2020-21 Pomona College Catalog 
    
    Oct 11, 2024  
2020-21 Pomona College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Use the dropdown above to select the current 2024-25 catalog.

Mathematics Major


Requirements for the Major in Mathematics


The mathematics major is organized by tracks that help students define and explore their interests. Students should work closely with an advisor in the Mathematics Department to select courses.

The mathematics major requires the following:

  1. Single Variable Calculus (MATH 030 PO  and MATH 031 PO )
  2. Multivariable Calculus or Vector Calculus (MATH 032 PO  or MATH 067 PO )
  3. Linear Algebra (MATH 060 PO )
  4. Eight additional upper-division courses within one of the tracks
  5. The senior exercise includes participation in the Seminar in Mathematical Exposition (MATH 190 PO ) and the Senior Thesis (MATH 191 PO ), writing a paper on a mathematical project under the direction of a departmentally approved advisor and the oral presentation of the paper. To be considered for distinction in the senior exercise, a student must produce an excellent senior thesis and, in addition to requirements of the chosen track, must take two or more mathematics courses numbered 120 or above for a letter grade. An excellent thesis will exhibit qualities including, but not limited to: (i) substantial mathematical content, either original research or exposition of an advanced topic; (ii) lucid accurate writing; (iii) appropriate mathematical and historical context; (iv) coherent intellectual organization.
  6. All math majors (including double majors) must have a math professor as one of their academic advisors.

Based upon prior work, students may opt out of some or all of the first three requirements (Calculus and Linear Algebra). After Single Variable Calculus (MATH 030 PO  and MATH 031 PO ), many students follow Multivariable Calculus (MATH 032 PO ) with Linear Algebra (MATH 060 PO ). However, students who plan to continue with mathematics are encouraged to take Linear Algebra followed by Vector Calculus (MATH 067 PO ).

The general mathematics track develops a broad understanding of all of the mathematical sciences. Students who are also majoring in another subject could find this track appropriate, as might those who are interested in becoming high school mathematics teachers. The pure mathematics track is especially appropriate for students who want to understand mathematics on its own terms, particularly those who plan on graduate study in mathematics. The applied mathematics track helps students develop an individualized curriculum in mathematics that is motivated by, and helpful to, other fields of inquiry, such as economics, biology or other sciences. This track is particularly appropriate as preparation for post-baccalaureate employment in industry or graduate study in applied mathematics. The statistics track provides a background in both theory and practice in data analysis, appropriate for both employment and graduate study.

General Mathematics Track Requirements


  1. One course from each of the following categories:
    1. MATH 150 PO , MATH 152 PO MATH 153 PO , MATH 154 PO MATH 155 PO , MATH 158 PO ,  
    2. MATH 102 PO , MATH 112 PO MATH 113 PO , MATH 151 PO , MATH 187 PO  
    3. MATH 101 PO , MATH 131 PO , MATH 135 PO MATH 136 HM  
    4. MATH 103 PO , MATH 171 PO , MATH 173 PO  
  2. Two additional courses chosen from mathematics courses numbered above 100, or from the following list of related courses in other departments. BIOL 173 PO ; CHEM 001B PO , CHEM 051 PO , CHEM 158A PO , CHEM 158B PO ; ECON 052 PO , ECON 101 PO , ECON 102 PO , ECON 107 PO , ECON 154 PO , ECON 167 PO ; GEOL 129 PO , GEOL 185 PO PHYS 042 PO , PHYS 072 PO ; any computer science course numbered above 50, except CSCI 055 PO ; or any physics course numbered above 100. With departmental approval, other mathematically-related courses may be used.
  3. Two additional mathematics courses numbered 120 or above.

Pure Mathematics Track Requirements


  1. One course from MATH 101 PO , MATH 102 PO , MATH 103 PO  as transition to the upper-division. MATH 131 PO  may be substituted for MATH 101 PO , in which case three courses must be chosen in requirement 5.
  2. MATH 131 PO  and MATH 171 PO  and one of MATH 132 PO , MATH 172 PO , or MATH 174 PO  
  3. One course from among MATH 135 PO MATH 136 HM MATH 145 PO , MATH 147 PO  
  4. One course from among MATH 102 PO , MATH 103 PO  MATH 112 PO MATH 113 PO , MATH 151 PO MATH 154 PO MATH 155 PO , MATH 158 PO MATH 160 CM , MATH 173 PO , MATH 187 PO .
  5. Two additional mathematics courses numbered 120 or above.

Applied Mathematics Track Requirements


  1. MATH 102 PO , MATH 151 PO  and MATH 183 PO  
  2. Two courses from among MATH 131 PO , MATH 132 PO , MATH 135 PO  or MATH 136 HM , MATH 180 PO MATH 181 PO , MATH 189B PO  .
  3. Three courses from among the following categories, with at least one from category (a):
    1. MATH 152 PO , MATH 150 PO , MATH 154 PO MATH 155 PO , MATH 156 HM , MATH 158 PO MATH 160 CM ,  MATH 165 HM MATH 186 HM , MATH 187 PO , CSCI 140 PO  
    2. Mathematics courses numbered above 100 
    3. BIOL 104 PO BIOL 133L KS , BIOL 173 PO ; CHEM 158A PO , CHEM 158B PO ; ECON 101 PO , ECON 102 PO , ECON 107 PO , ECON 154 PO , ECON 167 PO GEOL 129 PO , GEOL 185 PO ; PHYS 125 PO , PHYS 142 PO PHYS 160 PO , PHYS 170 PO , PHYS 175 PO .

Statistics Track Requirements


  1. MATH 151 PO  and MATH 152 PO  
  2. An approved experience in data analysis (MATH 058 PO , MATH 058B PO , MATH 150 PO MATH 153 PO , MATH 154 PO MATH 155 PO , or MATH 158 PO 
  3. MATH 101 PO  or MATH 131 PO  
  4. Four additional courses from among MATH 103 PO MATH 112 PO MATH 113 PO , MATH 131 PO , MATH 132 PO , MATH 135 PO  or MATH 136 HM , MATH 137 PO , MATH 150 PO MATH 153 PO , MATH 154 PO MATH 155 PO , MATH 156 HM , MATH 158 PO MATH 160 CM , MATH 173 PO , MATH 183 PO MATH 186 HM , MATH 187 PO MATH 188 HM ; courses numbered in the 350s at Claremont Graduate University