Major in Mathematics
The mathematics major allows students to choose from a broad range of offerings from the math department. After completing the required courses, students select three groups for further study and must complete 2 courses from each selected group, as well as two additional electives.
Students may also wish to consider one of the four concentrations offered by the department, or the major in computer and mathematical sciences.
Mathematics Major Requirements
All Mathematics majors must take the following required courses.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MATH 265 | ELEMENTARY LINEAR ALGEBRA | 4 |
| MATH 267 | INTRODUCTION TO ABSTRACT MATHEMATICS | 4 |
| MATH 273 | CALCULUS I | 4 |
| MATH 274 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| MATH 275 | CALCULUS III | 4 |
| Total Units | 20 | |
In addition to the 20 units of common requirements for all Mathematics majors, students who do not choose one of the four available concentrations are required to complete 43-48 additional units for a total of 63-68 units. All courses must be completed with a grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher. MATH 490 or MATH 499, and minimum six additional upper (300-400) level courses in the major must be taken at Towson University.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| COSC 236 | INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 331 | PROBABILITY | 4 |
| MATH 369 | INTRODUCTION TO ABSTRACT ALGEBRA | 4 |
| MATH 372 | REAL ANALYSIS I | 4 |
| MATH 490 | SENIOR SEMINAR IN MATHEMATICS 2 | 3 |
| or MATH 499 | HONORS THESIS IN MATHEMATICS | |
| Group Requirements | ||
| Select minimum three groups from the nine listed below (Algebra, Analysis, Applications, Discrete Math, Education Finance, Geometry/Topology, Numerics, and Statistics) and complete minimum two courses from each group. Algebra or Analysis must be chosen as one of the groups. | 18-21 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select any two additional courses from the nine groups listed below. Maximum one elective course may be from the list of Application Electives in the Applications Group. | 6-8 | |
| Total Units | 43-48 | |
- 1
- 2
MATH 499 is open to students completing the departmental honors program. MATH 490 or MATH 499 must be taken at Towson University.
Groups
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra | ||
| MATH 463 | LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| MATH 465 | NUMBER THEORY | 3 |
| MATH 467 | ALGEBRAIC STRUCTURES | 3 |
| Analysis | ||
| MATH 379 | FOURIER ANALYSIS WITH APPLICATIONS | 3 |
| MATH 472 | REAL ANALYSIS II | 3 |
| MATH 475 | COMPLEX ANALYSIS | 3 |
| Applications | ||
| MATH 374 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | 3 |
| MATH 377 | MATHEMATICAL MODELS | 3 |
| Application Electives (maximum one course may be applied to major) | 3-4 | |
| GENETICS | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY | ||
| DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHM ANALYSIS | ||
| INTRODUCTORY MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS | ||
| MODERN PHYSICS I | ||
| MECHANICS | ||
| ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM | ||
| SIMULATION AND GAMES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | ||
| RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| Discrete Math | ||
| MATH 314 | INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGRAPHY | 3 |
| MATH 315 | APPLIED COMBINATORICS | 4 |
| MATH 451 | GRAPH THEORY | 3 |
| Education (courses have additional prerequisites and/or may require departmental permission to enroll) | ||
| MATH 310 | FUNCTIONS AND MODELING FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS | 3 |
| MATH 420 | APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS | 3 |
| MATH 423 | TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS | 3 |
| Finance | ||
| MATH 312 | THEORY OF INTEREST | 4 |
| MATH 485 | MATHEMATICAL FINANCE | 3 |
| MATH 486 | RISK MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL ENGINEERING | 3 |
| Geometry/Topology | ||
| MATH 353 | EUCLIDEAN AND NON-EUCLIDEAN GEOMETRIES | 3 |
| MATH 457 | DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRY | 3 |
| MATH 477 | TOPOLOGY | 3 |
| Numerics | ||
| MATH 435 | NUMERICAL ANALYSIS I | 3 |
| MATH 437 | OPERATIONS RESEARCH | 3 |
| MATH 439 | COMPUTATIONAL PROBABILITY MODELS | 3 |
| Statistics | ||
| MATH 332 | MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS | 3 |
| MATH 337 | APPLIED REGRESSION AND TIME SERIES PREDICTIVE MODELING | 4 |
| MATH 438 | FUNDAMENTALS OF LONG-TERM ACTUARIAL MATHEMATICS | 4 |
Departmental Honors Program
The Department of Mathematics offers a departmental honors program for students who demonstrate exemplary abilities in mathematics. The program provides students with an opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors in an individual program of research, directed readings and independent study.
Graduation with departmental honors requires a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.33, and successful completion of a two-course research sequence and an honors thesis in mathematics (MATH 499). Departmental honors will be posted to the transcript shortly after the bachelor’s degree is conferred.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Coursework for Departmental Honors in Mathematics | ||
| Research Sequence, Select one of the following: | 6 | |
| READINGS IN MATHEMATICS and RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS | ||
| READINGS IN MATH EDUCATION and INDEPENDENT STUDY: RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION | ||
| APPLIED MATHEMATICS LABORATORY I and APPLIED MATHEMATICS LABORATORY II | ||
| Thesis Requirement | ||
| MATH 499 | HONORS THESIS IN MATHEMATICS | 1 |
| Total Units | 7 | |
Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MATH 273 (Core 3) | 4 | COSC 2361 | 4 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | MATH 265 | 4 |
| Core 4 | 3 | MATH 274 | 4 |
| Core 5 | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MATH 267 | 4 | MATH 331 | 4 |
| MATH 275 | 4 | Math Elective | 3-4 |
| Core 6 | 3 | Core 8 | 3-4 |
| Core 7 | 3-4 | Core 9 | 3 |
| Core 10 | 3 | ||
| 14-15 | 16-18 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MATH 369 | 4 | MATH 372 | 4 |
| MATH First Group (Algebra or Analysis) Course | 3 | MATH First Group (Algebra or Analysis) Course | 3 |
| MATH Second Group Course | 3-4 | MATH Third Group Course | 3-4 |
| Core 11 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Core 12 | 3 | Core 13 | 3 |
| 16-17 | 16-17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MATH Second Group Course | 3-4 | MATH 490 or 499 | 3 |
| MATH Third Group Course | 3-4 | MATH Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Core 14 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15-17 | 15 | ||
| Total Units 120-127 | |||
- Demonstrate knowledge of the properties of numbers and sets.
- Demonstrate skills and knowledge of appropriate technology used in solving mathematical problems.
- Demonstrate skills and knowledge of the basic concepts of calculus.
- Demonstrate skills and knowledge of linear and abstract algebra.
- Demonstrate skills and knowledge of basic probability and/or statistics.