Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The undergraduate program for math majors contains a central core of courses. These courses give a solid basis for advanced work that is tailored to fit the needs and objectives of each individual student. Advanced coursework is chosen in close consultation with faculty advisors.
Program Learning Objectives
- Understand the nature of mathematical proof and be able to write clear and concise proofs.
- Develop the ability to read, understand, and use basic definitions in linear and abstract algebra and real analysis, and be able to prove simple consequences of these definitions.
- Be able to use standard mathematical techniques to solve elementary problems.
- Be able to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
- Be able to write simple computer programs to perform mathematical computations.
- Gain experience exploring open-ended problems, learn to make conjectures, and gather evidence to support or refute these conjectures.
- Develop the ability to read and to learn mathematics independently.
- Learn about applications of mathematics in other fields and gain experience in mathematical modeling.
- Foster global citizenship by developing critical thinking skills.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 40 units of upper-division courses
- 2.0 GPA
- Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
Note: No Major, Support or Concentration courses may be selected as credit/no credit. In addition, no more than 12 units of cooperative or internship courses can count towards your degree requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| MATH 1151 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 1261 | Calculus I (2) 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1262 | Calculus II | 2-4 |
| or MATH 1263 | Bridge Calculus II | |
| MATH 2001 | Mathematics Orientation | 1 |
| MATH 2031 | Transition to Advanced Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 2263 | Calculus III | 3 |
| MATH 2343 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| Select from the following: (Upper-Division 2/5) 1 | 3 | |
| Combinatorics I | ||
| Number Theory | ||
| Complex Analysis | ||
| MATH 3152 | Advanced Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 4201 | Abstract Algebra I | 4 |
| MATH 4264 | Real Analysis I | 4 |
| MATH 4202 | Abstract Algebra II | 3-4 |
| or MATH 4265 | Real Analysis II | |
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Senior Project I and Senior Project II | ||
| Senior Project Seminar | ||
| Senior Project Applied Seminar | ||
| CSC 1001 & 1001L | Fundamentals of Computer Science and Fundamentals of Computer Science Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 1141 | General Physics I (5A & 5C) 1 | 4 |
| STAT 1510 | Statistics I | 3 |
| Select from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Data Structures and Data Structures Laboratory | ||
| Computing with Data | ||
| Mathematical Programming | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Simulation | ||
| Select one of the following Tracks: 2, 3, 4, 5 | 21-23 | |
| General Mathematics Track | ||
Select 7 courses from List A | ||
| Applied Mathematics Track | ||
Select 4 courses from List A and 3 courses from List B | ||
| Teaching Mathematics Track | ||
Select 3 courses from List A and 4 courses from List C | ||
| List A - General Mathematics Electives | ||
| History of Mathematics | ||
| Combinatorics I | ||
| Graph Theory | ||
| Number Theory | ||
| Complex Analysis | ||
| Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems | ||
| Euclidean Geometry | ||
| Mathematics of Data Science | ||
| Introduction to Numerical Analysis | ||
| Mathematical Programming | ||
| Combinatorics II | ||
| Abstract Algebra II | ||
| Real Analysis II | ||
| Nonlinear Dynamical Systems | ||
| Partial Differential Equations | ||
| Senior Project I and Senior Project II | ||
| Non-Euclidean Geometry | ||
| Differential Geometry | ||
| Introduction to Topology | ||
| Numerical Differential Equations | ||
| Numerical Optimization | ||
| Game Theory | ||
| Advanced Topics in Mathematics | ||
| Advanced Topics in Applied Mathematics | ||
| Algorithms and Complexity | ||
| Introduction to Database Management Systems | ||
| Intermediate Microeconomics | ||
| Mathematical Economics | ||
| Probability Models for Economic Decisions | ||
| Introduction to Mechanics | ||
| Thermodynamics | ||
| General Physics II | ||
| Statistical Mechanics | ||
| Classical Mechanics I | ||
| Classical Mechanics II | ||
| Ocean Dynamics | ||
| Optics | ||
| Statistics II | ||
| Applied Linear Models | ||
| Probability Theory | ||
| Statistical Theory | ||
| Bayesian Reasoning and Methods | ||
| Survival Analysis Methods | ||
| Applied Multivariate Statistics | ||
| List B - Applied Mathematics Electives | ||
| Select from the following: | ||
| Graph Theory | ||
| Nonlinear Dynamical Systems | ||
| Partial Differential Equations | ||
| Numerical Differential Equations | ||
| Numerical Optimization | ||
| Game Theory | ||
| List C - Teaching Mathematics Electives | ||
| Select from the following: | ||
| Euclidean Geometry | ||
| Technology in Mathematics Education | ||
| Non-Euclidean Geometry | ||
| Advanced Mathematics for Teaching | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below) | 33 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 6 | 6-11 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.
- 2
A maximum of 14 units may be at the 1000-2000-3000 level.
- 3
A maximum of 4 units may be at the 1000-2000 level.
- 4
A maximum of 8 units may be from non-MATH prefix courses.
- 5
Courses can only be used once for major degree credit.
- 6
If a General Education (GE) course is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 43 units required, 10 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 33 Units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: 1A (English Composition), 1B (Critical Thinking), 1C (Oral Communication), and 2 (Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning).
| Lower-Division General Education | ||
| Area 1 | English Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| 1A | Written Communication | 3 |
| 1B | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| 1C | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Area 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Area 3 | Arts and Humanities | |
| 3A | Arts | 3 |
| 3B | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English | 3 |
| Area 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | |
| 4A | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) | 3 |
| 4B | Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| Area 5 | Physical and Life Sciences | |
| 5A | Physical Sciences (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| 5B | Life Sciences | 3 |
| 5C | Laboratory (may be embedded in a 5A or 5B course) (1 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Area 6 | Ethnic Studies | |
| 6 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Upper-Division General Education | ||
| Upper-Division 2/5 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning or Physical and Life Sciences (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Upper-Division 3 | Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| Upper-Division 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | 3 |
| Total Units | 33 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.