Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning (Math 300)
  • An analysis course (Math 311, 312, 411, 412)
    • Typically 311; for some students who skip 311, this would be 411.
  • An algebra course: Linear Algebra (Math 350) or an abstract algebra course (Math 351 or 451)
    • Between 350 and 351, most students seem to pick 350.
  • Five more elective courses at the 300 level or above in addition to the three listed above.
    • Additional courses from the two previous categories will count towards this. For example, a student who takes both 350 and 351 will have one of these count towards the algebra requirement and the other will count towards the 300+ elective requirement.

Approved graduate courses may count towards the elective requirement, or in rare cases for the analysis or algebra requirements if not already satisfied.