Mathematics: Liberal Arts

The Mathematics: Liberal Arts Program Planner is available online. It may also be useful to read the General Advising Information for Math Majors. In addition, you may want to print out a copy of the four-year planner the department has prepared for you Mathematics: Liberal Arts 4-yr planner. However, following the list of requirements below will ensure that all graduation requirements are met.

An Honors program is available for Mathematics: Liberal Arts majors . More information can be found at Mathematics: Liberal Arts Honors.

First Seminar Course (1 unit)

All students must take a first seminar course in their first year. If the First Seminar is in Category 1 or 2 of the Liberal Learning areas (see below), it will count towards that area’s requirements. The writing intensive First Seminar satisfies one of the writing requirement in (3).

Academic Writing Requirement (1 unit, possibly 0)

A student must either take WRI 102: Academic Writing or be exempted from it.

Additional Writing Experiences

In addition to the academic writing requirement in (2), students must take three writing intensive courses. One of these courses is the First Seminar listed in (1) above. The second writing requirement is satisfied with MAT 205. The third course is the senior capstone course which is listed in (8) below.

Second Language Requirement (3 units possibly 0, 1 or 2)

You must complete the language requirement at the 103 level or higher. Also, if you took four or more years of a language in high school and continue with this language and you are placed at the 101 level, then the 101 level course will NOT count towards the 32 units required for graduation.

Science Courses (2 units)

Any natural science courses in the approved list. At least one course must have a laboratory section and at least one course must be in physics.

Other Liberal Learning Courses (6 units, possibly 5)

Six courses must be taken to satisfy the requirements of Category 1 and 2 of the Liberal Learning requirements. If the First Seminar is chosen in these areas, only five other courses will need to be taken to satisfy these requirements.

Information Literacy

IDS 102 is a required online, non-credit course administered by the library staff. Students must meet this proficiency prior to graduation, but are encouraged to do so as early as possible.

Courses in the Major (12 units)

MAT 099 Orientation for Math/Stat Majors 0
MAT 128 Calculus B 1
MAT 200 Proof Writing through Discrete Mathematics 1
MAT 229 Multivariable Calculus 1
MAT 205 Linear Algebra: Theory and Applications 1
MAT 305 Abstract Algebra 1
MAT 310 Real Analysis 1
MAT 320 Complex Variables 1
MAT 498 Senior Capstone Course (writing intensive) 0
Mathematics Options 5

The five Mathematics Options may be any MAT course at the 300/400 level , with at least two courses at the 400 level. MAT 498: Senior Capstone Course is not offered as a standard course but like an independent study and must be arranged with an advisor in the department and the department chair a semester in advance.

Note: It is recommended that sophomores take MAT 301: Number Theory in preparation for MAT 305: Abstract Algebra.

Free Electives (5 to 7 units, depending on choices above)

These are courses that students can take without having to meet any requirements. You must take enough electives so that you meet the graduation requirement of 32 total units. You may opt to use these free electives to satisfy the requirements of a minor of your choice, or if you have plans for graduate school to take further upper level courses in the major.

Note: If course requirements such as WRI 102 or second language are waived through placement or other means, then electives should be substituted to meet the 32 course unit total.

Liberal Learning Requirements

The Liberal Learning system defines graduation requirements in a broad set of learning categories. As a Mathematics: Liberal Arts major, the Natural Science and Quantitative Reasoning Requirement is automatically met. The other requirements are listed below. Please note that it is possible for a course to fulfill a requirement in more than one category. For example, the course “The Evolution of Middle Eastern Women Writers” would satisfy the Gender requirement (Category 5), the Global Perspectives requirement (Category 4) as well as count as 1 unit towards the Category 1a requirement. However, a course can satisfy at most two of the requirements in Categories 3-6.

Liberal Learning Categories

  • Arts and Humanities (3 units required)
    • Literary, Visual and Performing Arts (at least 1 unit)
    • World Views and Ways of Knowing (at least 1 unit)
  • Social Sciences and History (3 units required)
    • Behavioral, Social or Cultural Perspectives (at least 1 unit)
    • Social Change in Historical Perspective (at least 1 unit)
  • 3. Race and Ethnicity (1 unit/program/experience required)
  • 4. Global Perspectives (1 unit/program/experience required)
  • 5. Gender (1 unit/program/experience required)
  • 6. Community Engaged learning (1 unit/program/experience required)

Note: Categories 3, 4, 5 & 6 may be met through courses, programs, or other experiences.

Mathematics Options

  • MAT 301 Number Theory
  • MAT 315 Topics in Linear Algebra
  • MAT 316 Probability
  • MAT 318 Mathematical Statistics
  • MAT 326 Differential Equations
  • MAT 331 Numerical Methods
  • MAT 351 Geometry
  • MAT 370 Topics in Mathematics
  • MAT 391 Independent Study in Mathematics
  • MAT 392 Guided Study in Math
  • MAT 393 Independent Research in Math
  • MAT 399 Internship in Mathematics
  • MAT 403 Advanced Calculus
  • MAT 405 Topology
  • MAT 407 Projective Geometry
  • MAT 440 Mathematical Logic
  • MAT 451 Seminar in Algebra
  • MAT 452 Seminar in Geometry and Topology
  • MAT 453 Seminar in Analysis
  • MAT 454 Seminar in Applied Mathematics
  • MAT 470 Topics in Mathematics
  • MAT 492 Guided Study in Mathematics II
  • MAT 493 Independent Research II in Mathematics
  • MAT 494 Independent Study in Mathematics II