What Are the Math Major Requirements at UMass?

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) system is a system of public universities in Massachusetts.

It includes five campuses, four of which offer mathematics degrees.

The math major requirements at UMass will depend on which university you choose and other factors.

Keep reading to learn more about the math major requirements at UMass.

What Are the Math Major Requirements at UMass Amherst?

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research university in Amherst, Massachusetts.

It's the flagship campus of the university system and offers a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and statistics.

This major requires students to complete the following core courses:

• Calculus I or Calculus II
• Multivariable Calculus or Introduction to Linear Algebra
• Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics or Introduction to Computation
• Writing in Mathematics
• Computer Programming
• Introduction to Discrete Structures, Mathematical Modeling, History of Mathematics, or Regression Analysis

Students must also choose one of seven concentrations to focus their studies.

Each concentration requires the courses above and a handful of concentration core courses.

Available concentrations are:

• Actuarial Sciences: Emphasizes applications to the financial and insurance sectors and is designed to help students meet the standards required for entering the workforce in those fields
• Applied Mathematics: Prepares the student for a career as a mathematician in government or industry
• Individually Designed: Permits students, in consultation with their academic adviser, to design their concentration
• Mathematical Computing: Prepares the student for careers that require both knowledge of advanced mathematics and extensive knowledge of computer programming
• Pure Mathematics: Prepares the student for graduate study in mathematics
• Statistics and Data Science: Prepares the student for a career as an applied statistician or a data scientist, or graduate study in statistics
• Teaching: Provides the student with the knowledge of mathematics and statistics required by the Commonwealth as an 8-12 teacher of mathematics

What Are the Math Major Requirements at UMass Boston?

UMass Boston offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics.

Both have the same core requirements.

All students are required to take the following core math courses:

• Calculus I
• Calculus II
• Multivariable and Vector Calculus
• Linear Algebra
• Discrete Structures in Mathematics
• Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
• Mathematical Software
• Introduction to Proofs
• Probability and Statistics
• Fundamentals of Physics
• Introduction to Computer Programming

Students then take six additional courses in the concentration of their choice.

The BA degree offers concentrations in math for teaching or general math, while the BS offers concentrations in applied and pure math, computational math, or general math.

Applied math is the more traditional concentration, best for students interested in graduate school in fields like mathematics or physics or working on mathematical modeling in industry or research laboratories.

The computational math concentration provides broad math education with an emphasis on computer and mathematical models as tools to solve real-world problems.

All students are required to take a capstone course, which allows them to demonstrate the ability to use the knowledge, concepts, and methods acquired in the mathematics major.

Additionally, students in the Bachelor of Science program are required to take at least one physics course and three more courses in fields like biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, or physics.

What Are the Math Major Requirements at UMass Dartmouth?

UMass Dartmouth, like UMass Boston, offers both a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics.

These programs are largely flexible, allowing students to choose their courses so long as they fit the following requirements:

• 59 credit hours in math or physics
• 6 credits in English
• 6 credits in literature
• 27 credits in upper-level courses

The BS program also requires an additional six credits in natural science, while the BA requires an additional three credits in natural science.

Students in the BS program can also opt for a concentration in applied and computational mathematics or applied statistics.

The applied and computational mathematics concentration emphasizes mathematics that is needed to devise, analyze, and implement methods to obtain accurate numerical solutions to applied problems.

The applied statistics concentration, meanwhile, is designed to educate and train students in the applications of data analysis and computational statistics.

What Are the Math Major Requirements at UMass Lowell?

The University of Massachusetts Lowell also offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics.

Both programs require core math courses like:

• Calculus I
• Calculus II
• Calculus III
• Discrete Structures
• Introduction to Linear Algebra
• Linear Algebra
• Differential Equations

Students within the Bachelor of Arts program are allowed to choose a concentration outside of the mathematics department.

Those in the Bachelor of Science program can choose from concentrations in:

• Applied and Computational Mathematics: Students will gain knowledge of mathematics with applications in various other fields and practical scientific computing skills
• Bioinformatics: Students will learn the mathematics, biology, chemistry, and computing required to analyze and interpret biological data
• Business Applications: Provides students with the mathematics foundation needed for careers in economics or finance
• Computer Science: Builds a mathematical foundation to prepare for careers in computer science fields
• General Mathematics: Delivers the core mathematics degree while allowing students maximum freedom to pursue advanced mathematical topics
• Statistics and Probability: Prepares students for careers in statistics or data science by building a strong foundation in mathematics and gaining useful skills for real-world work experience
• Teaching: Includes math courses and coursework that make explicit connections between post-secondary and secondary-level mathematics

Earn a Math Degree Through UMass

The math requirements at UMass vary depending on which UMass university you attend, whether you earn a BA or BS, and if you choose a concentration.

For more information about mathematics requirements or for help choosing a program, reach out to Learn.org today.