BS in Mathematics
Degree Program Description
Mathematics is part of the foundation of all the sciences, engineering, statistics, and many social sciences. A degree in mathematics provides one with both the applied mathematics knowledge necessary to engage in these disciplines, and formal reasoning skills that can be applied in any area. The major is well suited for those interested in mathematics alone, or for those looking to supplement another major. Our students go on to jobs or further study in all the above disciplines, as well as many others (medical school or law school, for instance).
Major Program Requirements
The Mathematics Department offers a “Standard” BS, a BS with emphasis in Actuarial Science and Mathematical Finance, and a Dual Degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Mathematics Education. In each case Arts and Science Breadth and Depth requirements (for the BS) must be satisfied, in addition to the Department Level Requirements, University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements. Students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated. Note that the courses accepted for the science requirement by the Mathematics department are more restrictive than the Arts and Science requirement.
All BS degrees require completion of the Foreign Language requirement by one of: four years of a language in high school, completion of a foreign language sequence at MU, or a Foreign Language Alternative (12 credits at the 2000 level or above in an area, or related areas, approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies).
Students may apply to be Math majors upon meeting the following criteria:
- Completion of ENGLSH 1000 and MATH 2300
- Both cumulative GPA and GPA in Math courses numbered 1500 and above (expect for 2100) of 2.5 or above.
All math courses required for the degree must be passed with a grade of C- or above.
| Core Math Requirements for all Math degrees (24 credits) | ||
| MATH 1500 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 1700 | Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 2300 | Calculus III | 3 |
| MATH 3000 | Introduction to Advanced Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 4100 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 4140 | Matrix Theory | 3 |
| INFOTC 1040 | Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming | 3 |
| or CMP_SC 1050 | Algorithm Design and Programming I | |
| Total Credits | 25 | |
Additional requirements for the BS degree
| MATH 4700 | Advanced Calculus of One Real Variable I | 3 |
| MATH 4720 | Introduction to Abstract Algebra I | 3 |
| Four approved 4000 level Math electives | ||
| MATH 4120 | Graph Theory and Combinatorics | 3 |
| MATH 4150 | History of Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 4300 | Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 4310 | Numerical Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 4330 | Theory of Numbers | 3 |
| MATH 4355 | Quantitative Finance and Insurance I | 3 |
| MATH 4370 | Interest Theory | 3 |
| MATH 4371 | Models for Life Contingencies I | 3 |
| MATH 4372 | Models for Life Contingencies II | 3 |
| MATH 4400 | Introduction to Topology | 3 |
| MATH 4500 | Applied Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 4540 | Mathematical Modeling I | 3 |
| MATH 4560 | Nonlinear Dynamics, Fractals and Chaos | 3 |
| MATH 4590 | Quantitative Finance and Insurance II | 3 |
| MATH 4900 | Advanced Multivariable Calculus | 3 |
| MATH 4920 | Introduction to Abstract Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 4940 | Introduction to Complex Variables | 3 |
| MATH 4315 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT 4710 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | |
| MATH 4320 | Introduction to Probability Theory | 3 |
| or STAT 4750 | Introduction to Probability Theory | |
| MATH 4520 | Statistical Inference I | 3 |
| or STAT 4760 | Statistical Inference | |
| Science Requirement: 12 or more credits from the two groups below. Both groups must be represented. | ||
| Group I: | ||
| PHYSCS 2750 | University Physics I | 5 |
| PHYSCS 2760 | University Physics II | 5 |
| CHEM 1400 & CHEM 1401 | College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 1410 & CHEM 1411 | College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| BIO_SC 1500 | Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory | 5 |
| Group II: Any 4000 level courses in Statistics or Computer Science.Exactly one of STAT 4710, STAT 4750 or STAT 4760 may be used for both Group II and as an approved 4000 level Math elective | ||
Additional requirements for the BS Degree (Dual degree for Math and Secondary Education majors)
- One of: MATH 4300, MATH 4500, or MATH 4700
- One of MATH 4510 or MATH 4720
- Four approved 4000 level Math electives
- Science Requirement: 10 or more credits from the two groups from the Course List above. Both groups must be represented.
Additional requirements for the BS degree (Double major in Math and Economics)
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 1500 | 5 | MATH 1700 | 5 |
| HIST 1100 or POL_SC 1100* | 3 | Behavioral Science Elective Course* | 3 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective Course* | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective Course* | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000* | 3 | INFOTC 1040 | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 2300 | 3 | MATH 4100 | 3 |
| 2000-level General Education Elective | 3 | MATH 3000 | 3 |
| PHYSCS 2750 | 5 | PHYSCS 2760 | 5 |
| Second language I | 4-6 | Second language II | 4-6 |
| 15-17 | 15-17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 4700 | 3 | MATH 4720 | 3 |
| MATH 4140 | 3 | 4000-level MATH Course | 3 |
| Writing Intensive Elective Course* | 3 | 2000-level General Education Elective* | 3 |
| Elective Course | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts Course | 3 |
| Second language III | 3-4 | Elective Course | 3 |
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| 4000-level MATH course | 3 | 4000-level MATH course | 3 |
| 4000-level Course in STAT or CMP SC | 3 | 4000-level MATH course | 3 |
| 4000-level MATH course | 3 | Elective Course | 3 |
| Elective Course | 3 | Elective Course | 3 |
| Elective Course | 3 | Elective Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 118-123 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.