• Major Requirements
• Minor Requirements
• Honors in Mathematics
• A.B./M.A. Program
• A.B./M.A./Certification Program
• Placement Information
• Teacher Certification (Education department)

Major Requirements

The major requires six core courses, and four electives at or above the 200-level.

Core Requirements

• Multivariable Calculus (201)
• Linear Algebra (203; H215)
• Real Analysis I (301; H317)
• Abstract Algebra I (303; H333)
• Real Analysis II (302; H318) or Abstract Algebra II (304; H334)
• Senior Conference (398 or 399)

With the exception of Senior Conference, equivalent courses at Haverford or elsewhere may be substituted for Bryn Mawr courses with approval of the major adviser. In consultation with a major adviser, a student may also petition the department to accept courses in fields outside of mathematics as electives if these courses have serious mathematical content appropriate to the student's program.

Students considering the possibility of graduate study in mathematics or related fields are urged to go well beyond the minimum requirements of the major. In such cases, a suitable program of study should be designed with the advice of a major adviser.

Math majors are encouraged to complete their core requirements other than Senior Conference by the end of their junior year. Senior Conference must be taken during the senior year.

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Minor Requirements

Requirements for the minor in mathematics are five courses in mathematics at the 200-level or higher, of which at least two are 300-level or higher.

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Honors in Mathematics

A degree with honors in mathematics will be awarded by the department to students who have achieved excellence in the work of the major and also meet the following further requirements:

• at least two additional semesters of work at the 300 level or above (this includes Supervised Work 403).
• completion of a meritorious project consisting of a written honors thesis, which may be an expository paper or some original research, and an oral presentation of the thesis.
• a major grade point average of at least 3.6, calculated at the end of the senior year.

An honors project normally requires two semesters of independent study with a faculty member. A student interested in pursuing honors should approach faculty members at the end of her junior year to determine the availability of a project of mutual interest. The written thesis must be completed by the last day of classes in the spring semester, and preferably a week before the oral presentation is given. The formal decision on honors is determined by a vote of the math faculty after the oral presentation and after the final version of the written thesis has been submitted.

Click here to see the titles of recent honors theses.

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A.B./M.A. Program

For students entering with advanced placement credits, it is possible to earn both the A.B. and M.A. degrees in an integrated four-year or five-year program. The norm in mathematics is for the student to complete this program in four years, doing research for and writing an M.A. thesis in the fourth year. A student normally applies to this program during her sophomore year. Details of the requirement can be found at Graduate Program/Degree Requirements.

We also have curricula designed for students who would like to complete both the A.B./M.A. Program in Mathematics and either a minor in Education or the Secondary Teaching Certification Program. See A.B./M.A./Certification.

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Placement Information

Math Readiness Exam

Calculus Placement Exam

 

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