MATHEMATICS — THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Mathematics offers programs leading to a BA or BS. The department offers introductory courses to prepare undergraduate students for programs in premedical studies, management, the social sciences, and the natural sciences.

Preparatory Work

Any student who intends to take a mathematics course at or below the level of MATH 140 (Calculus I) must furnish proof to the department that he or she is prepared for that course. The required proof is successful completion of the appropriate math placement test.

Majors

Required Courses (BA or BS)

MATH 140 (Calculus I), MATH 141 (Calculus II), MATH 240 (Calculus III), MATH 260 (Linear Algebra I), MATH 310 (Applied Ordinary Differential Equations), MATH 345 (Probability and Statistics I), MATH 360 (Abstract Algebra I), MATH 361 (Abstract Algebra II), MATH 450 (Real Analysis), CS 110 (Intro to Computer Programming), MATH L320 (Discrete Mathematics), PHYSIC 113 (Fundamentals of Physics I), PHYSIC 114 (Fundamentals of Physics II)

Electives

Three additional elective mathematics courses at or above the 300 level must be taken. One of these four, with the permission of the department, may be replaced by a cognate course. Courses in computer science are among those counted as cognate courses. Other courses that would normally be accepted are: Theory of Computation (CS 420), Mathematical Physics (PHYSIC 616), and Environmental Statistics (ES 611). Prospective high school teachers should include among their electives History of Mathematics (MATH 370), Number Theory (MATH 458), and Survey of Geometry (MATH 460).

For the BS degree, four additional science courses and a lab course are required. Each course must be part of the major requirements in the department offering the course.
Note that no math or physics course taken as part of the major may be taken pass/fail.

A Sample Major Program by Semester:

• 1st: MATH 140, CS 110
• 2nd: MATH 141, PHYSIC 113
• 3rd: MATH 240, MATH 260, PHYSIC 114
• 4th: MATH 345, CS 320; science course (if taking BS)
• 5th: MATH 310, MATH 360; science course (if taking BS)
• 6th: MATH 360 and one upper-division mathematics elective; science course (if taking BS)
• 7th: Two upper-division mathematics electives; science course (if taking BS)
• 8th: MATH 450; science course (if taking BS)

Minor

MATH 140, 141, 240, 260, and any three courses at the 300 level and above (one of which may be an independent study, MATH 478). Among the required 300-level or higher courses for the minor, at least two must be taken in the Mathematics Department at UMass Boston. Note that no math or physics course taken as part of the minor may be taken pass/fail.

Double Major

A double major in mathematics and some other area is allowed provided that no more than two upper-division courses (300 or 400 level) are counted as part of both majors.