The Major

The mathematics major has

• an entryway requirement
  
• a core requirement
  
• a depth requirement
  
• a total credit requirement.

The entryway requirement consists of MTH 153 Discrete Mathematics, MTH 211 Linear Algebra (or MTH211 Infinite Dimensional Linear Algebra) and MTH 212 Calculus III. An exceptionally well prepared student might place out of some of these.

The core requirement is one course in algebra (MTH 233 or MTH 238) and one course in analysis (MTH225 or MTH 243). A student wishing to concentrate in statistics may substitute MTH 346 for the algebra requirement. A concentration in statistics consists of completing the four courses MTH 245, MTH 246, MTH 247 or MTH 290 plus MTH 346.

The depth requirement is an advanced mathematics course (numbered between 310 and 390).

The total credit requirement consists of the completion of 40 credits. At most eight of these credits can be at the 100 level. With the approval of the department, up to eight credits can be replaced by twice that number in courses from other departments or programs provided that such courses contain substantial mathematical content¹ and the student completes a major or minor in the corresponding department or program.

Major advisors are Michael Albertson, Pau Atela, James Callahan, David Cohen, Christophe Golé, Ruth Haas, Katherine Halvorsen, James Henle, Nicholas Horton and Patricia Sipe. Some things to keep in mind:

1. You should aim to take several 300-level courses in math. Plan ahead for each 300-level course you want to take, since they have a number of prerequisites. A good strategy is to have taken enough of these prerequisites by the end of your junior year so that in your senior year you have several options. Don't forget that some 300-level courses are only offered every other year.

2. Regardless of your own interests, your education should include at least one applied course.

3. Regardless of your own interests, your education should include at least one theoretical course.

4. We agree that Modern Algebra is an important course, central to almost all of mathematics.

5. You will find as you take mathematics courses at Smith that you will be gaining expertise in BASIC or Excel, then Mathematica, technical word-processors, and perhaps more advanced software for statistics (like MINITAB) and graphics (like Geomview). In fact, if you have the time, take a programming course from the Computer Science department.

6. Take courses from a variety of instructors. Each of us offers something different--not just expertise, but perspective and philosophy.