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Miscellaneous Information

Student Memberships in Professional Organizations

Student Chapter of the Mathematical Association of America

The Mathematical Association of America is the largest professional organization in the world devoted to mathematics at the college level. Its long-range goals are to promote excellence in the teaching of mathematics, to cultivate mathematical talent, and to enhance public awareness of mathematics. It currently has some 34,000 members, approximately 20% of whom are students.

The Department has a charter student chapter of the MAA and encourages its majors to become members. Among the many valuable benefits enjoyed by student chapter members are a free subscription to Focus (the newsletter of the MAA), career information, help with job placement or graduate applications, contact with the mathematics community, opportunities to meet students with similar interests, and eligibility for travel grants to meetings and special conferences.

Application forms and further information can be obtained from the Undergraduate Office.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is the largest organization in the world dedicated to the improvement of mathematics education and to the needs of teachers of mathematics. Mathematics majors interested in becoming teachers are encouraged to become student members of NCTM. Members receive subscriptions to the NCTM journal Mathematics Teacher and/or the NCTM journal Arithmetic Teacher, and they receive a newsletter, as well as notices concerning special meetings, workshops, etc.

Application forms and further information can be obtained from the Undergraduate Office.

Approval of Courses To Be Taken at Other Schools

Students who wish to take courses at other institutions during the summer months or while on leave from the University, either to help them fulfill requirements or to make them eligible for an earlier graduation date, must have their proposed course of study evaluated in advance. Mathematics majors planning to use courses to be taken at other schools to satisfy Departmental graduation requirements must obtain prior approval of these courses from the Chief Undergraduate Advisor.

There are three different prior approval forms:

  1. Prior Approval Form

    This form is to be used by those students who intend to fulfill degree requirements through the completion of courses at other institutions (including other UMass campuses and the National Student Exchange Program) or through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). The form requires the approval of the Chief Undergraduate Advisor (for courses to be used to satisfy Departmental graduation requirements), Transfer Affairs (for courses to be used for elective credit and/or to fulfill University General Education requirements), a CASIAC dean (for foreign language courses to be used to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences' Foreign Language Requirement), and an academic dean (for students on academic probation or suspension).

  2. Prior Approval Form for Completing the Senior Year in Absentia

    This form is to be used only when the student has accumulated 90 or more credits and intends to complete degree requirements or do any portion of the senior year while not in regular attendance at the University, i.e., by taking courses at other institutions (including other UMass campuses), by taking courses by examination, or by earning CLEP credits. This form requires the approval of the Chief Undergraduate Advisor, an academic dean, and the Office of Transfer Affairs.

  3. International Program Prior Approval Forms

    Students planning to study abroad must file an International Preliminary Registration/Approval form before they depart for study abroad and a Transfer of International Credit form after they return. Both forms are available in the International Programs Office and require the approval of the Chief Undergraduate Advisor (for courses to be used to satisfy Departmental graduation requirements), a CASIAC dean (for courses used to satisfy College requirements), the Office of Transfer Affairs (for courses to be used for elective credit and/or to fulfill University General Education requirements), and the International Programs Office. In addition, students spending any part of their senior year abroad must file a Prior Approval Form for Completing the Senior Year in Absentia.