Mathematics Major

Major Requirements

The major in mathematics requires 13 courses, distributed as follows:

1. Core Courses (8 courses)

2. Electives (5 courses)

Any MATH course numbered 102 or higher at any of the Claremont Colleges, and any CMC CSCI course numbered 070 or higher, can serve as a mathematics elective.

All electives must be approved by the student’s faculty mathematics advisor or the mathematical sciences department chair. See your advisor to verify that a particular course can be used.

Senior Thesis in Mathematics

The senior thesis is a general education requirement and the capstone experience of a student’s undergraduate education. Students must complete a senior thesis in at least 1 of their majors under supervision of a faculty reader who teaches within that major, unless granted a special exception.

Students interested in a 2-semester thesis project complete a 0.5 credit or 1.0 credit thesis research course in the 1^st semester and the senior thesis in the 2^nd semester. The senior thesis and the thesis research course may not be counted as courses in the major.

Special Options for Majors

Dual Major

Dual majors may waive 2 electives in the requirements for the major.

Honors in Mathematics

To be eligible for departmental honors in mathematics, students majoring in mathematics, including students with a dual major, must:

Earn at least a 3.33 GPA in all major courses
Write a senior thesis in mathematics

Study Abroad

Mathematics majors who are interested in studying abroad should consult with the chair of the department no later than the beginning of their sophomore year to review course selections.

The department strongly recommends the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics. This is a program in mathematics and computer science especially designed for American and Canadian undergraduates.

General Education Requirement Information for Mathematics Majors

General Education Requirement in Mathematics/Computer Science

Any course offered by the CMC Department of Mathematical Sciences may satisfy the general education requirement. Any computer science course or calculus course offered at the other undergraduate Claremont Colleges may also satisfy the general education requirement. Students may take a pre-calculus course either in Claremont or off-campus for credit towards graduation but not for the general education requirement in mathematics.

General Education Requirement in the Social Sciences and the Humanities

For the general education requirement in the social sciences and the humanities, CMC students majoring in mathematics must take designated courses in 3 of the 4 fields of the social sciences (economics, government, history, and psychology), and in 2 of the 4 fields of the humanities (literature, philosophy, religious studies, and literature in a foreign language).

Mathematics majors with a dual or double major in either the humanities or the social sciences will be required to take an additional course in those categories.

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes of the Program in Mathematical Sciences

Learning Goals

The learning goals of the program in mathematical sciences are:

Proficiency in fundamental subjects in mathematics such as Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and Probability Theory.
Knowledge of a range of mathematical subjects chosen from algebra, analysis geometry, discrete and continuous applied mathematics, operations research, computer science, and statistics.
Development of critical thinking in the construction of mathematical proofs and mathematical models.
Development of problem solving skills and techniques.
Facility in all types of quantitative reasoning.
Understanding of connections between various areas of mathematics.
Development of the ability to effectively communicate mathematical ideas.
Knowledge of the applications and relevance of mathematical ideas to other areas of science and to our civilization.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate proficiency in calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and probability theory.
Students will demonstrate proficiency in one of three areas, pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and general mathematics.
Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate mathematical concepts and ideas.
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply effectively appropriate quantitative analysis and methods.