The Department of Mathematics administers three major programs: A.B. or B.S. in mathematics, and an A.B. joint major in mathematics and economics.

Requirements for these majors, in addition to the Common Course of Study, are summarized below.

Note: This page is revised fairly regularly, but may not always be completely up to date. For official program requirements, please consult the Courses and Majors information at the Lafayette College Academic Catalog, http://catalog.lafayette.edu/.

Major Requirements

Bachelor of arts in mathematics: Mathematics 161, 162, 263, 290, 300, 351, 356, and three elective courses in mathematics numbered 300 or higher (Mathematics 264 or 282 may replace one 300-level elective). Recommended courses: Computational Methods 151 or Computer Science 104, 105, and 106 or Mathematics 400.

Bachelor of science in mathematics: Mathematics 161, 162, 263, 290, 300, 351, 356, 400 or 496 and five elective courses in mathematics numbered 300 or higher (Mathematics 264 or 282 may replace one 300-level elective; at least one 300-level elective must have Mathematics 351 or 356 as a prerequisite); Physics 131 or 151; Physics  133 or 152; and Computer Science 104, 105, or 106 or Computational Methods 151.

Bachelor of arts in mathematics and economics: Mathematics 161, 162, 263, 272 (or 300), 282, 306, 335, 336; Economics 101, 251, 252, 365, and two electives numbered 300 or higher; a Capstone Experience in the form of a course, taken during the senior year, designed to integrate the ideas and techniques students have encountered in their work in mathematics and economics. (The Capstone Experience may consist of Economics 324, 366, Mathematics 301, 347, or appropriate independent study or honors work. Students interested in graduate study in economics may substitute Mathematics 356 for the Capstone course). Any one from Computer Science 104, 105, or 106 or Computational Methods 151 is recommended as an elective for students in this major.

Advising notes: It is important that students who wish to major in mathematics take Mathematics 290 and 300 during the first two years to ensure the widest possible selection of electives in the third and fourth years.

In all three major programs, it is strongly recommended that students take the time to plan ahead. Some courses are prerequisites for other courses, some courses are co-requisites for others, and some courses are only available in certain semesters or certain years. Planning will help you make sure you’ll get to take the courses you want to take, when you want to take them.

Requirements for the Minor in Mathematics

Mathematics 161, 162, 263 plus three mathematics courses numbered higher than 263, including at least two numbered 300 or higher. Normally, independent study courses may not be used toward satisfying the requirements for the minor.