Department of Mathematics

Undergraduate Program Coordinator

Dr. James Wilson
396D Carver Hall
515-294-9816
jawilson@iastate.edu


Finding Your Academic Advisor

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Math Combos

Minors and second majors, or a program of study in math + application area are encouraged for math majors, since the mathematician’s training is applied with powerful effect in a wide variety of disciplines.

 

Examples are finance or economics, engineering, computing, physics or chemistry.

Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences,
Major in Mathematics

This is the traditional mathematics degree program. It offers training suitable for students planning to work in mathematics and computation for industry or government, or to continue their studies in graduate school. The requirements for an undergraduate major in mathematics are designed so that the student may have opportunity for appropriate specialization to meet one or more of the foregoing objectives and, at the same time, obtain a thorough introduction to the mathematics underlying all of them.

Graduates understand a broad range of mathematical topics and are familiar with a broad range of mathematical models. They have skills for solving problems in diverse situations. They can construct rigorous arguments to demonstrate mathematical facts. They can communicate their mathematical methods to others and can justify their assumptions.

Majors normally spend the first two years obtaining a grounding in calculus and differential equations. At the junior and senior levels the department offers more than 25 undergraduate courses, including, for example, an introduction to combinatorics, abstract algebra, partial differential equations, complex variables, and mathematics of fractals. In addition, there are other courses at the graduate level which are open to qualified undergraduates.

Program of Study

Math Core Courses (9 courses)

  • Math 165, 166, 265 - Calculus I, II, III
  • Math 266 or 267 - Elementary Differential Equations
  • Math 201 - Intro to Proofs
  • Math 301 - Abstract Algebra I
  • Math 414 - Analysis I
  • Math 317 - Theory of Linear Algebra
  • Math 492 - Undergraduate Seminar

Math Electives (5 courses)

Five additional math courses at the 300 level or higher.

Math core and elective courses must include one of the sequences Math 301, 302 (Abstract Algebra I, II), Math 414, 415 (Analysis I, II) or Math 435, 436 (Geometry I, II).

Communication Proficiency Requirement

The Mathematics Department requires a grade of C or better in each of English 150 and 250 (or 250H) and an upper-level communication skills requirement that may be met by writing an acceptable undergraduate thesis (Math 491) or by taking at least one of Engl 302, 305, 314 or Jl MC 201. A grade of C- or better is required.

College Requirements

For additional college requirements, see Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum