Mathematics, B.S.

Department Recommendation

Majors should consult with a Mathematics Department counselor concerning substitutions for core science courses.

Prospective doctoral students should develop reading competence in at least one of the following languages: French, German, Russian.

Additional Requirements for a B.S. Degree

Candidates for a B.S. degree with a major in mathematics must complete at least 60 credits in science and mathematics, 24 of which must be completed in advanced courses in the Mathematics Department. These 24 credits must be completed at Brooklyn College with a grade of C- or higher in each course. Specific course requirements for a B.S. degree are described above.

The following courses may be applied toward the 60 credits in science and mathematics:

All courses in the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer and Information Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Courses marked with a “#” in the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences.

• Anthropology 2200, 3199, 3230, 3240, 3250, 3260, 3265, 3266, 3425, 3440, 3470, 4665
• [Core Studies 5, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2]
• [Core Curriculum 1300 through 1399]
• Earth and Environmental Sciences 1010
• [Core Curriculum 3301 through 3399]
• Economics 3400, 4410, 3410, 4422
• Philosophy 3203, 3204, 3231, 3232, 3422, 3423, 3601, 3605, 3610
• Kinesiology 3271, 3275, 3281, 3285, 4229, 4251
• Sociology 2701

Student Learning Outcomes

The Mathematics Department’s Program Goals are summarized below:

• Develop in students an understanding of mathematics as a deductive science.
• Develop in students:
  • computational skills;
  • appreciation for the abstract structures and abstract reasoning at the heart of mathematics;
  • the ability to apply mathematics to real-world problems; and
  • experience with current mathematical software and technology.
• Promote analytical and critical thinking.
• Prepare students for graduate studies in mathematics—both theoretical and applied.
• Prepare students for the teaching of pre-college mathematics.
• Provide studies in computational mathematics (jointly with CIS).
• Provide for studies in actuarial science and financial mathematics and provide students with necessary marketable credentials to work in the actuarial field or the financial industry.
• Provide the mathematical foundations for students in other disciplines at Brooklyn College.

Program-level Student Learning Goals

The program-level student learning goals apply to the various mathematics programs offered. The department expects a student to meet some or all of these goals upon her or his graduation according to the program of study chosen. These goals are to:

• Develop problem-solving skills.
• Develop inductive and deductive skills in reasoning.
• Understand the significance of central mathematical theorems and their applications.
• Appreciate the precision and breadth presented in mathematical theories.
• Develop and foster abstract mathematical thinking.
• Be able to reason and compute with mathematical structures, make a conjecture and prove it, generalize, analyze, and abstract a result.
• Explore the consequences of a general mathematical result in concrete situations.
• Apply mathematical thinking to real-world situations.
• Be able to understand, read, interpret, and eventually generate mathematical proofs and examples.
• Recognize the roles of axiomatic systems and proofs in different branches of mathematics, such as analysis, discrete mathematics, algebra, and geometry.
• Be able to utilize technology, including computer algebra systems, to solve problems numerically, symbolically, and graphically.
• Be able to design and apply algorithms to solve problems numerically, algebraically, and graphically.
• Acquire the skills and confidence to learn new mathematical knowledge as becomes necessary in the course of a lifetime.
• Build mathematical foundations for success in other disciplines.
• Understand the principal concepts of the calculus.
• Build conceptual understanding of sets and functions at various levels.
• Obtain the mathematical skills needed for the job market (actuarial, financial, or other).
• In preparation for a career in teaching, o understand the mathematics that will be taught at a profound level and from many points of view.
• Be able to communicate orally and in writing in the language of mathematics.
• Gain a familiarity with the history of mathematics.
• Understand the basic concepts of probability and statistics.
• Prepare students for graduate study in mathematics.
• Prepare for careers outside of teaching.

Degree Maps

To help you pursue your studies in the most efficient manner, and to maximize your efforts to graduate in four years, Brooklyn College has created four-year degree maps for all its majors.

View degree maps for this major and others.

Contact

Jun Hu

E: junhu@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Stephen Preston

2312 Ingersoll Hall
E: Stephen.Preston@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5246

Or contact:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: adminqry@brooklyn.cuny.edu

To make an appointment with an undergraduate admissions counselor, visit:

Virtual Admissions Counselor Appointments