Course Requirements

IMPORTANT NOTE: The course requirements listed below are for informational purposes only.  Math majors should refer to their degree audits (available via Testudo) to check their progress in the major.

If you are going to be a mathematics major, or are thinking about majoring in mathematics, this page is for you. Please read it carefully. You should use it in conjunction with advice from your advisor to plan your program of study. It also will be necessary for you to refer to the Undergraduate Catalog or a departmental brochure for course descriptions.  For further information please drop by the Department to see the Mathematics Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising: Ida Chan, Room: 1115, Math Building, Phone: (301) 405-7582, Email: .

MATH MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

The program in mathematics leads to a degree of Bachelor of Science in mathematics and offers students training in mathematics and statistics in preparation for graduate work, teaching, and positions in government or industry.  See our career opportunities page.  Mathematical training is integrated with the computer use in several courses. Because a strong mathematical background is important in several fields, over a third of UMCP mathematics majors are double majors. For the description of all campus courses see the Undergraduate Catalog.

There are four tracks for the major:

The Secondary Education Track is for students seeking to become certified to teach mathematics at the secondary level (for more information click here).   However, students planning to complete the Five-Year Integrated Master's with Certification Program are required to complete the Traditional Track.   The Statistics Track is either for students preparing for graduate work in Statistics or who would like to prepare for one of the many occupations that require a strong Statistics background. 

Traditional Track

All new students matriculating in Fall 2012 or later must earn a grade of C- or better in all of the following courses. In addition, students must earn an overall 2.000 average in these major courses to meet graduation requirements.

1. The introductory sequence MATH 140, 141, 240, 241, 246, or the corresponding honors sequence MATH 340-341.  Completion of MATH 340 satisfies the requirement for MATH 241; completion of MATH 340-341 satisfies the requirement for MATH 240-241-246.  In addition, the MATH 240 requirement may be fulfilled by MATH461.  In addition, the MATH 246 requirement may be fulfilled by MATH 414, 436 or 462.  If MATH 414, 436 or 462 is used to fulfill the MATH246 requirement, it may also be used to fulfill the upper level math requirement in (3)(f) below.  Please note that MATH462 requires MATH246 as a prerequisite.

2. MATH 310, unless otherwise exempted.

3. Eight MATH, AMSC and STAT courses at the 400 level or higher, at least four of which are taken on the College Park campus. The eight courses must include:

  1. At least one course from MATH 401, 403, 405
  2. One course from AMSC 460, 466.
  3. MATH 410. 
  4. A one-year sequence which develops a particular area of mathematics in depth, chosen from the following list: (i) MATH 410-411, (ii) MATH 403-404, (iii) Math 403-405, (iv) STAT 410-420.
  5. Effective Fall 2019, one STAT4xx, other than STAT464.
  6. The remaining 400 level MATH/AMSC/STAT courses are electives, but cannot include any of: MATH 461, 478, 480-484, or STAT 464. Also, students with a strong interest in applied mathematics may, with the approval of the Undergraduate Office, substitute two 400 level-courses with strong mathematics content (with MATH141 as prereq) from outside the Mathematics Department for one upper level elective course.

4. One course from CMSC 106, 131, 132, AOSC247, ENAE 202, ENME202, ENEE150, PHYS 165, PHYS265, AOSC358L.

5. One of the following supporting three-course sequences. These are intended to broaden the student's mathematical experience. Other sequences might be approved by the Undergraduate Office--but they would have to make use of mathematical ideas, comparable to the sequences on this list.

  1. PHYS 161, 260/1, 270/1
  2. PHYS 171, 272, 273
  3. ENES 102, PHYS 161, ENES 220 (non-Engr students may not be able to access ENES courses)
  4. CMSC 131, 132, 216 (non-CS students may not have priority to CMSC courses)
  5. CHEM 146/77, 237, 247
  6. CHEM 131/2, 231/2, 241/2
  7. ECON 200, 201, and one of ECON 305, 306, 325 or 326
  8. BMGT 220, 221, 340 (note holdfile requirement for BMGT 340)
  9. BSCI 105 or (170 and 171), 106 or (160 and 161), and one of CHEM 131/2 or CHEM 146/7.
  10. ASTR 120, 121 and one of PHYS 161 or PHYS 171.
  11. GEOL 100/110, and two of GEOL 322, 340, 341, 375
  12. AOSC 200/1 and any two additional 400-level AOSC courses.. 

Secondary Education Track (Please check with College of Education regarding GPA requirements)

All new students matriculating in Fall 2012 or later must earn a grade of C- or better in all of the following courses. In addition, students must earn an overall 2.000 average in these major courses to meet graduation requirements.

1. The introductory sequence MATH 140, 141, 240, 241 or the corresponding honors sequence MATH 340-341.  Completion of MATH 340 satisfies the requirement for MATH 241; completion of MATH 340-341 satisfies the requirement for MATH 240-241-246. In addition, the MATH 240 requirement may be fulfilled by MATH461.

2. MATH 310, unless otherwise exempted.

3.  One of MATH 246, MATH 341, MATH 401, MATH 452, MATH 462, AMSC 460, AMSC 466.

4. Seven MATH, AMSC and STAT courses at the 400 level or higher, at least four of which are taken on the College Park campus. The seven courses must include:

  1. MATH 410.
  2. MATH 402 or 403.
  3. MATH 430.
  4. STAT 400 or STAT 410.
  5. At least one course from MATH 406, 445, 446, 456 or 475.
  6. At least one course from MATH 246, 341, 401, 452, 462 or AMSC 460 or 466. If MATH 246 or Math 341 is chosen, it will not count as one of the seven upper level courses.
  7. The remaining 400 level MATH/AMSC/STAT courses are electives, but cannot include any of: MATH 461, 478, 480-484, or STAT 464.

5. One course from CMSC 106, 131, 132, AOSC247, ENAE 202, ENME202, ENEE150, PHYS 165, PHYS265, AOSC358L.

6. All of the following education courses, many of which also satisfy General Education requirements: TLPL 101, 102, MATH274, TLPL (Knowing and Learning), TLPL (Classroom Interactions), TLPL (Reading), TLPL (Functions and Modeling), TLPL (Research Methods), TLPL (Project Based Instructions), EDCI355, EDCI474, EDCI450, EDCI451.

7. One of the following supporting two-course sequences. These are intended to broaden the student's mathematical experience.

  1. CHEM 131/2 and 231/2.
  2. PHYS 161 and 260/1.
  3. BSCI 105 and 106.
  4. ASTR 120 and 121.
  5. GEOL 100 and 110, and one of GEOL 322, 340, 341, and 375.
  6. AOSC 200, AOSC 201 and any 400-level AOSC course.

Statistics Track

All new students matriculating in Fall 2012 or later must earn a grade of C- or better in all of the following courses. In addition, students must earn an overall 2.000 average in these major courses to meet graduation requirements.

1. The introductory sequence MATH 140, 141, 240, 241, 246 or the corresponding honors sequence MATH 340-341.  Completion of MATH 340 satisfies the requirement for MATH 241; completion of MATH 340-341 satisfies the requirement for MATH 240-241-246. In addition, the MATH 240 requirement may be fulfilled by MATH461. In addition, the MATH 246 requirement may be fulfilled by MATH 414 instead.  If MATH 414 is used to fulfill the MATH 246 requirement, it may also be used as one of the upper level math requirements in (3)(g)(ii) below.


2. MATH 310, unless otherwise exempted.

3. Eight additional courses, at least four of which must be taken at College Park. The eight courses are prescribed as follows:

  1. MATH 410. 
  2. One course from AMSC 460 and 466.
  3. One course from Math 401 and 405.
  4. STAT 410.
  5. One course from STAT 401 and 420.
  6. STAT 430.
  7. Two additional courses from the following list:
    1. Any 400 level or higher STAT courses except STAT 464.
    2. MATH 411, 420, 424, and 464.
    3. BIOM 402.

4. One course from CMSC 106, 131, 132, AOSC247, ENAE 202, ENME202, ENEE150, PHYS 165, PHYS265, AOSC358L.

5.   One of the three-course supporting sequences listed in the "Traditional Track" above.


Applied Math Track

All new students matriculating in Fall 2012 or later must earn a grade of C- or better in all of the following courses. In addition, students must earn an overall 2.000 average in these major courses to meet graduation requirements.

1. The introductory sequence MATH 140, 141, 240, 241, 246 or the corresponding honors sequence MATH 340-341.  Completion of MATH 340 satisfies the requirement for MATH 241; completion of MATH 340-341 satisfies the requirement for MATH 240-241-246. In addition, the MATH 240 requirement may be fulfilled by MATH461. In addition, the MATH 246 requirement may be fulfilled by MATH 462 instead.  If MATH 462 is used to fulfill the MATH 246 requirement, it may also be used as one of the upper level math requirements in (3)(f) below.  Please note that MATH462 requires MATH246 as a prerequisite.


2. MATH 310, unless otherwise exempted.

3. Eight additional courses, at least four of which must be taken at College Park. The eight courses are prescribed as follows:
   a. MATH410.
   b. STAT410.
   c. STAT4xx (any STAT course other than STAT400, STAT 410, STAT 464)
   d. One of MATH 401 or MATH 405.
   e. One of AMSC 460 or AMSC 466.
   f. One of MATH416, 420, 424, 431, 452, 456, 462, 463, 464, 475
   g. A one-year sequence which develops a particular area of mathematics in depth, chosen from the following list: (i) MATH 410-411 or (ii) MATH 416-464 or (iii) STAT410-420 or (iv) MATH462-463.
   h. The remaining 400 level MATH/AMSC/STAT course is an elective, but cannot include any of: MATH 461, 478, 480-484, or STAT 464.

4. One course from CMSC 106, 131, 132, AOSC247, ENAE 202, ENME202, ENEE150, PHYS 165, PHYS265, AOSC358L.

5. One of the three-course supporting sequences listed in the "Traditional Track" above.

COURSE SEQUENCE

Students majoring in mathematics should complete the basic sequence of MATH 140, 141, 240, 241 (or the corresponding mathematics honors sequence MATH 340, 341) as quickly as possible. These courses prepare you for the upper division courses. However, you are urged to take some upper division courses, and/or MATH 310, before completing the basic sequence. (Courses such as MATH 445 or STAT 400 may be taken after MATH 141 but before completing the basic sequence.)

CORE PROGRAM/UNIVERSITY STUDIES PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The University CORE/GenEd program requirements must be satisfied by all MATH/STAT majors. Consult the Undergraduate Catalog for these requirements.

MATHEMATICS HONORS PROGRAM

The Mathematics Honors Program is designed for students showing exceptional interest and ability in mathematics. For those interested in this program, a special honors brochure is available from the Undergraduate Office or see the Honors Program page.

LANGUAGE

Most of the non-English mathematical literature is written in French, German, and Russian, and most graduate programs in mathematics require reading capability in at least one of these languages; students intending to continue studying mathematics in graduate school should obtain a reading knowledge of a least one of these languages.  In addition, it is tremendously useful in the international world of research mathematics to be fluent in a second language, such as French, German, Russian or Spanish.

Comments and questions to