Mathematics

What Is Mathematics ?

Mathematical sciences include the disciplines of pure mathematics, applied mathematics and statistics. Mathematicians and statisticians use representations of abstract ideas and relationships to solve problems, in order to arrive at a general understanding of how these representations work, as well as how they could be applied. Mathematical sciences majors learn complex analytical and problem-solving skills while exploring a range of mathematical topics and problems. 

Success Factors

The field of mathematical sciences is quite diverse, so success factors tend to vary. Certainly, good reasoning skills and logical thinking, together with the ability to communicate abstract concepts, are important. Mathematicians enjoy challenging problems and find it difficult to stop working on a problem until they arrive at a satisfactory solution.

Career Possibilities

Graduates with a BA in mathematical sciences are prepared for a variety of careers.

State and Federal Agencies

• statistician
• forecaster
• technical manager
• member of research and design team
• numerical analyst
• cryptographer
• signal processing analyst

Business and Industry

• financial analyst
• actuarial scientist
• marketing consultant
• systems analyst
• biomathematical researcher

Education

• secondary mathematics teacher
• university instructor or researcher

Major Details

Students beginning a major in mathematical sciences ordinarily take Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II, III (Math 251-252-253 and labs) during their first year. This sequence requires four years of college-preparatory mathematics in high school, including trigonometry. The student is expected to consult with one of the departmental advisers to plan a comprehensive program in mathematics that fulfills the requirements listed below.

The Department of Mathematical Sciences also offers an undergraduate major for UC students who are earning a degree in a college other than the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences. Essential to earning this second major is taking 63 hours in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, compliant with the requirements below. We encourage students to consult with a departmental adviser to tailor second major programs to educational goals.

The 4+1 Master's Degree in Mathematical Sciences/Statistics
Students interested in earning a master's degree in mathematical sciences or applied statistics have the option to extend their baccalaureate studies for one year. More details are available in the Curriculum and Special Programs sections below. More information is also available on the Math Department website.

McMicken College's flexible degree requirements allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

• Biological sciences
• Economics
• Physics

Minor Details

The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers an undergraduate minor in mathematics for students majoring in another area. It is offered to students in any college at the University of Cincinnati; however, these courses must be taken in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (15). Their equivalents from other colleges will not count toward this minor. Advanced placement and calculus transfer credit can be counted toward the minor. For details, please see the department’s minor Web page.  

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

In the first years, a typical student takes core courses in calculus and linear algebra, together with an introductory course in abstract mathematics. In later years, students choose one of five tracks: applied mathematics, secondary school mathematics teacher, pure mathematics, statistics or actuarial sciences. There is a fast track for the exceptional student who can and will take more advanced courses; this will be under the direction of a faculty advisor and the Undergraduate Affairs Committee.

*Needed to fulfill A&S college requirements.

**Students should register for MATH 351 in the fall of their second year; otherwise, they risk falling behind.

Suggestions for Advanced Mathematics

1. Students are strongly urged to consult an advisor when selecting the courses to satisfy advanced mathematic requirements. This should be done prior to the junior and senior years.
2. Students interested in statistics should consider MATH 361, 362, 363 Probability and Statistics, before taking MATH 521, 522, 523 Mathematical Statistics.
3. Students interested in graduate studies in mathematics are urged to take both the advanced calculus and introduction to abstract algebra sequences.
4. Each student must choose one of five tracks (applied math, statistics, pure math, secondary school education or actuarial sciences) to complete the major. Advanced courses must be selected to fulfill the requirements in a particular track. Courses for each track are listed on the math Web site.
   

Possible Course Sequences for 4+1 BA/MS Program 
(see advisor for other possibilities)

BA/MS in Applied Statistics
1st Year: Calculus I, II, III and labs (MATH 251, 252/6, 253/7) - 15 undergrad credits.
2nd Year: Calculus IV (MATH 264), Linear Alg. I, II (MATH 351/2), Prob & Stats I, II, II (MATH 361/2/3) and Abstract Math (MATH 357) -  23 undergrad credits.
3rd Year: Applied Stats courses (STAT 531, 532, 533), Diff Eq’ns (MATH 273 or 355), Intro to Analysis (MATH 408/9) - 18 undergrad credits.
4th Year: Appl. Prob/Stoch. Proc. (STAT 577/8), Capstone (MATH 501) - 7 ugrad credits; Math Stats (STAT 521/2/3), Appl. Linear Alg. (MATH 555/6) - 15 grad credits.
5th Year: Linear Models (STAT 613/4/5), SAS Programming (STAT 534), Stat Lab (STAT 720), 5 additional STAT electives - 33 grad credits.

BA/MS in Pure Mathematics
1st Year:   Calculus I, II, III and labs (MATH 251, 252/6, 253/7) - 15 undergrad credits.
2nd Year:  Calculus IV (MATH 264), Linear Alg. I, II (MATH 351/2), Prob & Stats I, II (MATH 361/2), Abstract Math (MATH 357), Diff Eq’ns (MATH 273 or 355) - 23 undergrad credits.
3rd Year: Intro Abst. Alg. (MATH 401/2), Number Theory (MATH 551), Intro to Analysis (MATH 408/9), Appl. Complex (MATH 568) - 18 undergrad credits.
4th Year:  Abst. Alg I (MATH 511), Combinatorics (MATH 584), Capstone (MATH 501) - 7 undergrad credits; Abst. Alg II, II (MATH 512/3), Adv. Calc (MATH 504/5/6) - 15 grad credits.
5th Year: One or more 600-level sequences in pure math and 30+ grad credits in additional 500- and 600-level courses to total 30+ grad credits.

BA/MS in Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
1st Year: Calculus I, II, III and labs (MATH 251, 252/6, 253/7) - 15 undergrad credits.
2nd Year: Calculus IV (MATH 264), Linear Alg. I, II (MATH 351/2), Prob & Stats I, II (MATH 361/2), Abstract Math (MATH 357), Diff Eq’ns (MATH 273 or 355) - 23 undergrad credits.
3rd Year: Math Stats I, II (STAT 521/2), Applied Stats (STAT 531/2), Appl. Prob/Stoch. Proc. (STAT 577/8) - 18 undergrad credits.
4th Year:  Time Series (STAT 571), Survival Anal (STAT 572), Capstone (MATH 501) - 7 undergrad credits; Comp. Fin. Math (MATH 541/2/3), Fin. Modeling (MATH 540), SAS Programming (STAT 534) - 15 grad credits.
5th Year: 9 approved credits in finance and economics, 30+ grad credits  21+ additional credits in approved 500- and 600-level math/stat courses.

BA/MS in Secondary and Pure Mathematics
1st Year: Calculus I, II, III and labs (MATH 251, 252/6, 253/7) - 15 undergrad credits.
2nd Year: Calculus IV (MATH 264), Linear Alg. I, II (MATH 351/2), Prob & Stats I, II (MATH 361/2), Abstract Math (MATH 357), Diff Eq’ns (MATH 273 or 355) - 23 undergrad credits.
3rd Year: Intro Abst. Alg. (MATH 401/2), Geometry (MATH 406-407), Intro to Analysis (MATH 408/9), History of Math (MATH 404) - 21 undergrad credits.
4th Year:  Abst. Alg I (MATH 511), Capstone (MATH 501) - 4 undergrad credits; Combinatorics (MATH 584), Applied Complex (MATH 568), Abst. Alg II, II (MATH 512/3), Mathematica (MATH 580) - 15 grad credits.
5th Year: Algebraic Structures (MATH 610/1/2), Adv. Calc (MATH 504/5/6), Number Theory (MATH 551), two additional 500-level courses (suggested MATH 524-525, 555-556, 560, 588) or MS thesis - 30+ grad credits.

Students choosing this path and also planning to get licensure would need to determine how this fits with required CECH courses and internships.  If possible, the student should consider graduating earlier than the end of their fourth year, so that he or she could enter the graduate program earlier and earn more graduate credits during the 4th year.  Notice that all requirements for the undergraduate math degree could be completed by the end of the first quarter of the 4th year.  Alternatively, a student who does not want to take the full MATH 504-505-506 sequence, should count one of the 500-level electives in their 4th year (in this model MATH 568 or MATH 580) for undergrad credit, and take MATH 511 along with MATH 512, 513 for grad credit.  This will give greater flexibility in the fifth year.

Special Opportunities

Students in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, tri-state location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Special Programs

Majors are encouraged to acquire a broad background in the natural sciences. In particular, the A&S natural sciences requirements should be satisfied with a 15-credit sequence in physics, chemistry or biology. Majors are strongly urged to learn a scientific programming language such as C++ or Java. Students who anticipate doing graduate work in mathematics should satisfy the A&S foreign language requirement with French, German or Russian. Mathematics majors automatically satisfy the core mathematics requirement of A&S.

Departmental Honors
Departmental honors in mathematics requires a 3.5 GPA in mathematics courses and the completion of two sequences from the following list: Math 504, 505, 506 Advanced Calculus; Math 511, 512, 513 Abstract Algebra; Math 514, 515, 516 Numerical Analysis; Math 521, 522, 523 Mathematical Statistics, and Math 531, 532, 533 Applied Statistics.

Departmental High Honors
Department high honors requires a 3.75 GPA in mathematics courses and the completion of three sequences from the list above. Any 600-level sequence may ordinarily be substituted for any 500-level sequence in the list. The final decision concerning honors rests with the Honors Committee of the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

The 4+1 Master's Degree Program
The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers a number of opportunities for students wishing to complete both the BA in mathematical sciences and the MS in either mathematical sciences or applied statistics in a five-year period.  The achievement of this goal requires that the student complete 15 credits beyond what is required for the undergraduate major, all of which should be taken for graduate credit, prior to the end of his or her fourth year.  If a student graduates with the BA in less than four years, it is possible to earn more graduate credit by the end of the fourth year, by entering the graduate program somewhat earlier.  This lessens the course load for the fifth year.  Students are required to take a 600-level sequence year (or MATH 514-515-516) in their fifth year, as well as one additional three-quarter 500- or 600-level sequence for graduate credit in their fourth or fifth year.  The student needs to take a total of 45 graduate credits, 48 for the applied statistics option.  The student must earn at least a C in all courses taken for graduate credit, and the overall GPA, as well as the cumulative GPA for the two required sequences, must be at least 3.0.  Students who do not choose the ?thesis? option (which counts for six graduate credits) must pass an oral examination or a PhD preliminary examination at the end of their fifth year.  Interested students should talk to their advisor early in their undergraduate studies to make certain they are on schedule to earn the combined BA/MS in five years. More information is available on the Math Department website and in the curriculum section of this page.

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA. Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following state of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:

• English (4 units)*
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)*
• Science (2 units)
• Social science (2 units)
• Foreign language (2 units)*
• Fine arts (1 unit)
• Additional college-prep subjects (2 units)

*McMicken College of Arts & Sciences does not allow units missing from these areas.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply to the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received the associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Although midyear, off-campus transfer students are not able to participate in priority registration in the quarter prior to their enrollment, they are included in the summer registration period prior to their fall quarter enrollment.

Changing Major Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree student in one of UC’s other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions),
• successfully completed two quarters of English Composition or its equivalent, and
• gained credit for a college-level mathematics course.

Further details on individual programs are available online or in the A&S Office of Undergraduate Affairs and Advising (102 McMicken Hall).

Graduation Requirements

In addition to meeting the university's General Education requirements, the requirements listed in the McMicken College Core Requirements are common to all potential graduates of the college, whether they are pursuing the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, or bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree.

Application Deadlines

UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, the fall is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in McMicken 102). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).