Course Planning by Track

This page offers track-specific guidance on course sequencing. See also:

• Prerequisite Dependency Infographic
• Sample 4-Year Plans (Google Drive, one spreadsheet per catalog year, with tabs for each track and 4+1 option)

• Complete Math 330 (Number Systems) as soon as possible — no later than your fourth semester, preferably your third.
• Finish Math 304 (Linear Algebra), Math 323 (Calculus III), and Math 330 before advancing to upper-level courses (MATH courses above 330).
• A grade of C or better is required for a course to count toward the major and to satisfy prerequisites. If you do not earn C or better in a required course twice, you will be automatically dropped from the major.
• Prerequisite requirements are strictly enforced — you will be automatically dropped from a course if you did not earn C or better in its prerequisite.
• Meet with your assigned faculty advisor regularly.
• Plan to take two math courses per semester on average.
• Make a contingency plan — what will you do if you need to retake a course?
• Get involved. The Math Club, Actuarial Association, Association for Women in Mathematics, and Pi Mu Epsilon honor society chapter are good ways to connect with peers and learn about opportunities.

1. Finish the five lower-level courses (Calculus series, 304, 330).
2. Take one course from each of analysis, algebra, and geometry/topology.
3. Take two more upper-level courses, as long as they are not both from the same group.
4. Within the five upper-level courses, ensure there is a qualifying pair as specified in the Academic Guide.

The BS requires more upper-level and proof-oriented courses including Real Analysis I & II (Math 478/479), Modern Algebra (Math 401), and Topology (Math 461). If you are aiming at graduate school in mathematics, this is the recommended track. Consult the Academic Guide for the full requirements.

• Take Math 346 (Intro Financial Math), Math 447 (Probability Theory), and Math 448 (Mathematical Statistics) as soon as possible — they are prerequisites for many electives.
• It is too late to take Math 448 in your senior year.
• The Actuarial track also requires Econ 160 and Econ 162; the BS additionally requires Econ 360 and Econ 362. Plan these into your first two years.
• Consider taking School of Management VEE courses if you can — they are not required but useful for actuarial exam preparation.

• Take Math 447 (Probability Theory), Math 448 (Mathematical Statistics), and Math 445 (Principles of Data Science) or Math 446 (Scientific Computing in Python) as soon as possible. It is too late to take these in your senior year.
• Math 455 (Regression Models) and Math 457 (Intro to Statistical Learning) are core to this track — plan to take them in your third year.