What Are the UCLA Applied Math Major Requirements?

The University of California Los Angeles is a public research university in Los Angeles, California.

It's part of the University of California system and offers a variety of majors, including a bachelor's in applied mathematics.

This major has several requirements for students, including prerequisites, major courses, and electives.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the UCLA applied math major requirements.

What Are the UCLA Applied Math Major Requirements?

The applied math major at UCLA focuses on applications of mathematics to the sciences, including the life, social, and physical sciences, and engineering.

As a result, there are several requirements students need to fulfill.

Like any other program, there are core major courses that students will need to take.

There is also a series of courses that students need to take before they can be admitted into the applied math major.

Applied Math Major Preparation Requirements

Before starting the applied math major program, students must first complete a series of preparation courses.

These are:

• Differential and Integral Calculus: Studies differential calculus and applications and introduces integration
• Integration and Infinite Series: Covers transcendental functions, methods, and applications of integration, and sequences and series
• Calculus of Several Variables: Introduces differential calculus of several variables and vector field theory
• Linear Algebra and Applications: Introduces linear algebra, covering linear equations, matrix algebra, linear independence, and more
• Differential Equations: Focuses on first-order, linear differential equations, second-order, linear differential equations with constant coefficients, power series solutions, and linear systems
• Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics covers topics like motion, Newton's laws, work, energy, linear and angular momentum, rotation, equilibrium, and gravitation
• Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Oscillations, Waves, Electric and Magnetic Fields- covers a variety of topics, including fluid mechanics, electric charges, currents and resistance, and direct-current circuits
• Introduction to Programming: Introduces the basics of programming like C++, problem-solving, basic data types, control structures and functions, and functional arrays and pointers

Students must also choose one of the following three courses:

• Chemical Structure
• Chemical Energetics and Change
• Physics for Scientists and Engineers

For admission to the math major, students must achieve a minimum 2.5 grade-point average in the calculus sequence with no more than two repeats.

Applied Math Major Core Requirements

The courses within the math major are broken into three categories: core math courses, two-term sequences, and electives.

There are four core mathematics courses required for the applied math major. These are:

• Linear Algebra: Covers techniques of proof, abstract vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices, determinants, inner product spaces, and eigenvector theory
• Analysis A: Offers a rigorous introduction to foundations of real analysis, real numbers, point set topology in Euclidean space, functions, continuity
• Analysis B: Covers derivatives, Riemann integral, sequences and series of functions, power series, and Fourier series
• Complex Analysis: Introduces basic formulas and calculation procedures of complex analysis of one variable relevant to applications
• Mathematical Modeling: Introduces the fundamental principles and spirit of applied mathematics, with an emphasis on how mathematical models are constructed for physical problems

Students will choose between Analysis B or Complex Analysis for a total of four core courses.

Two-term sequences are series of courses that have a part one and a part two and require two terms to complete both.

Students choose two from the following series:

• Applied Numerical Methods A&B: Introduces numerical methods with emphasis on algorithms, analysis of algorithms, and computer implementation issues
• Probability Theory A&B: Presents probability theory based on real analysis
• Introduction to Probability and Introduction to Mathematical Statistics: Introduces probability and statistics
• Linear and Nonlinear Systems of Differential Equations and Ordinary Differential Equations: Presents dynamical systems analysis of nonlinear systems of differential equations

Finally, students are required to choose four elective courses from a list of selected mathematics and statistics courses.

Computing Specialization Requirements

Many students within the applied math major pursue a specialization in computing.

This specialization provides an extensive education in elementary computer science and an introduction to its

applications in mathematics.

Students are first required to take one math course, either Introduction to Discrete Structures or Graph Theory.

They also need to take Introduction to Programming and Intermediate Programming.

Two computing electives are needed for this program. Students can choose from:

• Advanced Programming
• Introduction to Lisp and Symbolic Computation
• Python With Applications I
• Python With Applications II
• Introduction to Programming for the Internet

Additionally, students must choose two from the following mathematics electives:

• Applied Numerical Methods
• Numerical Analysis I
• Numerical Analysis II
• Mathematical Imaging
• Machine Learning

How Long Does it Take to Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Math at USC?

The mathematics degree programs at USC require 160 quarter credits, the equivalent of 120 semester credits.

Many students can complete 160 quarter credits within four years.

Earn an Applied Math Degree at UCLA

The UCLA applied math major requirements include pre-program courses, core major courses, and elective courses.

For more information on the UCLA applied math major requirements, contact Learn.org today.