Major Requirements – 72-75 Total Credits

Core Courses – Required 30 Credits

Elective Courses – Required 36 credits

Six courses from among:

Elective Requirements

Of the six advanced courses, at least four must be Carleton courses with a Mathematics designation. At least three of the following five areas of mathematics must be represented by the six electives (36 credits).

Algebra

Analysis

Applied Mathematics

Discrete Structures

  • CS 252: Algorithms
  • CS 254: Computability and Complexity
  • MATH 333: Combinatorial Theory (not offered 2025-26)

Geometry and Topology

Advanced courses substituted for MATH 232: Linear Algebra or MATH 236: Mathematical Structures must also be Carleton courses with a Mathematics designation.

Senior Seminar and Senior Integrative Exercise – Required 6 or 9 credits

In addition, each senior major must complete an integrative exercise. Normally, that integrative exercise is a two-term group project. At the department’s discretion, a one-term independent project may be available. The group project would be MATH 399: Senior Seminar: Senior Seminar (6 credits) and MATH 400: Integrative Exercise: Integrative Exercise (3 credits). The independent project would be MATH 400: Integrative Exercise (6 credits).

Math Talk Credits

Majors must also accumulate eight talk credits during their junior and senior year by attending colloquia and the comps talks of their fellow mathematics or statistics majors. Students who major in both Mathematics and Statistics must accumulate a total of thirteen talk credits. We encourage majors to participate in the numerous activities that take place in the department.

Additional Departmental Notes

Normally, a mathematics major must be declared by the last day of finals in the winter term of a student’s junior year.

Potential majors with especially strong preparation may petition the department for permission to substitute an advanced course for MATH 232: Linear Algebra and/or for MATH 236: Mathematical Structures. Advanced courses substituted for MATH 232: Linear Algebra or MATH 236: Mathematical Structures must also be Carleton courses with a Mathematics designation.

There are many patterns of courses for the major depending upon a student’s mathematical interests and career goals. A guide for majors, which supplies information about suitable patterns of courses, is available on the Mathematics and Statistics Department website.

Major under Combined Plan in Engineering:

In addition to completing requirements for the mathematics major listed above including Mathematics 241 and 341, the student should take the following courses required for admission to engineering schools: Two terms of 100-level Physics, CHEM 123: Principles of Chemistry I & Lab, CHEM 224: Principles of Chemistry II & Lab, and CS 111: Introduction to Computer Science.