Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree with a Major in Mathematics
Program Learning Outcomes for the BS Degree with a Major in Mathematics
Upon completing the BS degree with a major in Mathematics, students will be able to:
- Achieve both practical and theoretical fluency in calculus and linear algebra.
- Acquire a broad background at the undergraduate level in all the major areas of mathematics, including analysis, algebra, and geometry.
- Learn to read and write proofs.
Requirements for the BS Degree with a Major in Mathematics
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BS degree with a major in Mathematics must complete:
- A minimum of 14-17 courses (42-51 credit hours), depending on course selection, to satisfy the major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 11 courses (33 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
Students receive advanced placement (AP) credit by achieving a score of 4 or 5 on the AP AB-level test or by achieving a score of 4 or 5 on the BC-level test. The credit is articulated as MATH 105 or MATH 105 and MATH 106. Entering students should enroll in the most advanced course commensurate with their background; advice is available from the mathematics faculty during Orientation Week and at other times.
The chair of the MATH department's undergraduate committee may modify requirements to meet the needs of specific advanced students. If a MATH course is repeatable for credit, the course may only be repeated once.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Mathematics | 42-51 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BS Degree with a Major in Mathematics | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Single Variable Calculus | ||
| MATH 101 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 105 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS I | |
| MATH 102 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 106 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS II | |
| Differential Equations | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND LINEAR ALGEBRA | ||
| HONORS ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | ||
| PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS I | ||
| Multivariable Calculus | ||
| Select 1 from the following: | 3-6 | |
| MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS | ||
| HONORS CALCULUS III and HONORS CALCULUS IV | ||
| HONORS MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS II 2 | ||
| CALCULUS ON MANIFOLDS 3 | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| HONORS CALCULUS III | ||
| HONORS LINEAR ALGEBRA | ||
| LINEAR ALGEBRA | ||
| Real Analysis | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS I | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS II 2 | ||
| HONORS ANALYSIS | ||
| INTEGRATION THEORY | ||
| Algebra | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| ABSTRACT ALGEBRA I | ||
| ABSTRACT ALGEBRA II | ||
| ADVANCED ALGEBRA I | ||
| Geometry and Manifolds | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| CALCULUS ON MANIFOLDS 3 | ||
| DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRY OF CURVES AND SURFACES | ||
| DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRY | ||
| DIFFERENTIABLE MANIFOLDS | ||
| RIEMANNIAN GEOMETRY | ||
| Complex Analysis | ||
| MATH 382 | COMPUTATIONAL COMPLEX ANALYSIS | 3 |
| or MATH 427 | COMPLEX ANALYSIS | |
| Topology | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| GENERAL TOPOLOGY | ||
| GEOMETRIC TOPOLOGY | ||
| ALGEBRAIC TOPOLOGY | ||
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Students must complete a minimum of 33 credit hours from departmental (MATH) course offerings at the 300-level or above. 4 | 33 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Mathematics | 42-51 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 38-47 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | Students may substitute a higher-level MATH course at the 200-level (or above), taken for at least 3 credit hours, for the MATH 101 and/or MATH 102 requirements. |
| 2 | MATH 322 cannot fulfill more than one requirement. |
| 3 | MATH 370 cannot fulfill more than one requirement. |
| 4 | The Elective Requirements may include courses at the upper-level (300-level or above) taken as Core Requirements and/or Elective coursework, for a minimum of 11 courses (33 credit hours) at the 300-level or above. At most, students can take any given course (3 credit hours) only once to fulfill major requirements. Additionally, at most 3 credit hours from research and supervised reading courses (such as MATH 479 or courses numbered MATH 490 through MATH 499) may fulfill Elective Requirements. |
Policies for the BS Degree with a Major in Mathematics
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the BS Degree with a Major in Mathematics should be aware of the following program restrictions:
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates under Declaring Majors, Minors and Certificates, students may not obtain both a BA and a BS in the same major. Students pursuing the BS Degree with a Major in Mathematics may not additionally pursue the BA Degree with a Major in Mathematics.
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, students may not major and minor in the same subject.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Mathematics website: https://math.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BS Degree with a Major in Mathematics
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Mathematics website: https://math.rice.edu/.