An Overview of the Mathematics Major

The Figure-8 Knot.

MATHEMATICS is an essential part of a wide range of human activity. It is the language of the physical sciences, and plays an increasingly important role in the social and biological sciences in modelling complicated, large-scale phenomena. Even very abstract parts of mathematics, initially studied just for their intrinsic beauty, have turned out to have unexpected but important applications, ranging from computer security to the digitalization of fingerprints. A mathematics major teaches you to think clearly and argue cogently. It is excellent preparation for many jobs in business, finance, accounting, computing and education.

THE MAJOR PROGRAM in mathematics is broadly based, and contains courses which feature the history of mathematics and the use of computers in mathematics as well as the standard undergraduate courses in analysis, geometry and algebra and a set of high-level seminars for advanced students. It is very flexible and may be combined with other majors, such as physics, economics, biochemistry, computer science or applied mathematics. A double major or major/minor combination like this gives a very solid background for a student who is interested in graduate school either in one of these disciplines or in mathematics itself. Stony Brook also offers a Mathematics Secondary Teacher Preparation Program, open to both Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and Statistics majors, which prepares future teachers of high school mathematics. Students graduate from that Program with provisional certification to teach mathematics, grades 7-12, in New York State.

The requirements for a math major are spelled out in the Undergraduate Bulletin. In addition, we strongly recommend that our students broaden their scientific base by taking a two-semester sequence in a science or in a math-related field such as computer science or economics. MAT 260 (Problem Solving in Mathematics) is also highly recommended preparation for 300-level courses.

The core of the major is formed by the two courses that introduce the student to proofs, MAT 310 (Linear Algebra) and MAT 320 (Introduction to Analysis). They should be taken as early as possible. There are many ways of fulfilling the other requirements, and to give you a better idea of what is involved, here are some sample programs of study leading to a major in mathematics. These can be varied quite a bit: most 300-level classes are accessible once you have taken some version of Calculus III and MAT 211 (Introduction to Linear Algebra).

• Sample program: fast version for those considering graduate school in a math-related discipline.

• Sample program: regular version