|
|
Fall 2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Mathematics, BS
|
|
 Return to: Majors
Department of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
Chair: Scott Sutherland
Director of Undergraduate Study: TBA
Assistant to chair: Lynne Barnett
Minors of particular interest to students majoring in Mathematics: Applied Mathematics and Statistics (AMS), Computer Science (CSE), Economics (ECO), Physics (PHY)
Mathematics is an essential element in a wide range of human activities. It is the language of the physical sciences, and as such is an indispensable tool in the formulation of the laws of nature. In the social and biological sciences, it plays an increasingly important role in modeling complicated, large-scale phenomena. In addition, mathematics has an aesthetic side: awareness of the possibility of elegance and beauty in mathematical arguments has been a significant feature of human culture throughout history. Today more mathematics is being done, and more needs to be done, than ever before.
The undergraduate course offerings in Mathematics allow students to set up individualized programs of study consistent with their academic interests and career plans. Students should consider majoring in Mathematics even if they do not plan to become mathematicians or teachers of mathematics. The training in abstract reasoning and problem-solving is an excellent foundation for many different careers, such as law, graduate health professions, and business. Completion of a major in Mathematics points to a thinking person.
Students are encouraged to explore the various branches of pure and applied mathematics, as well as other mathematically oriented disciplines, to gain both breadth of knowledge and insight into career options. Mathematics majors can use their training as the foundation for advanced professional study, leading to research and teaching in universities or research in industrial research laboratories; they can use it also in secondary school teaching. In industry, undergraduate training in mathematics is excellent preparation for the important task of liaison work between the technological arm of a company and its marketing arm. A major in Mathematics is particularly appropriate for work in computer applications, operations research, and actuarial science. Double majors in Mathematics and another field, such as physics, computer science, applied mathematics and statistics, or economics, are common and are encouraged.
The Mathematics Majors Program, which leads to the B.S. Degree in Mathematics, has two special options: Advanced Track option and Secondary Teacher Education option.
The advanced track option is designed for students open to the challenges of advanced mathematics. State-of-the-art courses are taught in small classes by leading faculty and cover a broad range of material. The advanced track students are encouraged to take advantage of our top-ranked graduate program; qualified students are welcome to take graduate courses. All in all, the advanced track will prepare a student well for the challenge of a graduate or professional school at the finest universities in the country or a career in a variety of fields.
The secondary teacher education option is designed for students planning a career teaching mathematics in a secondary school. This option is described in detail in the “Education and Teacher Certification” entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.
The Department of Mathematics offers tutorial help to all undergraduate students in its 100-level courses in the Mathematics Learning Center. Since the Center’s staff consists of faculty and graduate students in mathematics as well as undergraduate tutors, students in more advanced courses can also find assistance there.
The Department encourages students to seek information and advice on appropriate mathematics courses, programs, and career goals. Professors in mathematics are available as advisors in the Undergraduate Mathematics Office to help with these matters. Advising hours can be obtained by calling the Department of Mathematics.
|
Degree Requirements
Completion of the major typically requires approximately 40 credits, depending on student preparation and choices made. Students can select one of the following options: - Regular mathematics major
- Mathematics major with Advanced Track program
- Mathematics major with the Secondary Teacher Education option
Requirements for regular mathematics major
1. Single-variable Calculus:
2. Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations:
3. Preparation in the Language and Logic of Mathematics:
This requirement can be met by either passing MAT 200 or MAT 250 or by passing the MAT 200 challenge examination. (Note: the writing intensive course MAT 200 is a requirement for students in the Secondary Teacher Education Program.) 4.Computer Literacy
Select one course below: 5. Advanced Linear Algebra Course
6. A Course in Abstract Algebra
7. Analysis
Students not in the Secondary Teacher option must satisfy all three items below: 8. Four Mathematics-related courses beyond those taken to satisfy Requirements 5, 6, 7
Four mathematics-related courses beyond those taken to satisfy Requirements 5, 6, and 7 (three will suffice if all of them are MAT courses), to be chosen from the following list. Note that MAE 330 and MAT 331 may be used to satisfy both requirement 4 as well as requirement 8. 9. Writing Requirement
Students following the Stony Brook Curriculum will fulfill the upper division writing requirement by completing the objectives for Writing within the Discipline (WRTD) and successful completion of MAT 319 or MAT 320 with a grade of C or better. Notes:
- Under special circumstances a student may request the director of undergraduate studies to allow substitution of an equivalent individual program for some or all of these requirements.
- All courses used to fulfill the requirements for the major must be taken for a letter grade and must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
- Students whose scores on the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement Examination are documented earn credits as follows:
- 4 or 5 on BC examination: credit for MAT 131 , MAT 132 (8 credits);
- 4 or 5 on AB examination: credit for MAT 131 (4 credits);
- 3 on either examination: 3 credits applicable towards graduation but not the major.
- Students who learned some linear algebra or multivariate calculus before entering Stony Brook should see an advisor in the Undergraduate Mathematics Office. For a student who has had some linear algebra, it may be appropriate to skip MAT 211 and to enroll directly in MAT 310 .
- Six credits of graduate MAT courses may be used in place of undergraduate courses in Requirement 7.
Advanced Track Program
The advanced track program is intended for better prepared students, who already have credit for Calculus I, Calculus II (or AP Calculus BC). The courses in the program are more rigorous and concentrate on logic and proofs rather than on computational methods. This program allows students to take graduate classes in their senior year (or possibly even in their junior year). In particular, this program is recommended for students considering graduate school in Mathematics. Requirements
List of required courses for Advanced Track program is different from the regular Mathematics major and is given below. 1. Single-variable Calculus:
2. Introductory Linear Algebra
3. Preparation in the Language and Logic of Mathematics:
4. Advanced Linear Algebra
8. A Course in Differential Equations
9. One Course in Computer Literacy
(see requirement 4 of regular math major) 10. Four mathematics-related courses beyond those taken to satisfy Requirements 1 through 7
Four mathematics-related courses beyond those taken to satisfy Requirements 1 through 7 (three will suffice if all of them are MAT courses), to be chosen from the list given in requirement 8 of the regular math major. Note: MAT 331 may be used both here and in requirement 9. 11. Writing Requirement
Students following the Stony Brook Curriculum will fulfill the upper division writing requirement by completing the objectives for Writing within the Discipline (WRTD) and successful completion of MAT 319 or MAT 320 with a grade of C or better. Advanced Track Sequencing
A suggested sequence of courses for the first two years of study for students in Advanced Track program is given below. (This sequence assumes that the student already has credit for Calculus I, Calculus II). Semester 1: MAT 220, MAT 250 Semester 2: MAT 320, MAT 315 Semester 3: MAT 322, MAT 313 Semester 4: MAT 314, MAT 308 Mathematics Honors Program
The honors program is open to junior and senior Mathematics majors who have completed at least two upper-division MAT courses with grades of B or higher and who have maintained a 3.00 overall grade point average. A prospective honors major must declare to the director of undergraduate studies an intention to participate in the program before registering for the senior year. The program consists of a set of seven MAT courses, at least three of which are not used to fulfill the MAT major requirements. These courses must include: MAT 322 or MAT 324 ; MAT 401 or MAT 402 ; a course in algebra other than MAT 310 ; and MAT 495 . Substitution of appropriate graduate courses is permitted, and other substitutions are possible at the discretion of the undergraduate director. Conferral of honors is contingent upon: - Completion of the set of seven courses with a grade point average of at least 3.50;
- Approval for honors by the faculty member or members who supervise MAT 495 .
Beginning Mathematics Courses
The Mathematics curriculum begins with a choice of calculus sequences, some including preparatory material from 12th-year mathematics in high school and some not. The three first-term calculus courses that assume knowledge of 12th-year mathematics are MAT 125 , MAT 131 , MAT 141 and AMS 151 . A student may start any of these with the same background. The three-semester sequence of one-variable calculus, MAT 125 , MAT 126 , MAT 127 , is academically equivalent to the two-semester sequence MAT 131 , MAT 132 . Engineering students normally take the faster-paced MAT 131 , MAT 132 , or AMS 151 , AMS 161 rather than MAT 125 , MAT 126 , MAT 127 because of the many requirements they must meet. MAT 141, MAT 142 is an enriched version of MAT 131 , MAT 132 . MAT 171 is a version of MAT 142 for students who have not taken MAT 141; offered only in the fall semester. MAT 122 and MAT 123 combine precalculus and calculus for students who have not had a precalculus course in high school. A student who completes MAT 122 will have learned some precalculus material and will have a good idea of what calculus is and how it is used. MAT 123 is designed to lead into MAT 125 or MAT 131 . Although MAT 122 is not designed as preparation for further calculus courses, students may follow that course with MAT 125 or MAT 131 if they take the one-credit course MAT 130 in the same semester as MAT 125 or MAT 131 . MAT 118 is a non-calculus course that surveys various topics in mathematics that do not require a background in precalculus or calculus; it is designed for students who do not intend to take further courses in mathematics. For students whose high school preparation is insufficient to begin the MAT curriculum, or to enroll in another course applicable to the D.E.C. category C requirement, Mathematical and Statistical Reasoning, there are two review courses numbered MAP 101 and MAP 103 . These courses do not carry graduation credit. MAP 103 , a skills course, is for students who need further work in high school algebra and related topics before continuing with calculus or other mathematics. Some students, upon completing MAP 103 , are able to pass the Mathematics Placement Examination at a level that allows them to go directly into MAT 125 or MAT 131 . SBC Courses
This table illustrates major courses that can also be used to fulfill SBC requirements. (See Note 1 & Note 2) | SBC Category | Required Major Courses | Optional Major Courses (see Note 3) | | ARTS | | | | GLO | | | | HUM | | | | LANG (see Note 4) | | | | QPS | | LIN 361, MAT 123, MAT 125, MAT 126, MAT 127, MAT 131, MAT 132, MAT 250 | | SBS | | | | SNW | | | | TECH | | CSE 101, CSE 110, CSE 114, LIN 120, MAE 330, MAT 331, PHY 277 | | USA | | | | WRT | | | | STAS | | CSE 312, MAT 336 | | EXP+ | | AMS 333, AMS 394, AMS 412, AMS 475, AMS 476, AMS 487, CSE 475, CSE 488, MAT 444, MAT 475 | | HFA+ | | | | SBS+ | | AMS 316, AMS 335, AMS 341, AMS 342 | | STEM+ | | AMS 310, AMS 361, AMS 210, AMS 261, AMS 361, CHE 301, LIN 335, MAT 200, MAT 203, MAT 211, MAT 303, MAT 307, MAT 308, PHI 330 | | CER | | AMS 315, AMS 394, AMS 412, CSE 312 | | DIV (see Note 5) | | | | ESI | | AMS 315, AMS 394, AMS 412, CSE 312 | | SPK | | AMS 458, AMS 475, AMS 476, MAT 336, MAT 401, MAT 458 | | WRTD | | AMS 318, AMS 333, AMS 459, AMS 487, MAT 336, MAT 459 | Note 1: Some course information may be subject to change. Please contact your major advisor for additional consultation. Note 2: For majors that require study in a related area or completion of a minor, visit the respective program’s “Major SBC Courses” page to view expanded SBC options. Note 3: Denotes any course in which students can choose from more than one option. These may include, but are not limited to, major electives, concentration/track/specialization courses, or calculus/physics/chemistry sequences. Note 4: CEAS majors, the Athletic Training major, the Respiratory Care major, and the Clinical Laboratory Sciences major are exempt from the LANG learning objective. Students enrolled in the major in Social Work are exempt from the LANG learning objective, but are required to enroll in and pass with a letter grade of C or higher the first semester of an elementary foreign language course numbered 111, or satisfy through alternate methods. Note 5: Students are responsible for completing the general education requirements published in the Bulletin that was current as of the first semester of matriculation (or rematriculation). The following student groups must satisfy the DIV learning objective as part of their degree requirements: - Freshmen who matriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later
- Transfer students who matriculate in the Spring of 2020 or later
- Students who rematriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later
Placement
The Department of Mathematics offers a placement examination which indicates the level of mathematical preparation of each student. The score on the examination is used to place the student in appropriate courses in mathematics, applied mathematics and statistics, biology, computer science, chemistry, and physics. It tests the student’s skills at the time the test is taken; students are advised to review their mathematics beforehand A student who wishes to use the placement examination to fulfill D.E.C. Category C, the QPS objective of the S.B.C, or other graduation-related requirements or Skill 1, or if they have been or wish to be accepted into a major in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, must take a proctored version of the examination. This examination is given regularly to incoming students prior to orientation, as well as several times during the academic year and by appointment with the Mathematics Department. An unproctored, online version of the exam can be given in the case where taking the proctored version prior to orientation is impractical; this version of the exam can be used only for registration purposes and may not be used to fulfill graduation requirements. The placement exam consists of several parts; not all students will take all parts of the exam. Part I covers high school algebra, Part II deals with12th year high school Mathematics (precalculus), and Part III covers single-variable calculus. Levels 1 through 3 can be achieved by a sufficiently high score on Part I, and levels 3+ through 5 can be achieved by a sufficiently high score on Part II, and attaining levels 6-9 requires sufficiently high scores on Parts II and III. The entry skill in mathematics requirement may be satisfied by attaining a score of level 3 or higher on the proctored exam. The general education requirement for Mathematics (the Stony Brook Curriculum QPS objective, or D.E.C. category C) may be satisfied by attaining a score of level 6 or higher on the proctored exam. Certain majors will also accept a sufficiently high score on the proctored exam in lieu of required math courses. A student who achieves a particular level is free to begin with a mathematics course corresponding to a lower level, so long as taking the course does not mean that credit is given for the same material twice. Transfer Credit
When they enter, transfer students automatically receive credit toward graduation at Stony Brook for any courses they have already successfully completed at accredited institutions of higher education and that count toward graduation at that institution. The number of credits transferred appears on the Stony Brook transcript with no courses or grades indicated, and the number of transferred credits is unaffected by the student’s score on the Mathematics Placement Examination. In some cases, a course designator ending in PQ (such as MAT 131PQ) may be placed on the student’s transcript. In addition, transferred mathematics courses are automatically evaluated for applicability to the entry skill in mathematics requirement and the D.E.C. category C requirement or SBC requirement QPS; this evaluation does not depend on the result of the placement examination. |
Return to: Majors
|
|