Majors

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers two majors. The A.B. major is designed for students planning graduate study or employment outside mathematics (medicine, law, business, finance, journalism, government service, or precollege teaching). The B.S. major is designed for students planning graduate study or employment in mathematics. Any student contemplating a math major or minor, and whose faculty advisor is not in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is strongly urged to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

It is recommended that students considering majoring in mathematics take Introduction to Proof and Problem Solving (2800) following Calculus II and no later than Fall of their Sophomore year. This course gives students a good understanding of what is involved in higher mathematics and will help them decide if they want to be a math major.

Majors may consider applying for Mathematics Honors in which they perform a research project in their senior year with a mathematics faculty mentor leading to a substantial paper and an oral presentation.

Note: Effective Fall 2023, all main campus courses have been renumbered using a new 4-digit numbering system.

https://schedule.georgetown.edu/course-renumbering-crosswalk/m/#math

A.B. Mathematics Major

The AB degree requires a total of 10 courses.

  • MATH-1360 Calculus II (Prerequisite: Calculus I (MATH-1350), four credits of Calculus AP credit, or passing a departmental exam)
  • MATH-2250 Linear Algebra (Prerequisite: MATH-2370, eight credits of Calculus AP/IB credit, or passing a departmental exam)
  • MATH-2370 Multivariable Calculus (Prerequisite: MATH-2370, eight credits of Calculus AP/IB credit, or passing a departmental exam)
  • MATH-2410 Ordinary Differential Equations (Prerequisite: MATH-2370, Co-requisite: MATH-2250, or instructor approval)
  • MATH-2800 Introduction to Proof and Problem Solving (Prerequisite: B or better in MATH-1360 or instructor approval)
  • MATH-3210 Abstract Algebra (Prerequisite: MATH-2800 or instructor approval)
  • MATH-3310 Analysis I (Prerequisite: MATH-2800 or instructor approval)
  • 3 Mathematics electives at the 2000+ level

The four core courses, Calculus II (MATH-1360), Linear Algebra (MATH-2250), Multivariable Calculus (MATH-2370), and Introduction to Proof and Problem Solving (MATH-2800), introduce basic mathematical concepts as well as develop students’ mathematical reasoning and communication skills. Students will further develop abstract reasoning skills in the required upper level courses Abstract Algebra (MATH-3210) and Analysis I (MATH-3310).

An upper level course may be substituted for Calculus II, Multivariable Calculus, or Linear Algebra for students passing the corresponding departmental waiver test.

B.S. Mathematics Major

The BS degree is normally for students interested in graduate studies in a quantitative subject, and as such, students with this major are expected to keep at least a B average in their mathematics courses. This degree requires a total of 13 courses.

  • MATH-1360 Calculus II (Prerequisite: Calculus I (MATH-1350), four credits of Calculus AP credit, or passing a departmental exam).
  • MATH-2140 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics.  ECON-2110 and DSAN-5100 are equivalent to MATH-2140. You may use either one, provided you haven’t double-counted another course towards your math major. Otherwise, you should take one Statistics elective at the 2000+ level instead of MATH-2140.
  • MATH-2250 Linear Algebra (Prerequisite: MATH-2370, eight credits of Calculus AP/IB credit, or passing a departmental exam)
  • MATH-2370 Multivariable Calculus (Prerequisite: MATH-2370, eight credits of Calculus AP/IB credit, or passing a departmental exam)
  • MATH-2410 Ordinary Differential Equations (Prerequisite: MATH-2370, Co-requisite: MATH-2250, or instructor approval)
  • MATH-2800 Introduction to Proof and Problem Solving (Prerequisite: B or better in MATH-1360 or instructor approval)
  • MATH-3210 Abstract Algebra (Prerequisite: MATH-2800 or instructor approval)
  • MATH-3310 Analysis I (Prerequisite: MATH-2800 or instructor approval)
  • MATH-3320 Functions of Complex Variables (Prerequisite: MATH-3310)  or MATH-4534 Complex Analysis (for strong math majors with instructor approval)
  • Programming course: MATH-1510 Introduction to Programming for Data Science , COSC-1010 Introduction to Computer Science: Python, COSC-1020 Computer Science I, or equivalent.
  • 3 Mathematics electives at the 2000+ level

The four core courses, Calculus II (MATH-1360), Linear Algebra (MATH-2250), Multivariable Calculus (MATH-2370), and Introduction to Proof and Problem Solving (MATH-2800), introduce basic mathematical concepts as well as develop students’ mathematical reasoning and communication skills. Students will further develop abstract reasoning skills in the required upper level courses Abstract Algebra (MATH-3210), Analysis I (MATH-3310), and Complex Analysis (MATH-3320). In addition, students will gain a basic statistical understanding in Mathematical Statistics (MATH-2140).

An upper level course may be substituted for Calculus II, Multivariable Calculus, or Linear Algebra for students passing the corresponding departmental waiver test.

To encourage the serious math major to see some significant applications of mathematics, one of the three electives for the BS degree can be a mathematically intensive course in another discipline (approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies), such as Game Theory (ECON-4059), Relativity and Quantum Physics (PHYS-2103), and Symbolic Logic (PHIL-4000).