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Guidebooks

A resource for Arts & Sciences students, the guidebook focuses on policies, the majors, experiential education, the core curriculum and major requirements. Copies are available in the dean's office, or as PDFs, below.

Mathematics
Department's Web site

The department offers two programs of study in mathematics. One leads to a B.A. degree and requires a minimum of 11 mathematics courses. Students in the B.A. program also must complete a foreign language requirement. Because mathematics-related material is often written in French, German or Russian, one of these languages is recommended. The other program leads to a B.S. degree. It requires a minimum of 14 mathematics courses but does not require a foreign language – although students considering an advanced degree are strongly encouraged to study a foreign language.

All students must take a basic sequence of mathematics courses which, as a rule, should be completed by the end of the sophomore year; this sequence offers students the opportunity to acquire a working knowledge of the calculus of one and several variables, differential equations, and linear algebra. After their sophomore year, students will be required to take courses in probability and statistics, analysis, and abstract algebra; they will also select math electives from a wide range of courses. Students are also encouraged to learn computer programming skills, to make them more effective both as learners and as workers.

The curriculum is flexible enough to allow additional projects. For instance, it is possible for mathematics majors to follow programs leading to a double or dual major in mathematics and another discipline in Arts and Sciences or Computer Science.

Degrees:	B.A. and B.S.
Location:	567 Lake
Telephone:	(617) 373-2450
Department Chair:	David Massey d.massey@neu.edu
Head Advisor:	Sol Jekel jekel@neu.edu
Experiential Education Advisor:	Martin Schwarz m.schwarz@neu.edu
Cooperative Education Coordinator:	William Jackson w.jackson@neu.edu
Transferring to the major:	Upperclass students transferring to mathematics must have a cumulative grade average of at least 2.0. They must also have at least a 2.0 average in all mathematics courses and a minimum grade of C in the following courses (if already taken) Calculus I, II, III, (U241, U242, U341), Ordinary Differential Equations, (U345), Math Discovery and Computers (U170), and Linear Algebra (U371). Acceptance in the major will be based on students meeting the department’s criteria for admission and availability of space in the major.
Progress in the major:	Students who begin as freshman mathematics majors must, after the fourth semester, satisfy the following: (a) have completed at least six of their required mathematics and physics courses; (b) have a grade average of C or better in the courses Calculus I, II, III, (U241, U242, U341), Ordinary Differential Equations (U345), Math Discovery and Computers (U170), and Linear Algebra (U371); (c) have a grade average of at least 2.0 in all required mathematics and physics courses. * Students who transfer to the major must, after two semesters in the major, satisfy the following: (a) have completed at least four of their required mathematics and physics courses; (b) have a grade average of at least 2.0 in all required mathematics and physics courses; (c) have grades of C or better in the following courses: (if already taken) Calculus I, II, II, (U241, U242, U341), Ordinary Differential Equations (U345), Math Discovery and Computers (U170), and Linear Algebra (U371). * Students who fail to achieve the above conditions will be placed on departmental probation. Students who remain two consecutive semesters on departmental probation will be dismissed from the major.