Mathematics

Overview

Mathematics, encompassing several of the original liberal arts, is valued for its exquisite intellectual beauty and its timeless exploration of all things spatial, quantitative and patterned through the lens of rigorous abstraction. As a vibrant modern science, it possesses an unparalleled analytical power for describing, detailing and deriving insight into numerous physical, biological, technological, economic and societal aspects of the world we all live in. The Mathematics department is committed to engaging a diverse range of students in the active study and creative application of the principles, ideas, and methods that characterize mathematics and the mathematical sciences, and offering preparation toward a wide variety of careers and educational pursuits.

Upon graduation, some mathematics majors go on to graduate or professional school while others begin careers in teaching, business, industry, or government. The major can be structured to provide a solid foundation in the mathematical sciences-pure and applied mathematics, statistics, and operations research-and fields close to mathematics like computer science, actuarial science, and engineering. A major or minor in mathematics can also provide an excellent technical and theoretical complement to a major or minor in other fields.

Requirements

Major

The minimum requirements for the major outlined below allow a student great flexibility in designing a course of study to meet their own intellectual and career goals.

Fundamental courses

Advanced Courses

All students must complete either MATH 310 or MATH 320, and twenty additional units units of Mathematics courses numbered 310 or above (excluding courses being used to satisfy the Comprehensive Requirement).  MATH 397 may be used to meet this requirement.

Colloquium Requirement

Breadth requirement

Students must take one course from the following approved list of courses (students can petition the department to have a course not on the list count for the breadth requirement): 

The Mathematics department has prepared guidelines for majors considering future study or careers in pure and applied mathematics, education, actuarial science, and computer science. These guidelines are available in the Students section on our website.

Honors in the Major

Students who wish to be considered for honors in Mathematics should have a grade point average of at least at a 3.5 in the fundamental courses. Honors students must also complete three approved upper-division courses beyond those required for the major by the end of their senior year (for a total of 36 units). Honors students must obtain signed approval from a mentor by the end of the junior year, and must enroll in MATH 499 for the fall semester of senior year. For  Honors students, MATH 499 is substituted for MATH 400 in satisfying the major requirements. To receive honors, a student must write a paper as well as give a talk to the department on the topic of the paper.  The paper, which typically will be 20 pages long, is graded by the mentor along with a second reader; the entire department evaluates the talk, which is typically at least 30 minutes long.  The paper and talk must both be completed no later than April 1 of the Honors candidate's senior year.  Consult the Mathematics Department for additional details.

Minor

The minor in Mathematics requires at least 20 units of Mathematics courses. Students must successfully complete each of MATH 210 or MATH 211, MATH 212, and MATH 214 in order to graduate with a Mathematics minor.  Additionally, students must complete eight more units of mathematics courses numbered 150 or above with at least four units numbered above 300 taken at Occidental or through college transfer credit. Students are required to take at least eight units at Occidental College.

Second-Stage Writing

Students majoring in Mathematics should familiarize themselves with this requirement at the time of declaring the major. The Second-Stage Writing Requirement is addressed in MATH 300. Students not taking MATH 300(e.g., study abroad students) may petition to satisfy the writing requirement at a different time. 

Students satisfy the Second-Stage Writing Requirement in Mathematics by creating and submitting a portfolio of papers on mathematical topics in MATH 300 that is evaluated by the Instructor as earning a letter grade of C or higher.

Students that fail to satisfy the Second-Stage Writing Requirement in Mathematics in MATH 300 have to submit a portfolio to the department chair before the start of the Senior year that is evaluated as earning a letter grade of C or higher.

Comprehensive Requirement

The comprehensive requirement in Mathematics has two parts. 

The first part is the successful completion of MATH 300: Junior Colloquium.  The second part requires successful completion for a letter grade for a total of four units in one or more of the following:

MATH 395 (Special Topics in Advanced Mathematics) 

MATH 400 (Senior Seminar) 

MATH 497 (Independent Study) 

MATH 499 (Honors Senior Seminar)

A student wishing to complete the senior comprehensive requirements through MATH 497 or MATH 499 must find a faculty member in the Mathematics Department willing to supervise the independent study/honors thesis. 

A student who successfully completes both parts of the Comprehensive requirement will receive a grade of P. To pass the comprehensive requirements with distinction a student must give a 20 minute talk and submit a 10-page paper that more than one faculty member evaluate as being distinctive. The paper and talk must be in the context of any of the courses  that fulfill the comprehensive requirement (MATH 395 or MATH 397 or MATH 400 or MATH 499).

Further information is available from the department.