Mathematics majors are subject to three sets of graduation requirements:
All of these will be satisfied by completing the requirements in a period of no more than ten semesters, including semesters at other colleges.
Since it is your responsibility to ensure that all requirements are fulfilled by graduation time, it would be wise for you to use this page as a check-list for keeping track of your progress. Major requirements are ultimately audited by the Chief Undergraduate Advisor, those of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics by the College of Arts and Sciences advisory office in Machmer E-24, and those of the University in the Records Office, 207 Whitmore.
For a definitive statement of the university's graduation requirements see the brochure Academic Regulations.
Graduation Credit RequirementA total of at least 120 graduation credits, exclusive of courses numbered below 100, is required. All credits earned in any school or college within the University, all advanced placement credits, and all transfer credits accepted by the University, including those earned through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), may be counted toward this total. However, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 45 residence credits to be considered for a baccalaureate degree. For this purpose, residence credits are credits earned for work done while registered on the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts or while enrolled in one of the University's formal exchange programs; transfer credits, advanced placement credits based on the College Entrance Examination Board's high school Advanced Placement tests, CLEP credits, and military service credits do not count toward residency requirements.
In addition, students must complete their final 30 credits in residence, residence in this sense meaning continuous enrollment in a degree-granting major program and registration in UMass Amherst courses. Petitions for permission to take any of the final 30 credits in absentia must be submitted to the Chief Undergraduate Advisor prior to enrollment in the course(s), on the Prior Approval for Completing the Senior Year in Absentia. Students may not complete their senior year in absentia in the Division of Continuing Education.
Although advanced placement, transfer, and CLEP credits in the appropriate areas of study may be applied toward College and University requirements, CLEP and advanced placement credits may or may not apply to General Education requirements. CLEP credits cannot be used to satisfy Departmental requirements unless approved by the Chief Undergraduate Advisor. Transferred courses will be credited towards Departmental graduation requirements only after evaluation by the Chief Undergraduate Advisor: any such evaluation must be initiated by the student.
Note: The University does not accept CLEP scores in foreign languages.
Cumulative Quality Point Average RequirementA cumulative quality point average of at least 2.00, both overall and in the major, is required.
Foreign Language RequirementSatisfied by any one of the following:
Students who have not satisfied the Foreign Language Requirement upon admission to the College of Natural Science and Mathematics should elect a foreign language course each semester in residence until the requirement has been satisfied. This regulation applies even to students who are planning to declare, at some later date, a major which is not in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Students enrolled in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics cannot apply their pass/fail option to foreign language courses at the first three levels of proficiency (either semesters of the elementary level or the first semester of the intermediate level). Foreign language courses at the second intermediate level may be elected on a pass/fail basis. Exception: College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics students who have previously satisfied their Foreign Language Requirement are allowed to take elementary or intermediate level courses in other foreign languages on a pass/fail basis.
Students who are certified by the Disability Services Office as having a significant hearing impairment that is seriously limiting to the auditory reception of language may fulfill the Foreign Language requirement either by demonstrating proficiency in American Sign Language at the intermediate level, or by completing two semesters (6 cr.) of foreign language, plus two courses (6 cr.) taught in English on the history, culture, or litereature of non-English speaking countries or regions. These courses must be in addition to courses used to fulfill the General Education requirements, and may not be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. A list of courses that may be used in this manner is available from the Arts and Sciences Advising Office.
General Education RequirementsFor a full list of General Education Requirements, consult the Academic Regulations. We provide here only details on the Basic Mathematics Skill and Analytic Reasoning requirement.
R1/R2 Joint Satisfaction: In May of 2005, and effective retroactively, the registrar enacted a policy which states that any course taken within the Department of Mathematics and Statistics that satisfied the R2 (Reasoning) requirement for graduation now also satisfies the R1 requirement. This applies to the following courses:
A continuously updated list of such coursees, including certain R2 course in other departments (eg: RES-ECON 211 and 212, etc...), can be viewed at the registrar.
In addition, the following courses that do not currently carry R2 satisfication do satisfy the R1 requirement:
The R1 Exemption Test is not the same as the Math Placement Test. The R1 Exemption Test is only a test of basic math skills; nothing else. Passing this test will satisfy the R1 requirement for graduation, but will not result in the awarding of any credits. This test is not currently online, nor will it be anytime soon. This test is administered several times each semester though the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
The Math Placement Test is not the same as the R1 Exemption Test. The Placement Test is now taken by students online before orientation. Because it is online, it is no longer connected to R1 satisfaction. A student's score on the Placement Test is used only as a guide as to where that student currently is in his/her math ability (whether it be arithmetic or on the doorstep of calculus). The Placement Test is administered through the New Students Program.
This requirement is fulfilled by completing one Analytic Reasoning course labeled R2.
This requirement consists of two semester courses, one in the freshman year and one in the junior year. Neither course can be taken on a pass/fail basis.
All freshmen and all transfer students who have not yet passed an approved freshman writing course are required to take the Writing Program Placement Tests, and they may do so only once. Based upon the results of that test, students are:
Having completed their Freshman-Year Writing Requirement, Students wait until their junior year to fulfill the Junior-Year Writing Requirement by taking the approriate course within the major department. For most mathematics majors this course is Math 370 (Topics in Mathematical Writing), which is typically offered in both the fall and spring semesters. Permission of the Chief Undergraduate Advisor is required to substitute another writing course for Math 370. Double majors whose primary major is not mathematics will satisfy this requirement upon successful completion of the Junior-Year Writing Requirement in the primary major - no further permission is necessary.
The Freshman-Year Writing Requirement: Exemplary performance on the Writing Program Placement Test qualifies the student for a waiver of the Freshman-Year Writing Requirement, but without credit.
Exemption from the Freshman-year Writing Requirement, with credit, is granted to students who earn a total score of 1400 or more on the SAT Verbal Aptitude and English Achievement Tests or who earn a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Language and Composition Test.
Student who earn a 4 or a 5 on the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Test are not exempted from the Freshman-Year Writing Requirement but receive three credits in English toward their "AL" General Education Requirement.
The Junior-Year Writing Requirement There is no exemption from the Junior-Year Writing Requirement.
Further information about policies or regulations relating to the Writing Requirement can be obtained from the Writing Program Office.
Mathematics majors wishing to earn the B.A. degree must complete two additional 3-credit courses in the College of Arts and Sciences but taught outside the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, i.e., taught in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts or by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. These courses need to carry a General Education designation but must not be graded pass/fail. Note: a corollary of this requirement is that it is impossible to do a triple major with one major from each of the three college and earn a B.A.!
In addition to completing the Foreign Language requirement, all students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in the College must earn a minimum of 60 credits in courses offered by the College or the Department of Psychology or other approved related courses. Theses include credits earned to satisfy General Education and major requirements.
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