Honors Program in Mathematics

Promising math majors are invited by the faculty to apply to the honors program in mathematics. Successful completion of the program is designated on the student’s academic record and diploma.

In order to be eligible, students must have met the following qualifications:

  • Completed at least 18.5 units of coursework
  • Earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.3
  • Completed at least 3.5 units in mathematics, at the Math 235-level or higher, with a cumulative GPA in all such courses of at least 3.3
  • Have at least two semesters remaining before intended graduation date

*Prior to eligibility / enrollment in the program, students may complete up to 1 unit of standard upper level (above 300-level) math coursework “for honors” (particularly encouraged for students taking Math 306 or 320 early in their major).

To gain admission to the Honors Program, the student should first recruit a continuing Mathematics faculty member to serve as their Honors Project Advisor.

Working with their Honors Advisor, the student should develop a detailed Program of Study indicating specifically how the student’s Honors Program is to be accomplished (see program regulations document for Program of Study Requirements). The student should then work with their Honors Advisor to complete a Program Application. The application, along with an advising copy of the student’s transcript, must then be submitted to the Mathematics Honors Program Coordinator by November 15th for Fall term applicants and by March 15th for Spring term applicants. Applications must be received with at least two semesters remaining before the students intended graduation date.

If you have questions about the Honors Program in Mathematics, contact Dr. Bill Ross.

Honors Program in Mathematical Economics

In order to be eligible, students must have met the following qualifications:

  • Completion of at least 18 units of coursework, not including courses in which the student is currently enrolled
  • Overall GPA of 3.3 or higher
  • Completion of at least four units within the major, excluding courses primarily for first-year students (MATH 211, 212, 231, 232; ECON 101, 102), with a cumulative GPA in all such courses of at least 3.3

The student will select a willing faculty member to serve as lead advisor for the project. Together they find a second faculty member to serve as consultant. One faculty member should be from economics and one from mathematics.

The student and lead advisor will plan the student's honors program. The student and advisor will plan four units of coursework in support of the honors topic. Two of these units will be MATH 340 Directed Independent Study or ECON 490-491 Honors Seminar/Research, depending on the department of the lead advisor. These courses are used to prepare the honors thesis. The remaining two units will be selected from the regular curriculum with an additional honors component; one unit will be from upper-level economics and one unit from upper-level mathematics. These courses will be chosen with an eye towards maximizing the student's ability to produce a quality honors thesis.

A completed honors thesis will be read and approved by a committee of at least three readers, including the lead and consulting advisors, and will be presented to the faculty in both departments.

If you have questions about the Honors Program in Mathematical Economics, contact Dr. Bill Ross