Information for 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.

For additional information about majoring in mathematics at Princeton, start with the Program Overview.