Prospective Students

Meet our Math Alumni!

In addition to being a world-renowned program—boasting some of the most distinguished names in the various sub-disciplines of mathematics—Rutgers Mathematics prepares majors to join an increasingly competitive workforce and/or to pursue higher degrees at some of the world’s most prestigious universities.

Rutgers Mathematics also offers courses for non-majors pursuing majors in business, physical sciences, social sciences, humanities, pre-med, etc. In addition to fulfilling requirements for graduation, mathematics helps these students prepare for real-world jobs where training in mathematics and the accompanying intellectual development are among employers’ most widely sought skills.

From remedial courses through the department’s actuarial track or our five year undergraduate/graduate programs like Mathematical Finance, the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences Mathematics Department helps students explore the discipline of mathematics, while the department creates a “home” for new and continuing students.

Profiles of Noteworthy Rutgers Mathematics Graduates

Pre-college students looking for enrichment may be interested in the activities described on our outreach page.
Students interested in applying for admission to the School of Arts and Sciences should consult the SAS admissions website and may be interested in arranging a tour of Rutgers (Visitor Center).

The Math Major and Minor

Detailed information about the math major, math minor, interdisciplinary majors involving mathematics, five-year combined BA/MA programs, and our honors programs can be found using the links in the Undergraduate Menu on the right.

The mathematics major is often combined with another major or minor in a related (or not so obviously related) field such as economics, statistics, physics, or business. A mathematics major may lead to such careers at Actuary, Banking, Brokerage, Computing, Consulting, Cryptography, Education, Employee training, Environment, Finance, Insurance, Logistics, Management, Operations Research, Pension Funds, Public Health, Quality Control, Research Support, Statistical Analysis, Tax Policy, Weather Prediction, and many others (see the Careers entry in the Undergraduate Menu for more). There are three options within the standard mathematics major:

Standard option
Honors Track option (more rigorous and more personalized)
Actuarial Track (for students aiming to join the actuarial profession)

In addition to the the actuarial track, currently an option within the mathematics major, there are interdisciplinary majors, some organized around a 5-year program leading to a Masters Degree.

Biomathematics (curriculum code 122)
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Stat-Math interdisciplinary major
Mathematics Education (5-year BA/MA program)

For more information on this topic consult the Interdisciplinary Majors and Five-Year BA-MA links in the Undergraduate Menu.

Choosing Courses to Fit Your Career Goals

Given the very wide range of careers open to mathematics majors It is impossible to make a single, rigid list of the courses a mathematics major should take. Experience has suggested, however, certain combinations that offer good choices for students who already have some idea of the type of program they would like to pursue. We strongly recommend that students majoring in mathematics, or considering the major, review the advice given in the link below, and also consult with the Mathematics Advisor on a regular basis.

The department also recommends that each mathematics major take at least one two-semester sequence of two mathematically oriented courses in some related discipline, such as Computer Science, Physics, or Statistics. Students in 5-year dual-degree programs should refer to the corresponding list of recommended courses.

Computer Science
The introductory course most suitable for math majors is 01:198:107. This course, or an equivalent, is required by the mathematics major.
Physics
Students begin with either 01:750:123-124 (taken by physics majors), 01:750:271-272-273 (honors sequence, physics department permission required), or 01:750:203-204. After taking the introductory sequence, one possible choice would be 01:750:323-324. Students who did well in the first courses and want to study physics seriously should instead take either 01:750:381-382 (Mechanics) or 01:750:385-386(Electromagnetism). Students of analysis will find the electromagnetics sequence particularly illuminating.
Statistics
Sophomores interested in statistics courses can take 01:960:379-380. Students who have taken Math 477-481 should omit Stat 379. Stat 380 is an applied statistics course which may be taken after Math 481, although either Stat 381 or Math 481 satisfies the prerequisite for upper-level statistics courses. Recommended upper-level courses include Stat 463, 476, 486, and 490.
Credit is not given for both Stat 381-382 and Math 477-481; however, either of those sequences may follow 01:960:379-380. Among these courses, only those with subject code 640 count towards the major or minor in mathematics.

Special Opportunities

See the links in the Undergraduate Menu for a discussion of the ways to enrich your mathematics program: Honors (including the possibility of taking graduate courses as an undergraduate); Awards, Prizes, and Scholarships; and Research opportunities (summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates, and Independent Study).

General Information

The Department of Mathematics is part of the School of Arts and Sciences

As a Math major in the School of Arts and Sciences, you’ll have full access to a liberal arts education that spans 47 programs for undergraduates. You will acquire both the specialized knowledge of the field you choose to study in depth, and broad knowledge of the world from the renowned scholar-teachers at Rutgers. You’ll graduate ready to meet contemporary challenges in your workplace, in your hometown, and in the global community.

Visit Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences Website

Contacts

Undergraduate Menu

Undergraduate Quicklinks