Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Contact: Jodie Dawn Novak, Ph.D., School Director
Location: Ross Hall 2239
Telephone: 970.351.2820
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/mathematical-sciences/
Advising Information
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
All undergraduate programs require a core of common courses to provide students with a solid foundation in the mathematical sciences. Thereafter, students can choose from different concentration areas depending on their educational interests and goals.
Pure and Applied Mathematical Sciences Concentration
Expanded scientific, statistical and mathematical knowledge, combined with growing needs in technological as well as social areas, have created increased demands for individuals trained in applied mathematics. This concentration focuses on applications of mathematics to real-life problems and includes some supporting computer science and statistics. Graduates are prepared for technical positions in such areas as environmental, governmental, industrial, military, and social settings and for additional graduate study in mathematics and other related disciplines.
The concentration also prepares graduates for graduate programs in mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, and data science. Students will be prepared to begin a career in a variety of quantitative settings including branches of engineering, physical and social science, finance and management, law and medicine.
Program Admission Requirements:
Academic Good Standing
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the required major credits.
Any additional LAC coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
MATH 131 (4) or MATH 132 (4) is recommended to fulfill Mathematics requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 56 credits
Take all of the following courses:
Take 12 credits from:
| CS 301 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 3 |
| CS 302 | Programming Languages | 3 |
| CS 350 | Software Engineering I | 3 |
| CS 454 | Data Mining and Machine Learning | 3 |
| CS 456 | Neural Networks and Deep Learning | 3 |
| MATH 322 | Introduction to Abstract Algebra II | 3 |
| MATH 336 | Differential Equations II | 3 |
| MATH 341 | Introduction to Modern Geometry I | 3 |
| MATH 342 | Introduction to Modern Geometry II | 3 |
| MATH 351 | Elementary Statistics Theory | 3 |
| MATH 375 | Elementary Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 432 | Basic Analysis II | 4 |
| MATH 437 | Mathematical Modeling | 3 |
| MATH 495 | Topics in Mathematics | 1- 3 |
| STAT 411 | Fundamentals of Data Science | 3 |
| STAT 451 | Intermediate Applied Statistics | 3 |
with MATH 495 taken under a second title.
3. University-Wide Credits — 33-36 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 33-36 credits.
*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| CS 120 | Introduction to Programming | 3 |
| ENG 122 | College CompositionLAW1 | 3 |
| MATH 102 | Success in the Mathematical Sciences | 1 |
| MATH 131 | Calculus ILAX1 | 4 |
| | LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
LAC Arts and Humanities: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.
Spring Semester
| CS 160 | Structured Programming | 3 |
| MATH 132 | Calculus IILAX1 | 4 |
| MATH 228 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| | LAC Intermediate WritingLAW2 | 3 |
| | LAC Social and Behavioral SciencesLAB1LAB2LAB3 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
LAC Social and Behavioral Sciences: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.
Year 2 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| MATH 221 | Elementary Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 233 | Calculus III | 4 |
| | LAC Natural and Physical Sciences with LabLAS1LASL | 4 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring Semester
| MATH 350 | Elementary Probability Theory | 4 |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4 | 3 |
| | LAC HistoryLAH1 | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
For students beginning their 3rd year in odd years
Year 3 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| MATH 321 | Introduction to Abstract Algebra I | 3 |
| MATH 495 | Topics in Mathematics | 1- 3 |
| | LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1 | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13-15 |
Spring Semester
| MATH 460 | Introduction to Complex Analysis | 3 |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | LAC Natural and Physical Sciences without LabLAS1 | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 4 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| MATH 335 | Differential Equations I | 3 |
| MATH 431 | Basic Analysis I | 4 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
For students beginning their 3rd year in even years
Year 3 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| MATH 335 | Differential Equations I | 3 |
| MATH 431 | Basic Analysis I | 4 |
| | LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1 | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 2 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | LAC Natural and Physical Sciences without LabLAS1 | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 4 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| MATH 321 | Introduction to Abstract Algebra I | 3 |
| MATH 495 | Topics in Mathematics | 1- 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13-15 |
Spring Semester
| MATH 460 | Introduction to Complex Analysis | 3 |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Advising Notes –
- MATH 495 is only offered every odd-numbered fall and some odd-numbered springs; MATH 321 is only offered every odd-numbered fall; MATH 431 is only offered every even-numbered fall; and MATH 460 is only offered every even-numbered spring.
- Liberal Arts Curriculum courses can be taken any semester. It is strongly suggested that they be evenly distributed over the entire 4 years of study rather than concentrated in the first 2 years. NOTE: You need to complete 31 Liberal Arts Curriculum credits total. MATH 131 and MATH 132 are required in the program and also satisfy the 3 credit Liberal Arts Curriculum Mathematics requirement. Most students will take ENG 122 for their first composition class unless they have placed out of the introductory composition requirement.