Information about the Mathematics Major

Detailed information about the Mathematics major can be found in the UCI Catalog, which should be consulted before making any course planning decisions. Here we merely present an overview.

The Department of Mathematics offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. Within this degree program there are available six different tracks:

• The Mathematics (pure) major
  Faculty advisor Michael Cranston

• The Concentration in Mathematics for Economics
  Faculty advisor Knut Solna

• The Specialization in Applied and Computational Mathematics
  Faculty advisor Long Chen

• The Specialization in Mathematics for Education
  Faculty advisor Sarah Eichhorn

• The Concentration in Mathematics for Education/Secondary Teaching Certification
  Faculty advisor Sarah Eichhorn

A concentration involves interdisciplinary study; a specialization designates a focus within the departmental major. Both are noted on the student's transcript, but not on the diploma.

Application forms for the Mathematics concentration or specializations are available from the Mathematics Department. An interview with a faculty advisor is required.

The lower-division requirements are essentially the same for all the tracks.

I. Lower-Division Math Requirements 

•    Math 2A-B (Single-Variable Calculus)
  
•    Math 2D-E or H2D-H2E (Multivariable Calculus)
  
•    Math 2J (Infinite Series; Basic Matrix Theory)
  
•    Math 3A (Linear Algebra)
  
•    Math 3D (Differential Equations)
  
•    Math 13 (Intro to Abstract Math)

Exception: Students in "Math for Education" concentration and specialization take Math 8 in place of Math 2E.

II. Lower-Division Science and Computer Requirement

• One year of Physics 2/7 or Chem 1
• One quarter of computer science

III. Upper-Division Math Requirements

Fifteen (15) Upper-division lecture courses in mathematics, including:

(a) The Theory of Mathematics: Seven courses in the two key areas of abstract algebra and analysis (4 in one area, 3 in the other). These courses focus on theory and doing proofs, and form the heart of the math major.

(b) Breadth in Mathematics: 2 courses in a third area, and one course in a fourth area of mathematics. (The other areas offered are Numerical Analysis, Applied Mathematics, Logic, Probability and Statistics, and Geometry/Topology)

(c) Mathematical Electives: 5 more upper-division math lecture courses

Exceptions:

1. Students in the various specialization and concentrations listed above are required to choose their "elective" courses from restricted lists of courses that are related to their special field of interest; and they may need fewer of the "Theory" courses.

2. Students in the "Math for Economics" concentration take only 12 upper-division math lecture courses, not 15; but they must also take Econ 123A-B-C (Econometrics), a highly mathematics-oriented sequence of courses; this, in turn, requires that they also take the prerequisite courses Econ 20A-B and Econ 105A-B-C.

3. Students in the "Applied and Computational Math" specialization take only 13 upper-division math lecture courses, not 15; but they must also take two approved upper-division courses in a field of application outside of Math, and these courses will probably have their own prerequisites.

4. Students in the "Math for Education" specialization take only 12 upper-division math lecture courses, not 15; but they must also take Education 172B as well as Physical Sciences 5 and 105.

5. Students in the "Education Concentration" must take 12 upper-division math lecture courses and Physical Sciences 5, 105; Chem or Physics 193; LPS 60; Education 55, 109, 143A, 143B, 148, and two quarters of 158.

 

Updated 8/2/11