Program Overview

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Mathematics Program

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers a comprehensive Mathematics program designed to provide students with a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and their applications. The program is flexible, allowing students to complete their major requirements via courses that match their interests and goals.

Overview of the Mathematics Program

Mathematics is the international language of science and technology, and much of the subject matter in engineering and the natural sciences is presented in mathematical terms. The Mathematics program at UWM is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in mathematical concepts, as well as the ability to apply these concepts to real-world problems.

Career Opportunities for Mathematics Majors

Many students assume that most math majors become teachers, but there are many other opportunities for math majors. The United States National Security Agency is the largest employer of math majors in the country. Math majors can also be found at NASA, in engineering firms, at insurance and risk management firms, in robotics and computer science companies, and at large and small corporations working in market research, data management, and web management.

Requirements for the Mathematics Major

To complete a major in Mathematics, students must satisfy all the requirements of the major as stated in the catalog. Students who declare their majors within five years of entering the UW System as a degree candidate may satisfy the requirements outlined in any catalog issued since the time they entered. Credits used to satisfy the major may also be used to satisfy other degree requirements.

University General Education Requirements

Students must complete the University General Education Requirements, which include:

• Oral and Written Communication: Achieve a grade of C or better in English 102 (or equivalent)
• Quantitative Literacy: Earn at least 3 credits with a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses: Math 102, Math 103, Math 105, Math 108, Math 111, or Math 116
• Arts: Select 3 credits
• Humanities: Select 6 credits
• Social Sciences: Select 6 credits
• Natural Sciences: Select 6 credits (at least two courses, including one lab)
• UWM Foreign Language Requirement: Complete the Foreign Language Requirement through two years of a single foreign language in high school, two semesters of a single foreign language in college, or equivalent
• UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement: Complete one course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences that also satisfies the Cultural Diversity requirement

College of Letters & Science Requirements

Students must also complete the College of Letters & Science Requirements, which include:

• English Composition Requirement: Complete English 102 with a grade of C or higher, or place beyond English 102 on the English Placement Test
• Mathematics and Formal Reasoning: Achieve a placement code of at least 30 on the mathematics placement test, or earn at least 3 credits with a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses: Math 102, Math 103, Math 105, Math 108, Math 111, or Math 116
• Foreign Language Requirement: Complete the Foreign Language Requirement through two years of a single foreign language in high school, two semesters of a single foreign language in college, or equivalent
• International Requirement: Complete 3 courses (minimum 9 credits) in a single foreign language, or 3 non-language courses (minimum 9 credits) with an international content
• Breadth Requirement: Complete 12 credits in each of the following areas: Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences

Mathematics Major Requirements

The Mathematics major requires the following courses:

• MATH 341: Seminar: Introduction to the Language and Practice of Mathematics
• 24 credits in upper-division math courses (numbered 300 and above), including at least 6 credits in math courses numbered 500 and above

Additional Requirements

Students must also complete the following requirements:

• A minimum of 15 upper-division credits in the major in residence at UWM
• A 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM
• A 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including transfer work

Recommendations

The department recommends that students take courses in the following areas:

• Applied Mathematics
• Computational Mathematics
• Probability and Statistics
• Pure Mathematics

Mathematics Groups

The Mathematics program offers courses in the following groups:

• Applied Mathematics
• Computational Mathematics
• Probability and Statistics
• Pure Mathematics

Mathematics Advising

Students considering a major in Mathematics need to come to the department to declare their major and be assigned a faculty advisor. All courses selected for the major must be approved by the advisor, and students should check regularly with their advisors to plan their courses of study in a coherent and timely fashion.

Honors in the Major

Students in Mathematics who meet certain criteria can be awarded honors in the major upon graduation. The criteria include:

• A 3.000 cumulative GPA in all UWM graded credits
• A 3.500 GPA over all UWM courses counting toward the Mathematics major
• A 3.500 GPA over all upper-division UWM courses counting toward the Mathematics major
• At least one of the following: successful completion of at least two semesters of research and/or internship experiences, successful completion of at least 6 credits in Mathematical Sciences courses numbered 600 or above, or a score of at least the 50th percentile on the Math Subject GRE.