INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE MATHEMATICS MAJORS
Why Major in Mathematics?
Mathematics is one of the most versatile majors at Princeton and students here have the opportunity to work with some of the best mathematicians in the world in a wide variety of fundamental areas of both pure and applied mathematics. The program for majors is extremely flexible, providing exciting opportunities both for students who enter with a strong background in rigorous mathematical proof as well as for novices with strong mathematical aptitude and interest. For many of our students the first proof course, typically 215 (Honors Analysis in a Single Variable), is the first serious experience with true mathematical thinking, and future majors generally find it a deeply challenging but irresistibly intriguing experience.
Our undergraduate majors form a large group of independent-minded and curious people with a rich variety of intellectual interests. In recent years we have had approximately 70-75 majors and their programs of study include advanced courses in many other disciplines such as computer science, physics, economics and finance, biology and philosophy. A substantial fraction of our majors write a senior thesis with an advisor from one of these other departments, along with a second reader from mathematics. After Princeton, many go on to graduate studies in pre-eminent mathematics programs, but others pursue their interests in these other disciplines instead, where their mathematical training is a crucial advantage.
In the fall semester approximately 1400 students enroll in our diverse undergraduate course offerings. Future mathematics majors generally (but not always) begin with one of our introductory proof-based courses:
- MAT215 (Honors Analysis in a Single Variable)
- MAT216 (Accelerated Honors Analysis I)
A few prospective majors start in MAT214 (Introduction to Number Theory) or in MAT203 (Vector Calculus) instead.
Most students in the standard calculus sequence (MAT103, MAT104, MAT201) or linear algebra (MAT202) are prospective majors in the natural sciences, engineering, finance, economics and other social sciences. However, some math majors start out in these courses and discover their talent and enthusiasm for mathematics there.
Tea is held in the third floor Common Room each afternoon at 3:30 while classes are in session; this is an opportunity for dialogue with professors, visitors and peers.
Department Representative, Associate Chair
609-258-4185
_______________________________________
Assistant Department Representative
609-258-4203
_______________________________________
Undergraduate Placement Officer
609-258-4234
_______________________________________
Undergraduate Program Administrator
609-258-4201
______________________________________
For the 2017-18 academic year, our department consists of 74 faculty members, 25 visitors and researchers, 8 emeritus faculty members in residence, 79 graduate students, and 70 undergraduate majors.
SPRING 2018 COURSE OFFERINGS
103 Calculus I
MWF C01 10:00 AM Jennifer Johnson Fine 224
MWF C02 11:00 AM Jennifer Johnson Fine 224
MWF C03 12:30 PM Tatiana Howard Fine 314
104 Calculus II
MWF C01 9:00 AM Jonathan Hanselman Fine 601
MWF C02 10:00 AM Jonathan Hanselman Fine 601
MWF C02 10:00 AM Jonathan Hanselman Fine 601
MWF C03 11:00 AM Yakov Shlapentokh-Rothman Fine 601
MWF C03A 11:00 AM Chun-Hung Liu LEW 122
MWF C04 12:30 PM Chun-Hung Liu LEW 122
MWF C04A 12:30 PM Stephen McKeown Fine 601
175 Mathematics for Economics/Life Sciences
MWF C01 10:00 AM Yueh Ju Lin Fine 110
MWF C02 11:00 AM Greg Gauthier Fine 110
MWF C03 12:30 PM Greg Gauthier Fine 110
APC/MAT199 Math Alive
T Th C01 11-12:20 Adam Marcus, Ian Griffiths BOWEN 222
MAT 201 Multivariable Calculus
MWF C01 9:00 AM Mihaela Ignatova Fine 322
MWF C02 10:00 AM Mihaela Ignatova Fine 322
MWF C03 11:00 AM Dan Ketover Fine 322
MWF C03A 11:00 AM Rafael Montezuma Pinheiro Cabral LEW 121
MWF C04 12:30 PM Dan Ketover Fine 322
202 Linear Algebra w/Applications
MWF C01 9:00 AM Oanh Nguyen Fine 314
MWF C01A 9:00 AM Joe Waldron Fine 801
MWF C01B 9:00 AM Francesco Lin LEW 121
MWF C02 10:00 AM Ana Menezes Fine 314
MWF C02A 10:00 AM Francesco Lin LEW 121