Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and departmental approval. 

Students who wish to obtain credentials for teaching grade 7–12 mathematics may take a 36-credit hour second major. Students must have a 3.00 grade point average to be admitted to the second major in secondary education. For information on admission and program requirements, see the School of Education, Teaching and Health secondary education programs. 

University Requirements

• A total of 120 credit hours 
• 6 credit hours of college writing 
• 3 credit hours of college mathematics or the equivalent by examination 

General Education Requirements

• A total of ten courses, consisting of one foundation course and one second-level course in an approved sequence from each of the five curricular areas 
• No more than 6 credit hours may be taken in the same discipline 

Major Requirements

• 52 credit hours with grades of C or better 

Students who elect a second major in secondary school mathematics teaching take a total of 53 credit hours for the mathematics major (see course requirements below) 

Course Requirements

• CSC-280 Introduction to Computer Science I (4) 
• MATH-221 Calculus I (4) 
• MATH-222 Calculus II (4) 
• MATH-313 Calculus III (4) 
• MATH-310 Linear Algebra (3) 
• MATH-500 Advanced Calculus of Several Variables (3) 
• MATH-512 Introduction to Modern Algebra  (3) 
• MATH-513 Rings and Fields (3) 
• MATH-520 Introduction to Analysis  (3) 
• MATH-521 Measure Theory and Integration (3) 
• Three courses selected from the following: 

MATH-321 Differential Equations (3) 

MATH-501 Probability (3) 

MATH-503 Foundations of Mathematics (3) 

MATH-505 Mathematical Logic (3) 

MATH-508 Automata, Languages and Computability (3) 

MATH-510 Geometry (3) 

MATH-515 Number Theory (3) 

MATH-540 Topology (3) 

MATH-550 Complex Analysis (3) 

MATH-551 Partial Differential Equations (3) 

MATH-560 Numerical Analysis: Basic Problems (3) 

MATH-570 History of Mathematics (3) 

MATH-601 Harmonic Analysis (3) 

STAT-502 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (3) 

• Three courses in a field of application, to be selected in consultation with the advisor. This requirement may be waived for students with more than one major in this department.  

Mathematics Majors with a Second Major in Secondary Education

Course Requirements

• CSC-280 Introduction to Computer Science I (4) 
• MATH-221 Calculus I (4) 
• MATH-222 Calculus II (4) 
• MATH-313 Calculus III (4) 
• MATH-310 Linear Algebra (3) 
• MATH-500 Advanced Calculus of Several Variables (3) 
• MATH-501 Probability (3) 
• MATH-510 Geometry (3) 
• MATH-512 Introduction to Modern Algebra (3) 
• MATH-585 Mathematics Education (3) 
• STAT-202 Basic Statistics (4) 
• STAT-502 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (3)  
• Two courses selected from the following: 

MATH-321 Differential Equations (3) 

MATH-503 Foundations of Mathematics (3) 

MATH-505 Mathematical Logic (3) 

MATH-515 Number Theory (3) 

MATH-540 Topology (3) 

MATH-550 Complex Analysis (3) 

MATH-551 Partial Differential Equations (3) 

MATH-560 Numerical Analysis: Basic Problems (3) 

MATH-570 History of Mathematics (3) 

MATH-601 Harmonic Analysis (3) 

• Two courses in a field of application, to be selected in consultation with the advisor. This requirement may be waived for students with more than one major in this department.  

University Honors Program

All University Honors students must complete at least 12 credit hours of advanced-level (300-level and above) Honors courses including a 3 to 6 credit hour Honors Senior Capstone Project. Students may graduate with University Honors in the major if they complete at least 12 advanced-level Honors courses including the Senior Capstone Project in the department. Each department has three levels of University Honors requirements: Level I Options (100-200-level Honors classes); Level II Options (300-level and above Honors classes); and Level III Options (Honors Senior Capstone). The department Honors coordinator advises students in the University Honors Program regarding departmental options. For more information, go to www.american.edu/academic.depts/honors/ . 

Combined B.S. in Mathematics and M.A. in Mathematics

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs. Undergraduate students may complete up to 3 credits for every 9 credits required for the graduate degree that may be applied to the requirements for both degree programs. The department that oversees the graduate program the student enters will determine if the courses the undergraduate student completes will satisfy master’s degree requirements. Bachelor’s/master’s students must complete at least 18 in-residence credit hours at the graduate level after the bachelor’s degree is earned and maintain continuous, sequential enrollment in the two programs. 

This program enables students to earn both a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.A. in Mathematics. 

Requirements

• Undergraduate students should apply by the end of the junior year. Students should have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 in major courses and have completed one of the following sequences: 

MATH-512 Introduction to Modern Algebra  and MATH-513 Rings and Fields  

or 

• MATH-520 Introduction to Analysis I and MATH-521 Measure Theory and Integration  
• All requirements for the B.S. in Mathematics 

Undergraduate students may apply up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate-level course work to satisfy the requirements of both degrees. 

• All requirements for the M.A. in Mathematics, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded.Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program.