Math Honors Program

The department has a selective Honors Program in Mathematics.  Admission is by invitation only.  Upon recommendation of the faculty, qualified students are invited into the program.  The objectives of the program are the following:

• To deepen a student’s understanding and appreciation of the mathematical sciences;
• To provide the student with the opportunity to conduct research on a selected topic with guidance from a faculty member;
• To enhance the student’s preparation for graduate study in the mathematical sciences.

The requirements for the program are as follows:

• MATH 390 (Introduction to Mathematical Research, 2 credit hours)
• a MATH or STAT course numbered 311 or higher, to be approved by the Honors Mathematics Committee chairperson, that is an elective, i.e. not used to fulfill other program requirements for the student
• MATH 490 (Honors Thesis, 3 credit hours)

Generally, MATH 390 is taken in the spring semester of the student's junior year, and MATH 490 is taken in the senior year.  The student is expected to present the results of his or her thesis work at a suitable venue on campus or at a conference.

The department also offers MATH 190 Problem Solving by Invitation each spring to a select group of freshmen who have been recommended by their calculus instructors. Although not a formal part of the Honors Program, MATH 190 is a good course for freshmen who like working on non-trivial problems and wish to further develop their analytical thinking skills.