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Undergraduate Record 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED RECORD]
Mathematics
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Requirements for the Major
The discipline of mathematics is present in almost every facet of our lives and in many careers. It is basic to the fields of medical imaging, sports and business data analytics, digital communication, internet search, weather prediction, finance, and actuarial work, just to name a few. Studying mathematics helps develop logical thinking, which is an essential skill for many jobs including those not directly related to mathematics. In addition, the mathematics department hopes to give the mathematics major a feel for the elegance of the subject and the excitement in learning and proving beautiful theorems.
The mathematics major at UVA gives students a solid foundation in the core topics of modern mathematics, while at the same time offering a great deal of flexibility to tailor a program to their interests. To this end, the mathematics department offers five concentrations: The general concentration, the graduate preparatory concentration, the probability/statistics concentration, the financial mathematics concentration, and the five-year teacher education program. Completion of one of these concentrations is required. All concentrations share a core set of essential courses and a goal of developing students’ ability to reason precisely and abstractly.
Normally, the calculus sequence MATH 1310 , 1320 , and 2310 or its equivalent must be completed before a student can declare a major in mathematics. At least a 2.200 average in the calculus sequence and a minimum grade of C in MATH 2310 or its equivalent are required. However, the department may grant special permission to declare a major to a student who has only completed MATH 1310 and 1320, and at least one mathematics course (other than MATH 2310 or its equivalent) which could be counted toward the major in mathematics, provided the student completes MATH 2310 or its equivalent in the semester following the declaration of a mathematics major. MATH 2315 is an honors version of MATH 2310, which can be followed up with MATH 3315 (see below).
Once the calculus sequence is completed, the student proceeds to the foundational material of modern mathematics. This consists of two courses in analysis (MATH 3250 and MATH 3310), and two courses in algebra (MATH 3351 and MATH 3354 ). More advanced versions of these courses may be substituted. MATH 3310 and MATH 3354 are proof based courses which often represent a new level of abstraction compared to what students were previously exposed to. Students who need a more detailed introduction to proof writing should take MATH 3000 (Transition to Higher Mathematics) before or concurrently with MATH 3310 and/or MATH 3354.
Afterward, the student proceeds to more advanced electives, depending on the choice of concentration. All in all, each concentration contains a set of nine required mathematics courses all at the 3000+ level (approximately 28 credits). To graduate, a student must obtain minimum grades of C in seven of these courses and C- in the other two. Up to two courses that are being counted for another College major can also be counted for the major in mathematics. Three courses may be allowed if the other major is interdisciplinary.
Computer usage is ubiquitous in all fields where mathematics is applied, and increasingly in pure mathematics as well. Thus, to graduate with a major in mathematics the student must show computer proficiency by completing CS 1110 , CS 1111 , CS 1112 , CS 1113 , CS 1120 , or PHYS 2660 , or an approved equivalent course with a grade of C- or higher. This should be done as early as possible.
For students at UVA from the start, up to two courses that are taken from outside the University and which are equivalent to College mathematics courses may be offered for the College mathematics major. For transfer students, the allowed number of transferred mathematics courses toward mathematics majors is decided case-by-case by the Director of Undergraduate Programs with advice from the transfer credit advisor.
Certain substitutions are allowed in all options, for example, MATH 4310 for MATH 3310 , MATH 4651 for MATH 3351 , MATH 4652 for MATH 3354 , and PHYS 5630 for MATH 4300 .
The Math Major who has taken MATH 2315 and MATH 3315 and achieved B- or better in both is not required to take MATH 3351 or MATH 3250 as is required in most concentrations. MATH 3315 then counts as an elective but the total number of required courses is the same as in the concentration for which they are registered (General, Financial Math, etc.). MATH 2315 is a substitute for MATH 2310 as a requirement for declaring a major. We encourage the student who completes MATH 2315 and 3315 to take more advanced courses in Linear Algebra and Differential Equations, in particular MATH 4651 instead of MATH 3351 and MATH 4250 instead of MATH 3250. At most three APMA courses can be offered for the math major. Exceptions may be granted upon request by the Director of Undergraduate Programs.
A. The General Concentration
Students fulfilling the requirements for this option have a wide range of career opportunities, from law to business to any field that requires deductive, logical reasoning skills.
This traditional program for the mathematics major provides an overview of key areas:
Five mathematics courses of 3 or more credits at the 3000 level or higher. Approved courses without a MATH prefix include those listed below in the Substitutions section or courses which are listed as requirements or electives for one of the other concentrations. However, the Economics and Commerce courses listed under the Financial Mathematics Concentration are not included as allowed electives in the General Concentration. At least two electives must be MATH courses.
B. The Graduate Preparatory Concentration
This concentration is for the student who plans to attend graduate school in mathematics or an allied field. The program emphasizes the fundamental ideas of mathematics with substantial work in proving and understanding the basic theorems. It consists of:
Four mathematics courses of 3 or more credits at the 3000 level or higher. Courses without a MATH prefix, and not listed below as an approved substitution or elective, are generally not allowed. At least two electives must be MATH courses.
(Students may wish to take MATH 3310 in preparation for MATH 4310 , MATH 3351 in preparation for MATH 4651 , and MATH 3354 in preparation for MATH 4652 .)
This constitutes the minimum expected of an incoming graduate student in most programs nationwide. The department strongly recommends MATH 4330 (Advanced Multivariate Calculus), as well as courses in differential geometry (MATH 4720) or topology (MATH 4770) or both. The department may recommend access to its 7000-level graduate courses for undergraduates with particularly strong capabilities.
C. The Probability and Statistics Concentration
This concentration is designed to give the student a good theoretical underpinning in probability and statistics, as well as the opportunity to go deeper in these fields. The program can lead to a Master of Science in Statistics with one additional year of course work, if additional courses in statistics are taken in the fourth year. (Those interested in the M.S. in Statistics should contact the graduate advisor in the Department of Statistics prior to the beginning of their fourth year.) The requirements for the concentration are the following:
Two additional courses chosen from:
D. The Financial Mathematics Concentration
This program provides the student with a broad background of basic mathematics, which is essential for an understanding of the mathematical models used in the financial markets. The mathematics of modern finance includes probability, statistics, regression, time series, partial differential equations, stochastic processes, stochastic calculus, numerical methods, and analysis. The program consists of: Two additional courses chosen from:
In addition to the nine required MATH courses, choose two from:
(completing all four courses is recommended) E. The Teacher Education Program
This option leads to the Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and covers all the requirements for admission to the 12-month Master of Arts in Teaching program in the Curry School of Education at UVA.
The following are the required mathematics courses for this program.
The Distinguished Majors Program in Mathematics
The Distinguished Major Program (DMP) is a special option within the Math major that provides advanced training in mathematics by combining extensive course work (at the level of the Graduate Preparatory Concentration and beyond) with active involvement in various aspects of mathematical research. Successful completion of the DMP is required to receive high or highest honors. The centerpiece of the program that sets it apart from any concentration of the Math major is the requirement/opportunity for a participating student to work on the Distinguished Major Thesis under the supervision of a faculty member (typically) in the 4th year of his or her undergraduate studies and then present the findings in a public defense of this work.
Students interested in the DMP should first declare a Math major, choose a concentration, and have a plan to fulfill all the requirements of this concentration (see additional course requirements below). Students apply for admission to the DMP no later than in the spring semester of their third year, and should have completed at least two of the required courses below by the time of application. Criteria for acceptance into the program include letters of recommendation from mathematics instructors, the GPA in mathematics, and the cumulative College GPA. Because of the importance of the research component in the program, the individual programs of studies of the students interested in the DMP should include the completion of MATH 4840 - Introduction to Mathematical Research at an early stage - typically, by the time of application and certainly no later then the fall semester of the fourth year.
A complete application will include a letter of application addressed to the DUP (Director of Undergraduate Programs), a copy of the transcript, and two letters of recommendation. One of these letters should be from the prospective thesis advisor confirming his or her readiness to supervise the project and outlining the general topic of the thesis. While the applicant could request one more letter of recommendation from a UVA Math faculty member, another possibility might be, for example, the supervisor of an REU project (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) carried out at a different institution. A letter from a MATH 4840 instructor (if this course either has already been completed or is being taken by the student at the time of application) can also be helpful in the decision-making process (in addition to or as one of the two letters required for application). The decision on admission to the DMP is made by the DUP in consultation with the prospective thesis advisor.
Students are expected to complete the following courses with a GPA of at least 3.4 and a minimum grade of B- in each course:
In addition, students must complete at least two Math electives at the 4000 level and above. Furthermore, MATH 4840 - Introduction to Mathematical Research , MATH 4900 - Distinguished Major Thesis , and MATH 4901 - Distinguished Major Thesis (see below) are required. Certain substitutions such as graduate level versions of the courses listed above are possible at the discretion of the DUP.
All these courses assume the ability to understand and write proofs. So students potentially interested in the DMP but having insufficient prior exposure to proof-based mathematical instruction should discuss their situation with the DUP in order to determine the best way of acquiring the necessary skills before taking the courses required for the DMP. (This can be accomplished, for example, by taking the Advanced Calculus sequence, MATH 2315-3315 and/or some of the following courses: MATH 3000, MATH 3310 and MATH 3354, but there are other possibilities.)
Distinguished Major Thesis is an original treatise containing an exposition of results in advanced mathematics. It is written by a student under the supervision of a faculty advisor who guides the student through all stages of the process, from formulating the topic and determining the scope of the project to putting the finishing touches on the final product and presenting it at the public defense. For bookkeeping purposes, all these activities will be framed as taking MATH 4900 and MATH 4901 in the fall and spring of the 4th year; each semester will carry 3 credits. In preparation for the work on the thesis, students are expected to acquire some initial skills of mathematical research by taking MATH 4840 , which is the reason why students interested in the DMP should consider enrolling in this class early on.
The work on the thesis is a multi-stage process, which should begin no later than the end of the third year, soon after the application for the DMP has been approved. At the initial stage the faculty advisor discusses with the student the general topic of the project, determines its parameters and recommends the materials for the student to work with over the summer to get introduced to the chosen area. The precise topic of the thesis can be formulated in the beginning of the fourth year based on the student’s report on the work done in the summer. Depending on the availability of funds, the department will try to help DMP students stay in residence at UVA for several weeks during the summer to facilitate an early start on the work on the thesis through frequent consultations with the advisor. As the project takes shape, the department may also help the DMP students to travel to suitable venues to present the results of their work if recommended by the faculty advisor.
The almost year-long process of preparation of a good quality thesis culminates in a public defense of the work. The defense includes a presentation of the main findings in front of an audience consisting of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and guests, open discussion of the results in a Q&A format, and a closed to the public examination with the defense committee (thesis advisor and two more faculty members). This grade (in conjunction with the GPA in the required Math classes) will be a major factor in deciding on the nomination of the student for high/highest distincton.
While the Distinguished Major Thesis is a significant investment of time and effort, it has several important benefits for a student in addition to qualifying him or her for high or highest honors. First and foremost, it creates a unique opportunity for a student to work one-on-one with a faculty advisor for a period of about one calendar year on a topic in advanced mathematics of mutual interest. This work will help to develop the student’s analytical, research and expository skills, and can be expected to boost his or her application for graduate admission as well as for jobs in industry. It can also be a basis for the student’s presentations at various venues and can sometimes lead to publications.
Requirements for Minor in Mathematics
Students who wish to declare a minor in mathematics must complete the calculus sequence through MATH 2310 or its equivalent with at least a 2.000 average.
To graduate with a minor in mathematics a student must complete five courses approved by the department of mathematics with minimum grades of C in three of the courses and minimum grades of C- in the other two. An approved course must carry at least three credits. Currently, the approved courses are those from the College department of mathematics with the MATH mnemonic numbered 3000 or higher. Either MATH 3310 or MATH 3354 should be one of the five approved courses. Courses with the APMA and STAT mnemonics, as well as courses from other departments or institutions can be taken if approved by the undergraduate committee.
College policy for Minors include (1) Credits applied toward a minor may not also count toward completion of a major, unless both of the programs are interdisciplinary, and (2) Students may not declare two minors.
Up to two courses that are taken from outside the University and which are equivalent to College mathematics courses may be offered for the College mathematics minor.
SEAS Students
Students in SEAS who wish to earn a bachelor’s degree in mathematics must complete:
- All courses required for a major in mathematics, in a chosen concentration, as listed in the undergraduate record and including minimum grade requirements.
- At least 7 MATH courses of 3 or more credits (6 courses for Systems Engineering studentsor Computer Science students) numbered 3000 or above, or approved electives from other departments, that are NOT listed as required courses by their SEAS specialization.
Echols Mathematics Club
Echols Mathematics Club is an undergraduate club for mathematics students that sponsors lectures, mathematics films, problem solving sessions for the Putnam Mathematical Competition and other similar activities. Elementary Courses in Mathematics
The entering College student has a variety of courses in mathematics from which to choose. Among those that may be counted toward the College area requirement in natural science and mathematics, are several options in calculus, elementary (non-calculus based) courses in probability and in statistics, and courses dealing with computer techniques in mathematics. Pre-commerce students are required to take a statistics course and one other mathematics course, usually MATH 1110 , 1210 , 1220 , or 1310 .
MATH 1030 (precalculus) is available for students who need to improve basic skills that are required in other courses such as calculus, chemistry, psychology, economics, and statistics. However, it may not be counted toward the area requirement in natural science and mathematics. Students planning to major in the social sciences, arts, or humanities who wish to take a mathematics course but omit the study of calculus may choose from MATH 1110 (Elementary Probability Theory) and MATH 1140 (Financial Mathematics). Even though it is not a prerequisite, MATH 1110 is frequently taken prior to Introductory Statistics. MATH 1150 and 1160 are introductory courses that investigate familiar areas of elementary mathematics at a deeper level and are intended for first- and second-year non-majors, especially those preparing to teach in elementary and middle schools.
In MATH 1140 the students learn the mathematics needed to understand and answer a variety of questions that arise in everyday financial dealings. The emphasis in this course will be on applications, including simple and compound interest, valuation of bonds, rates of return on investments, and more. Although the topics in this course are drawn primarily from business and economics, students of all majors are welcome and should find the applications interesting and relevant.
Calculus Sequence
The study of calculus is the foundation of college mathematics for students planning to major in mathematics or the physical sciences or anticipating a career or graduate study in any of the natural sciences, engineering, or applied social sciences (such as economics). There are three programs of study available in calculus:
- , is a terminal one-year sequence intended for business, biology, and social science majors;
- , , is the traditional calculus sequence intended for students of mathematics and the natural sciences, as well as for students intending to pursue graduate work in the applied social sciences;
- MATH 2315 is the honors calculus program for advanced students, and it is usually offered in the Fall semester
The MATH 1210, 1220 sequence is unacceptable as a prerequisite for mathematics courses numbered 2310 and above. Students anticipating the need for higher mathematics courses such as MATH 3250 (Differential Equations), MATH 3100 (Probability) or STAT 3120 (Statistics) should instead elect the MATH 1310 , 1320 , 2310 sequence. Credit is not allowed for both MATH 1210 and 1310 (or its equivalent). MATH 2310 is the prerequisite for many advanced mathematics courses.
Students who need a remedial review of algebra and trigonometry may elect MATH 1190 Applied Calculus I with Algebra which is a 4-credit hour course and includes a review of algebra and trigonometry. Credit is not allowed for both MATH 1190 and 1210 (or its equivalent).
Advanced Placement
Students who have previously passed a calculus course in high school may elect MATH 1220 , 1310 , 1320 , or 2310 as their first course, depending on placement, preparation, and interest. A strong high school calculus course is generally adequate preparation for MATH 1320 as a first calculus course, even if advanced placement credit has not been awarded for MATH 1310 . Students planning to take any advanced course in mathematics should not take MATH 1220 , because credit for that course must be forfeited if the student takes MATH 1320 (or its equivalent). Well-prepared students (who place out of both MATH 1310 and 1320 ) may choose either MATH 2310 or 3250 (Differential Equations) as their first course. First and second year students have the option of taking MATH 3000 Transition to Higher Mathematics, which is offered in the Spring semester. MATH 3000 is designed for students who wish some preparation before taking MATH 3310 Basic Real Analysis and/or MATH 3354 Survey of Algebra. Students with a grade of B or better in MATH 3310 , 3354 , or any 5000-level Math course are not eligible to enroll in MATH 3000 .
Advanced first year students are encouraged to consider the honors section of Multivariate Calculus MATH 2315 - Advanced Calculus and Linear Algebra I which is usually offered in the Fall semester.
Advanced placement credit in the calculus sequence is granted on the basis of the College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement Test (either AB or BC). A score of 4 or 5 on the AB test or on the AB subscore of the BC test gives the student credit for MATH 1310 . A score of 4 or 5 on the BC test gives the student credit for both MATH 1310 and 1320 .
Substitutions
There are numerous instances of equivalent courses offered by the Department of Mathematics as well as by the Department of Applied Mathematics in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. A student may not offer for degree credit two equivalent courses (e.g., MATH 1310 and APMA 1090, or MATH 1210 and MATH 1310). The following are equivalent courses from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences:
As noted above, certain substitutions are allowed for all options:
Standard Allowed Electives
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