Mathematics Undergraduate Major
The Math Major provides students with the breadth of knowledge required to excel in a variety of careers, including medicine, law, finance, and technology-related industries. In addition, our Math Major also provides excellent preparation for those students who want to pursue graduate studies. The flexibility in our curriculum allows students to emphasize core math, applied math, or statistics.
What You'll Learn
The Mathematics major builds a rigorous foundation through calculus, real analysis, and linear algebra, then opens up into five upper-level electives students can shape around core math, applied math, or statistics. This flexibility means students graduate with both deep theoretical grounding and the ability to specialize toward the mathematical sciences that interest them most.
Career Outlook
Mathematics majors leave Tulane with a skill set that travels well — the kind of rigorous, structured thinking that opens doors across medicine, law, finance, and the tech sector, while also laying strong groundwork for graduate school. Because the curriculum lets students lean into core math, applied math, or statistics based on their own interests, graduates come away with a specialization that fits the direction they want their career to take, whether that's a highly technical field or a professional path where analytical reasoning is the real asset.
Meet Our Faculty
Mathematics faculty guide students from foundational coursework through advanced, research-level topics, offering close mentorship through directed readings, honors thesis supervision, and NSF-funded summer research programs. Their expertise spans the breadth of the mathematical sciences, giving students the flexibility to pursue whichever area — core math, applied math, or statistics — matches their interests.
Curriculum Requirements
The Mathematics major consists of five core courses — Calculus I, II, and III, Real Analysis I, and Linear Algebra — followed by five elective courses at the 3000-level or above, at least two of which must be at the 4000-level. Students are encouraged to complete the core sequence early, with a Director of Undergraduate Studies assigning an advisor to help shape the upper-level electives around their specific interests and goals.
Students pursuing this bachelor’s degree must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in the Newcomb-Tulane College core curriculum, 120 credit hours in their degree and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000.
Research
Undergraduate math majors have real opportunities to go beyond coursework into original research, whether through a year-long Honors Thesis, prestigious NSF-funded summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), or custom directed-reading courses built around advanced topics with a faculty mentor. These pathways let students work directly with faculty and dive deep into specialized areas of the mathematical sciences well before graduation.
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FAQs
Mathematics is the study of quantity, structure, and pattern — spanning fields from calculus and linear algebra to real analysis, applied mathematics, and statistics. It's a foundational discipline whose rigorous, flexible skill set prepares students for careers across medicine, law, finance, and technology, as well as graduate study in the mathematical sciences.
If you are ready to declare a major in Mathematics, please fill out this form, and submit it to the Department of Mathematics. The form will be signed and returned to you, and you can send it along to NTC Advising. Please note that it is your responsibility to send this form to your NTC advisor.
If your major advisor does not reach out, you may want to contact them to introduce yourself or to set up a meeting.
Students should enroll in an appropriate calculus course in their first year of study. Students with no prior calculus course should normally take MATH 1210 Calculus I (4 c.h.) and MATH 1220 Calculus II (4 c.h.), while students with one semester of calculus credit (or equivalent knowledge) should take MATH 1310 Consolidated Calculus (4 c.h.). Students with two semesters of calculus credit should start in MATH 2210 Calculus III (4 c.h.) and contact a mathematics major advisor during the first semester for major program planning advice. Students are encouraged to complete the core courses as early as possible in their programs. It is generally recommended to take MATH 3090 Linear Algebra (4 c.h.) before MATH 3050 Real Analysis I (3 c.h.), but they can be taken concurrently. The MATH 3070-MATH 3080 sequence provides the foundation for upper-level courses in probability and statistics. The Senior Seminar MATH 3980-MATH 3990 is strongly recommended for majors who are not completing an honors thesis.
Students considering a math major should arrange an appointment with the department Director of Undergraduate Studies early in their program. They will be assigned a major advisor who will advise them on course selection within the major. The major program is designed to provide the student with a solid foundation during the first two years and provide for a variety of programs of study during the junior and senior years. A major program in mathematics can provide a background for both graduate study and work in a variety of areas of the mathematical sciences as well as provide preparation for professional schools such as law, medicine, and business. The major program should be designed as early as possible with the student's goals in mind and with the help of the major advisor.
To validate transfer credits in mathematics, you must complete the following steps before registering for the external course:
Obtain the Form
Schedule an appointment with NTC College Advising or contact the Transfer Credit Specialist to request the official Transfer Credit Approval Form (TCAF).
Email Specialist: Kevin Krivchuk NTC Transfer Guidelines(opens in new tab)
Collect Course Info
Gather the host institution's course syllabus (detailing topics, textbook, and grading scheme) and course description.
Search Transferology Portal(opens in new tab)
Submit for Review
Send your completed TCAF and supporting course documentation to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for official departmental review and signature.
Email Evaluator: Dr. Scott McKinley
Form Processing
Once approved, submit the signed TCAF to College Advising. Finally, request that the host institution send an official transcript directly to Tulane.