Program: Mathematics - Davidson College

Information for Prospective Mathematics Majors and Minors

After MAT 111 or MAT 112 (Calculus I), prospective mathematics majors and minors may take MAT 113 (Calculus II) or MAT 150 (Linear Algebra). Completing MAT 230 by the end of the sophomore year is strongly recommended. Majors normally complete at least one of the fundamental major courses (MAT 315, 330 and 355) by the end of the junior year. A student who places out of a 100-level required course in the major, but without credit for that course, may petition the chair to substitute a course numbered above 200 for the omitted course.

Major Requirements (B.S. Degree)

The major in Mathematics consists of eleven Mathematics or Computer Science courses: MAT 113, MAT 150, MAT 160, MAT 230; two of MAT 315, MAT 330, or MAT
355; five electives from MAT courses numbered above 200 or designated CSC courses, at least two of which must be MAT courses numbered above 300.

Students can apply at most one independent study course toward their major. Such an independent study course cannot be used to satisfy the 300-level MAT elective requirement. Independent study courses related to a senior honors thesis cannot be counted toward the major.

Minor Requirements

A minor in Mathematics consists of six courses: MAT 113, MAT 150, MAT 160, MAT 230; one of MAT 315, MAT 330, or MAT 355 and one additional course from MAT courses numbered above 200 or designated CSC courses.

Unless a specific exception is approved by the department, the required courses above may not include independent studies.

Honors Requirements

Candidates for honors in mathematics may emphasize either pure or applied mathematics. In meeting the major requirements stated above, honors candidates emphasizing pure mathematics must include MAT 330 and 355; two of MAT 331, 340, and 360; one of MAT 320 or 325; and a 400-level MAT class (not an independent study, except by prior approval) in their programs. Coursework for those emphasizing applied mathematics must include MAT 210, 235, and 315; a two-course sequence consisting of MAT 340 and 341, or MAT 320 and 325, or MAT 330 and 331; and one 400-level MAT course (not an independent study, except by prior approval). Additionally, students will undertake two independent study courses with the honors thesis supervisor for work on the honors project itself. All candidates must prepare an honors thesis and defend the thesis orally before the mathematics faculty. Candidates must attain a grade point average of at least 3.2 overall and at least 3.5 on all courses that fulfill either the requirements of the Mathematics major or the course requirements for honors noted above. The final recommendation of the department for graduation with honors is determined by the quality of the candidate’s complete academic record, thesis, and defense. Additionally, the department may choose to confer high honors upon a candidate who displays unusual independence and initiative, develops original results, and clearly and rigorously communicates these via a high-quality thesis and oral defense.

The Department recommends that students interested in an honors program notify their academic advisers and the chair of the department during the spring semester of the sophomore year, or as soon as possible thereafter. During the junior year, such a student should identify an area of mathematics for exploration and seek out a member of the department to serve as a potential honors supervisor. Formal declaration of pursuit of honors is recommended by the end of the advising period in the spring of the junior year and is due by the end of the first week of classes of the senior year. See the honors page on the department website for the appropriate form and further details on the honors process and requirements.

Graduate School

A student who intends to go to graduate school in the mathematical sciences should speak with his or her adviser who may suggest the following: (1) take the course work portion of the honors requirements in either pure mathematics or applied mathematics, (2) take the Graduate Record Examination, including the subject test in Mathematics, during the fall semester of the senior year, and (3) engage in a research experience at Davidson or elsewhere.

Certificate for Secondary School Teaching

Students interested in teaching mathematics at the secondary school level should consult with Dr. Andrea Duhon (MAT/CSC) and/or a faculty member in Educational Studies. We recommend that those students take the following mathematics courses: MAT 110, 210, 340, 353, 355, 365, and 105 or 341.

Related Majors and Minors

The Applied Mathematics Interdisciplinary Minor offers a track for students interested primarily in the Natural Sciences and another track for students interested primarily in the Social Sciences.

Students interested in computer science, a field closely related to mathematics and also administered by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, are encouraged to consider the Computer Science Major and Minor, described in detail in a separate section of this catalog. Some computer science courses count toward the mathematics major and minor.

The Data Science Interdisciplinary Minor is open to students who wish to develop skills in using and analyzing data. Math majors choosing to minor in data science will deepen their data management skills and improve their quantitative analysis skills.

Mathematics Courses

The 100-level courses are open to all students with the appropriate background. MAT 105, 108, 110, 111, and 112 assume no calculus background. MAT 111 and 112 each assume a precalculus background - the study of functions and their inverses, including trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions. After Calculus I, students may take MAT 113, MAT 140, or MAT 150. MAT 113 is a continuation of the study of Calculus, focusing on integration and series, while MAT 150 studies the field of Linear Algebra. MAT 140 serves as an introduction to several areas of mathematics, including Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability, Combinatorics and Graph Theory. We recommend that Mathematics majors take either MAT 113 or MAT 150.

The 200-level courses serve as an introduction to upper-level mathematics. Each has a 100-level mathematics prerequisite.

The 300-level courses MAT 315, 330, and 355 are advanced major courses and require 200-level prerequisites. The other 300-level courses are electives for the major, and have one or more prerequisites.

The 400-level courses are recommended for anyone pursuing honors or interested in graduate school in mathematics.

Engineering Dual Degree (3-2) Track

Students seeking to complete the dual degree engineering (3-2) program with a Mathematics major may (with prior approval from the department) omit up to two electives from their major requirements, but must have at least one MAT elective numbered above 300.