Major Requirements
The major consists of 37 hours in twelve courses divided into four categories: (1) core courses, (2) courses for breadth, (3) courses for depth, and (4) additional courses (to reach 37 hours). Note: Courses used for depth (3) may also be used for breadth (2).
Honors Concentration
The Mathematics Department Honors Program offers highly talented students an accelerated curricular path that permits them to enroll in graduate-level mathematics courses as early as the junior year, providing excellent preparation for graduate school or competitive careers in mathematics or related areas. In mathematics, unlike many other fields, graduate students are generally supported by graduate assistantships or fellowships that pay tuition plus an annual living stipend. In recent years, 100% of math honors graduates who have applied for a math graduate assistantship have received at least one offer to a very good graduate school. Other graduates have continued to graduate school in computer science, economics, education, finance, law, medicine, and statistics.
In addition to a more rapid curriculum, the honors program offers enhanced academic advising and opportunities for students to interact with their peers through the Undergraduate Honors Seminar (MATH 497 ) in which honors students will discuss their theses and other undergraduate research projects.
For purposes of the mathematics honors requirements, the upper-division mathematics GPA (MGPA) consists of the GPA for all courses numbered MATH 300-475, except MATH 309 and MATH 399 , and all graduate courses numbered MATH 510 or higher. If the student has completed more than 8 such courses then the MGPA is calculated using the 8 highest grades for those courses.
Any student may declare the Math Honors Concentration after having earned a grade of A- or better in MATH 300 or MATH 307 , as long as his/her MGPA is at least 3.4 and overall GPA is at least 3.25. The mathematics honors concentration must be declared prior to the last 60 hours of undergraduate enrollment (usually this means prior to the beginning of the junior year). The 60 hours requirement may be waived for students having a large number of transfer, AP, or other credits not earned at the University of Tennessee.
To continue as a mathematics major with honors concentration the student must:
- Maintain a 3.4 or higher cumulative MGPA. (Any mathematics honors student whose cumulative MGPA drops below 3.4 in a given semester may keep the honors concentration provided the cumulative MGPA returns to 3.4 after the subsequent semester and remains above 3.4 until graduation.)
- Attend at least three mathematics-related public lectures (such as the Mathematics Junior Colloquium or a departmental seminar) during each semester.
- Make adequate progress towards completing the mathematics honors thesis at least one full semester prior to graduation.
The requirements to graduate with honors in mathematics are the same as those for the mathematics major except the total requirement is 38 hours and includes:
- For Depth (3), complete 2 pairings, one of which must be an honors sequence (MATH 447 -MATH 448 , MATH 457 -MATH 458 ) or a math graduate sequence.
- Graduate with an overall GPA of at least 3.25 and an MGPA of at least 3.4.
- Complete at least 4 hours of MATH 497 .
- Complete at least 3 hours of MATH 498 and submit a completed thesis at least 30 calendar days prior to the end of the final semester of enrollment.
- Complete a total of 24 hours of honors courses or mathematics courses numbered 510 or higher (except seminars), which may include courses used to fulfill other requirements to graduate with a mathematics honors concentration.
Fifth Year Master of Science in Statistics Program
Students may earn a Bachelor of Science with a major in mathematics and a Master of Science with a major in statistics in five years following a similar program as above. For more information, contact the Department of Statistics, Operations and Management Science.
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