Mathematics, Bachelor of Arts
To obtain a B.A. with a major in Mathematics, a student must fulfill university, college, and departmental requirements. Minimum hour requirements follow:
- 46 hours of University General Education courses (Testing out of academic skills requirements and enrolling in General Education courses that meet both distribution and diversity requirements are likely to reduce the total number of General Education hours to 40 or fewer.)
- 16 hours foreign language requirement
- 12 hours college breadth requirement
- 47 hours of major courses
- Elective hours as required to total 120 hours
TOTAL HOURS: 120
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Required (Core Curriculum) | ||
| MATH 1950 | CALCULUS I | 5 |
| MATH 1960 | CALCULUS II | 5 |
| MATH 1970 | CALCULUS III | 4 |
| MATH 2050 | APPLIED LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| MATH 2230 | INTRODUCTION TO ABSTRACT MATH | 3 |
| MATH 2350 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | 3 |
| MATH 3230 | INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS | 3 |
| Select two of the following: 1 | 6 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE II | ||
| MATHEMATICAL COMPUTING I | ||
| MATHEMATICAL COMPUTING II | ||
| Additional Coursework: Concentration or No Concentration Option | ||
| An additional 15 credits of approved upper-level MATH/STAT courses which must include at least 9 credits at the 4000 level | 15 | |
| Suggested Upper Division Specialty Areas May Include: | ||
Applied Mathematics | ||
Computer Science | ||
Data Science | ||
Education | ||
Operations Research | ||
Statistics | ||
Traditional Mathematics | ||
| B.A. Degree Additional Requirements | ||
| Foreign language through the intermediate level. | ||
| Total Credits | 47 | |
| 1 |
Additional Requirements
- Exit Interview.
Data Science Concentration
This concentration is recommended for students interested in a career as a Data Science professional or pursuing graduate study in disciplines with a strong data analysis component. Data Science is the art and science of transforming raw data into deliverable data products in order to help businesses or government agencies make more informed decisions.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Level Courses | ||
| The 15 credits of upper-level courses must include: | ||
| MATH 4740 | INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS I | 3 |
| MATH 4750 | INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS II | 3 |
| STAT 4410 | INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE | 3 |
| STAT 4420 | EXPLORATORY DATA VISUALIZATION AND QUANTIFICATION | 3 |
| Select one of the following elective courses: | 3 | |
| DETERMINISTIC OPERATIONS RESEARCH MODELS | ||
| PROBABILISTIC OPERATIONS RESEARCH MODELS | ||
| LINEAR MODELS | ||
| TIME SERIES ANALYSIS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MACHINE LEARNING AND DATA MINING | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Mathematics Education Concentration
This concentration is recommended for students interested in pursuing a career in Secondary Education. In some cases it is possible to earn a B.S. or a B.A. in Math and a B.S. in Secondary Education
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The 15 credits of upper-level courses must include: | ||
| MATH 3640 | MODERN GEOMETRY | 3 |
| MATH 3850 | HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS | 3 |
| MATH 4030 | MODERN ALGEBRA | 3 |
| MATH 4740 | INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS I | 3 |
| Select one of the following elective courses: | 3 | |
| APPLIED COMBINATORICS | ||
| NUMBER THEORY & CRYPTOGRAPHY | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Second Computing Course
This concentration also requires the following course, which counts as the Math major's second computing course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MTCH 4800 | MATHEMATICS EDUCATION CAPSTONE | 3 |
Additional Requirement
Students must include the following Educator Preparation Program Requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TED 2100 | EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS | 3 |
| TED 2200 | HUMAN RELATIONS FOR BIAS-FREE CLASSROOMS | 3 |
| TED 2380 | DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING IN ADOLESCENCE | 3 |
| TED 2400 | PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING | 6 |
| TED 3550 | SECONDARY CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| SPED 3800 | DIFFERENTIATION AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES | 3 |
| TED 3690 | LITERACY AND LEARNING | 3 |
| TED 4000 | SPECIAL METHODS IN THE CONTENT AREA | 3 |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| For those who want a Nebraska Math 6-12 Teaching Certificate: | ||
| TED 4600 | CLINICAL PRACTICE AND SEMINAR: ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY LEVEL 1 | 12 |
| 1 | These requirements also fulfill the College of Arts & Sciences breadth requirement. |
Pre-Actuarial Math Concentration
This concentration is recommended for students interested in a career as an Actuary and who plan on taking the Actuarial exams.
An actuary evaluates the financial impact of risk by evaluating the likelihood of future events, designing creative ways to reduce the likelihood of undesirable events, and decreasing the impact of undesirable events that do occur.
Actuaries work for insurance companies, government, and consulting firms. In the Actuarial profession you can earn while you learn. Many students receive on-the-job training while enrolled in the examination process. Employers are generally supportive and may give students study time during working hours, pay exam fees, and award raises for each exam passed. However, most employers prefer to hire people who have started the series of examinations on their own and have already passed at least two or three.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The 15 credits of upper-level courses must include: | ||
| MATH 3400 | THEORY OF INTEREST | 3 |
| MATH 4740 | INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS I | 3 |
| MATH 4750 | INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS II | 3 |
| STAT 4440 | TIME SERIES ANALYSIS | 3 |
| MATH/CSCI 4310 | PROBABILISTIC OPERATIONS RESEARCH MODELS | 3 |
| or STAT 4430 | LINEAR MODELS | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Operations Research Concentration
This concentration is recommended for students interested in a career as an Operations Research Analyst or in pursuing a graduate degree in Operations Research or a related field.
The broad real-world applicability of Operations Research makes it an attractive choice for Math majors. In Operations Research courses students get a solid background in mathematical modeling of decision-making problems, algorithms for solving different types of these problems, as well as experience using appropriate software tools.
Operations Research is the application of advanced analytical methods to enable better decision making. A plethora of problems may be solved using Operations Research; among these are (1) determining the route a delivery truck should take in order to make all deliveries while traveling the fewest number of miles; (2) determining the best location for a new facility such as a fire station; (3) scheduling airline flights and crew; and (4) determining the optimal distribution of bicycles in a bike sharing system. Operations Research includes problem-solving methods such as deterministic and stochastic optimization, machine learning, and simulation.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The 15 hours of upper-level courses must include: | ||
| MATH/CSCI 4300 | DETERMINISTIC OPERATIONS RESEARCH MODELS | 3 |
| MATH/CSCI 4310 | PROBABILISTIC OPERATIONS RESEARCH MODELS | 3 |
| MATH 4320 | COMPUTATIONAL OPERATIONS RESEARCH | 3 |
| MATH 4740 | INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS I | 3 |
| or STAT 3800 | APPLIED ENGINEERING PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| GRAPH THEORY & APPLICATIONS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS II | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDIES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE | ||
| EXPLORATORY DATA VISUALIZATION AND QUANTIFICATION | ||
| LINEAR MODELS | ||
| TIME SERIES ANALYSIS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MACHINE LEARNING AND DATA MINING | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Research Experience Concentration
This concentration is recommended for students interested in independent work and for students planning to pursue graduate work in Mathematics.
The 15 credits of upper-level courses must include the following 3 courses, not more than 3 credits of Independent Study, and an approved Research Experience.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 4050 | LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| MATH 4110 | ABSTRACT ALGEBRA I | 3 |
| MATH 4230 | MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS I | 3 |
| Independent Study | 3 | |
| Research Experience | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Approved Research Experience
A variety of options exist for meeting this requirement. They include 1) Research experiences such as an REU or FUSE that lead to a project paper, or 2) senior honors thesis leading to graduation with distinction. To satisfy this concentration, students must complete a Research Experience contract that is approved by the Math Department Curriculum Committee and submit the thesis or research paper required by the contract. Visit with the Chair of the Math Department for more information.
Statistics Concentration
This concentration is recommended for students interested in the theoretical and practical aspects of Statistics, particularly those students who are interested in pursuing graduate study in Statistics or Biostatistics.
Statistics, the study of data, is of growing importance. Students who have the skills to properly collect, analyze, interpret, and present data are in high demand around the country.
The objectives of this concentration are: (1) to gain an understanding of the mathematical underpinnings of statistics; (2) to use appropriate statistical modeling to solve practical problems; (3) to develop an understanding of how to use statistical software; (4) to communicate statistical results to non-statisticians.
Statistics is used in a many fields, including biology, sociology, psychology, medicine, economics, quality control, and sports. This diversity, along with the growing need for people with statistical knowledge makes it an attractive choice for mathematics students.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The 15 credits of upper-level courses must include: | ||
| MATH 4740 | INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS I | 3 |
| MATH 4750 | INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS II | 3 |
| Select three of the following, with at least two from group A: | 9 | |
Group A: | ||
| EXPLORATORY DATA VISUALIZATION AND QUANTIFICATION | ||
| LINEAR MODELS | ||
| TIME SERIES ANALYSIS | ||
Group B: | ||
| APPLIED COMBINATORICS | ||
| PROBABILISTIC OPERATIONS RESEARCH MODELS | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDIES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MACHINE LEARNING AND DATA MINING | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Computational Mathematics Concentration
This concentration is recommended for students interested in Computational Science, particularly those students who are interested in pursuing graduate study in Applied and Computational Mathematics at the graduate level.
A Concentration in Computational Mathematics may be useful in a wide range of areas including Science, Engineering, Government, Health Care, Business, and Information Technology. The specialization in Computational Mathematics is designed for students with a strong interest in Mathematics and in mathematical applications to areas of Science and Engineering. By choosing elective courses carefully, students completing this specialization will be prepared for a career in a variety of Computing and/or Engineering areas. Students will also be prepared to continue on to a graduate program in Applied Mathematics.
Computational Mathematics involves the use of math and computers to solve problems and predict outcomes. The concentration in Computational Mathematics is intended for any student who is interested in applications to solving practical and physical problems in Engineering, Science, and Business. This concentration is also recommended for students who wish to work in the research and development area of industry. The concentration is especially intended for students seeking a career as Quantitative Analysts, Computational Scientists, and Applied Mathematicians, and for those thinking of continuing the study of Applied and Computational Mathematics at the graduate level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The 15 credits of upper-level courses must include: | ||
| MATH/CSCI 3300 | NUMERICAL METHODS | 3 |
| MATH 4330 | INTRODUCTION TO PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | 3 |
| MATH 4900 | INDEPENDENT STUDIES 1 | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| LINEAR ALGEBRA | ||
| MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS I | ||
| MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS II | ||
| ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | ||
| FINITE ELEMENT METHODS FOR SOLVING ORDINARY AND PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | ||
| APPLIED ENGINEERING PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| 1 | Independent Study must be related to Computational Mathematics, developed and supervised by the advisor. |
Pure Mathematics Concentration
What do UNO Alumni Chief Operating Officer Matt Culek of Citadel Securities, Senior Industrial Logician Andrew Gacek of Rockwell Collins, Microsoft Data Scientist Daniel Miller and University of Toronto Post-doc Melissa Emory have in common? They sought out the strongest foundation in mathematics available here at UNO, taking the courses required for the Pure Mathematics Concentration.
This concentration is strongly recommended for students interested in a pursuing a graduate degree in mathematics, but as indicated above, is highly recommended for any student interested in getting the most out of their mathematics major.
Students pursuing a graduate degree are expected to have a strong foundation based in analysis, topology, and abstract algebra. This is what this concentration provides.
Challenging yourself has other advantages. Matt Culek credits his ability to trouble-shoot proposals brought to him by quantitative analysts at Citadel Securities to the habits of thought developed in his undergraduate course in number theory here at UNO.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 15 credits of upper-level courses in this concentration must include the following 3 courses: | 9 | |
| LINEAR ALGEBRA (3 credits) | ||
| ABSTRACT ALGEBRA I (3 credits) | ||
| MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS I (3 credits) | ||
| Choose 2 of the following 5 courses: | 6 | |
| ABSTRACT ALGEBRA II (3 credits) | ||
| MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS II (3 credits) | ||
| COMPLEX VARIABLES (3 credits) | ||
| NUMBER THEORY & CRYPTOGRAPHY (3 credits) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO TOPOLOGY (3 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |