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Nov 21, 2024
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2024 - 2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Mathematics, Applied Mathematics Concentration, BS
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Requirements for Major
The study of mathematics is motivated by its wide applicability and its intrinsic beauty. Mathematical theories often grow out of problems that appear in the physical and biological sciences, engineering, economics, finance and the social sciences. The mathematics program at William and Mary allows students to design a major based on their own interests and career goals and prepares students for post-baccalaureate employment and for further study of mathematical sciences and related disciplines. There are four concentrations within the major - the Standard Concentration, the Applied Mathematics Concentration, the Pre-College Mathematics Teaching Concentration, and the Statistics Concentration. Study options include applied and pure mathematics, operations research, statistics, and teaching at the elementary or secondary level. Students can also design elective programs needed for careers in actuarial science and industrial mathematics, for interdisciplinary work in fields such as economics, business and social sciences, or for graduate studies.
Information about the mathematics major, career choices and appropriate courses of study is available from the department’s academic advisors and the Office of Career Services as well as informally from the mathematics faculty.
Major Writing Requirement:
A student in any Mathematics major concentration satisfies the upper-division mathematics writing requirement in one of the following ways:
- Completion of the course MATH 400 - Mathematical Connections.
- Completion of an Honors Thesis in MATH 495-MATH 496 with a grade of C- or better.
- Completion of MATH 300 with a grade of C- or better, through the completion of a supervised expository individual writing project.
Options 1 and 2 above will also count as the student’s COLL 400 requirement. A student should only choose option 3 in MATH 300 if that student is taking the COLL 400 requirement in another department (through an honors thesis or otherwise). For option 1 in MATH 400, the student just needs to register for this course. For options 2 and 3, the student should first communicate with a faculty member about supervising the honors thesis or writing project. The student can then register for the course in a section corresponding to the faculty member who has agreed to supervise the student. Note that the MATH 400 option above is a standard course which meets regularly, while the other two options are individually supervised and do not have a lecture component. For students In the Pre-College Mathematics Teaching Concentration, the writing requirement must incorporate some element of the history of mathematics.
Computer Proficiency Requirements:
A student in any Mathematics major concentration must show proficiency in some high-level computer programming language at the level of CSCI 140 or CSCI 141 . This is normally done by receiving a grade of at least C- in CSCI 140 or CSCI 141 . Exceptions require the department chair’s permission.
In addition, students in the Applied Mathematics Concentration must demonstrate proficiency at the level of CSCI 241 . This is normally done by taking and passing this course.
Enriching the Mathematics Major:
The requirements described below are the minimal requirements for the mathematics major, and most mathematics majors take courses beyond that minimum. Students wishing to obtain a deeper understanding of mathematics (e.g., in preparation for graduate school) should take additional upper-division courses. Second courses to make year-long sequences in linear algebra, analysis, abstract algebra, numerical analysis, statistics, or operations research are particularly recommended. The Applied Mathematics Concentration
This concentration is designed for students who want to pursue applications of mathematics or a double major in mathematics and another discipline. The major requirements of the Applied Mathematics Concentration are: Additional Requirements:
- MATH 307 - Abstract Algebra Credits: (3) or
- MATH 307H - Honors Abstract Algebra Credits: (3) or
- MATH 311 - Elementary Analysis Credits: (3) or
- MATH 311H - Honors Elementary Analysis Credits: (3)
To complete the remaining coursework requirements, students can choose one of the following:
Option 1: - MATH 495 - Honors Credits: (3)
- MATH 496 - Honors Credits: (3)
- Plus at least five distinct three-credit mathematic courses at the 300-400 level (not including MATH 400 or MATH course counted as the COLL 400 requirement) with at least four being chosen from the applied mathematics courses listed below (for a total of at least eight upper-division courses).
or Option 2:
- (Excluding Math 495-496), at least six distinct three-credit mathematicss courses at the 300-400 level (not including MATH 400 or MATH course counted as the COLL 400 requirement) with at least four being chosen from the applied mathematics courses listed below (for a total of at least seven upper-division courses).
Note that in both of the above options, students with at least a 3.0 grade point average, with permission, may take graduate level courses from the Computational Operations Research M.S. degree program for undergraduate level credit to count towards the Applied Mathematics Concentration.
Applied Mathematics Courses:
(take at least 4)
Advanced Standing
Entering students may receive credit for mathematics courses through AP or IB and transfer credit. In each of the mathematics major concentrations, well-prepared students may begin their studies beyond MATH 111 without receiving credit for earlier courses listed in the core requirements section of each concentration. Each skipped course for which the student does not receive credit must be replaced by an additional three-credit 300-400 level mathematics course.
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