The Mathematics Major

When you declare a major in mathematics, you must choose one and only one of the following five options:
Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Data Science and Statistics, Secondary Education, and Elementary Education.
The option you choose impacts the courses that are required to graduate. See below for details about the degree requirements for the various majors and the minor in mathematics.

Which Option Is For Me?

Students in the Pure Mathematics track fulfill requirements by taking a variety of advanced courses in mathematics. This is the ideal track for students who enjoy coursework in mathematics and is recommended for students who aim to go on to graduate study in mathematics.

Students in the Applied Mathematics track take a variety of advanced courses in mathematics and complete additional coursework in another department. This is an appealing way to earn a double major in mathematics and a related subject.

Students in the Data Science and Statistics track take courses in theoretical mathematics and in other related departments that provide a rigorous foundation for future data scientists.

Students in the Secondary Education track take courses in mathematics and in the Secondary Education department. This prepares you for a future career as a high school or middle school math teacher.

Students in the Elementary Education track take courses in mathematics and in the Elementary Education department. This prepares you for a future career as an elementary school teacher with a specialty in mathematics.

What Courses Do I need to Take?

The degree requirements for the various options have been updated a few times over the past few years. Department policy is that you are subject to the requirements that are in place when you declare your major. (You may also choose to fulfill requirements that come into effect after you declare your major; contact us for details.)

Click here to find and contact your concentration advisor.

Notes for every math major:

A course given by the Department of Mathematics in which a grade of D+ or lower is obtained cannot be used for the major without written permission from the chair.

Students who are majoring in mathematics may not enroll in MATH 115, 122, 131, 132, 141, 142, 143, 151, 152, 201, or 231 if they have withdrawn from or received a failing grade (F, FIN, W, WD, WN, WU) in that same course three times. Students may not declare a major in mathematics if they have received a failing grade three times in any one of MATH 115, 122, 131, 132, 141, 142, 143, 151, 152, 201, or 231.

The following sequences of classes are considered the equivalents of MATH 151 and 152: MATH 141, 142, and 143; MATH 131, 132, and 143; MATH 157 and 158.

It is recommended, but not required, that students who expect to work for a doctoral degree in mathematics secure as early as possible a reading knowledge of at least two of the following languages: French, German, and Russian.

Pure Mathematics (pdf)

Required Courses: MATH 151 and 152 (or the equivalent), MATH 201, MATH 202 (or 207), MATH 231, MATH 301 (or 601), MATH 310.

Elective Courses: EIGHT mathematics courses at the 200-, 300-, 600-, or 700-level (excluding MATH 205, 218, 255, 271, 272, and 385W). Up to two of the following courses may be taken to fulfill elective requirements: CSCI 111, CSCI 320, PHYS 207, or PHYS 243. (Some of these elective courses required a prerequisite that does not count towards the math major, but would count towards a major or minor in that subject)

It is recommended that all pure math majors take computational courses such as MATH 250 or CSCI 111.

Students who aim for Honors in Mathematics or who intend to continue their studies toward an eventual Master’s or PhD degree in Mathematics are encouraged to take the more advanced and theoretical 300-, 600-, and 700-level courses.

Residency Requirement: At least 18 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Applied Mathematics (pdf)

Required Courses: MATH 151 & 152 (or the equivalent), MATH 201, MATH 202 or 207, MATH 231, MATH 241, CSCI 111 or MATH 250.

Elective Courses: SIX math courses at the 200-, 300-, 600-, or 700-level (excluding Math 205, 218, 271, 272 and 385W).

Specialization Tracks: (Must pick one track)

1. Computer Science Track: 3 Computer Science courses numbered 211 or higher which carry 3 or more credits.

2. Economics Track: Econ 101, 102, 201 (or 226) and 202 (or 225)

3. Science Track: Any four courses that carry 3 or more credits from the following:

BIOL 105 and above
CHEM 113 and above
ENSCI 100 and ENSCI 112 and above
GEOL 101 and above
PHYS 145, 146, and PHYS 221 and above
The set of courses followed must form a meaningful concentration approved by the department.

4. Psychology Track: Psychology 101 and three Psychology courses numbered 214 or higher.

5. Operations Research Track: Three additional mathematics courses to make a total of nine elective courses; the nine courses must include MATH 247 (or 248), 623, and 633.

6. Custom Track: A series of courses making up a meaningful program in an area in which mathematics has significant application. This series must be approved by the department.

Residency Requirement: At least 18 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Data Science and Statistics (pdf)

Each student taking this option must visit the Data Science and Statistics advisor by the end of the upper sophomore year. The advisor will meet with the student at least once a year to coordinate the student’s program.

Required Courses: MATH 201, MATH 231 or 237, MATH 241, MATH 310 or 320, MATH 340, MATH 341, MATH 342W, MATH 343, CSCI 111, CSCI 211 (or CSCI 212), ECON 382, ECON 387, DATA 205 (or BIOL 230 or MATH 242).

Elective Courses: Three electives from the list below. Note that no course may be counted as both required course and an elective course.

Electives – SOC 235, CSCI 48, CSCI 211, CSCI 212, CSCI 220, CSCI 240, CSCI 313, BUS 386, BIOL 330, PSYCH 323 or one relevant courses not on this list (upon prior approval by advisor.)

Residency Requirement: At least 24 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Secondary Education & Youth Services (pdf)

Each student taking this option should consult the Secondary Education and Youth Services Department about requirements for professional education courses leading to teacher certification. For specific SYES requirements, please consult qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/SEYS.

Required MATH Courses: MATH 141, 142, & 143 OR MATH 151 & 152, MATH 201, MATH 205 or 505, MATH 218 or 518, MATH 220, MATH 231 or 237, MATH 241, MATH 301 or 601, MATH 385W (must take prior to SEYS 361 as upper junior).

Students must then take either three or four additional courses as follows:

Three additional courses chosen from Lists X and Y below, of which at least two must be from list X. OR Four additional courses chosen from Lists X and Y below, of which at least one must be from list X.

List X: Math 305 (or 605). 310, 317 (or 617), 318 (or 618), 334 (or 634), 609, and 626

[Math 310 is recommended for those who expect to teach calculus. Also, especially recommended are 305, 317, and 318 or their graduate equivalents]

List Y: Math 202, 223, 232, 242, 245, 247, 248, 250, 255, 320, and all 500- and 600-level courses not already used to satisfy the above requirements. [Mathematics 202 is usually required for entry into master’s degree programs in mathematics.]

Required Computer Science/Physics Courses (2 courses): CSCI 111 OR CSCI 112 AND one course from: CSCI 211, CSCI 212, PHYS 121.4 (and PHYS 121.1), PHYS 145 (and PHYS 121.4).

Residency Requirement: At least 15 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Elementary Education (pdf)

This option is available only to students enrolled in the Elementary and Early Childhood Education program. For EECE requirements, please consult qc.cuny.edu/academics/EECE.

Required Courses: Math 119, Math 141 & Math 142 & Math 143 (or equivalent: MATH 151 & 152), Math 220 (or MATH 209 or MATH 509), Math 231, Math 241, Math 218 (or MATH 318 or MATH 518 or MATH 618), CSCI 12 or higher.

Plus, TWO additional MATH courses numbered 200 or above will be chosen with the advice and approval of the student’s Mathematics department adviser.

Elementary and Early Childhood Education courses are listed under the Elementary Education major in the College Undergraduate Bulletin and are 42 credits.

Note: A student who has received two grades of D+ or lower in math courses may not proceed with further math courses without special permission.

For specific career objectives, see Bulletin for recommended elective courses.

Residency Requirement: At least 12 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Minor in Math (pdf)

Required Courses: MATH 201 and MATH 231.

Elective Courses: At least 10 credits from other 200-, 300-, 600-, or 700-level mathematics courses (excluding MATH 271, 272, and 385W)

Note: Elementary Education students should consult that department for their special requirements for a minor in mathematics.

Residency Requirement: Minimum of 9 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Notes for every math major:

A course given by the Department of Mathematics in which a grade of D+ or lower is obtained cannot be used for the major without written permission from the chair.

The following sequences of classes are considered the equivalents of MATH 151 and 152: MATH 141, 142, and 143; MATH 131, 132, and 143; MATH 157 and 158.

Pure Mathematics (pdf)

Required Courses: MATH 151 and MATH 152 (or the equivalents), MATH 201, MATH 202 (or 207), MATH 231, MATH 310, and MATH 301 (formerly known as MATH 333)

Elective Courses: EIGHT elective mathematics courses at the 200-, 300-, 600-, or 700-level (not including MATH 271, 272, or 385W). Up to two of the following courses may be taken to fulfill elective requirements: CSCI 111, CSCI 320, PHYS 207, PHYS 243. (Some of these elective courses require a prerequisite (CSCI 220 or PHYS 146.4) that does not count toward the math major, but would count toward a major or minor in that subject.)

It is recommended that all pure math majors take computational courses such as MATH 250 or CSCI 111.

Residency Requirement: At least 18 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Applied Mathematics (pdf)

Required Courses: MATH 151 and MATH 152 (or the equivalents), MATH 201, MATH 202 (or 207), MATH 231, MATH 241, CSCI 111 (or MATH 250)

Elective Courses: six elective mathematics courses at the 200-, 300-, 600-, or 700-level (not including MATH 271, 272, or 385W), and the courses from one of the following specialization tracks:

Specialization Tracks: (Must pick one track)

1. Computer Science Track: 3 Computer Science courses numbered 211 or higher which carry 3 or more credits.

2. Economics Track: Econ 101, 102, 201 (or 226) and 202 (or 225)

3. Science Track: Any four courses that carry 3 or more credits from the following:

BIOL 105 and above
CHEM 113 and above
ENSCI 100 and ENSCI 112 and above
GEOL 101 and above
PHYS 145, 146, and PHYS 221 and above
The set of courses followed must form a meaningful concentration approved by the department.

4. Psychology Track: Psychology 101 and three Psychology courses numbered 214 or higher.

5. Operations Research Track: Three additional mathematics courses to make a total of nine elective courses; The nine courses must include MATH 247 (or 248), 369 (or 633), and 623.

6. Custom Track: A series of courses making up a meaningful program in an area in which mathematics has significant application. This series must be approved by the department.

Residency Requirement: At least 18 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Data Science and Statistics (pdf)

Required Courses: MATH 151 and MATH 152 (or the equivalents), MATH 201, MATH 231 (or 237), MATH 241, MATH 310 (or 320), MATH 341, MATH 342, MATH 368 (or 621), MATH 369 (or 633), CSCI 111, CSCI 212 (or 211), ECON 382, ECON 387, DATA 205 (or BIOL 230 or MATH 242). We recommend that MATH 241 be taken before DATA 205 (or BIOL 230).

Elective Courses: There is an additional requirement of three electives from list A and one elective from list B. Note that no course may be counted as both a required and an elective course. At least twenty credits of these required and elective courses must be taken at Queens College.

List A: SOC 235, CSCI 48, CSCI 211, CSCI 212, CSCI 220, CSCI 240, CSCI 313, BUS 386, BIOL 330, PSYCH 323 or one relevant courses not on this list (upon prior approval by advisor)

List B: MATH 202, 220, 223, 232, or any mathematics course numbered MATH 310 or higher.

Residency Requirement: At least 24 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Secondary Education & Youth Services (pdf)

For SYES requirements, please consult qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/SEYS

Required MATH Courses: MATH 151 and MATH 152 (or the equivalents), MATH 201, MATH 220, MATH 231 (or 237), MATH 241, MATH 333 (or 613), MATH 385, MATH 505 and MATH 518; CSCI 111, CSCI 112 or one of PHYS 121, 145. Three or four additional courses as follows: Three additional courses chosen from Lists X and Y below, of which at least two must be from List X, or four additional courses chosen from Lists X and Y below, of which at least one must be from List X.

List X: MATH 310, 317 (or 617), 609, 612, 618, 619, 626, and 634. MATH 310 is recommended for those who expect to teach calculus. Also especially recommended are MATH 317 (or 617), 618, and 619.

List Y: MATH 202, 213W, 223, 232, 242, 245, 247, 248, 320 and all 500- and 600-level courses not already used to satisfy the above requirements. MATH 202 is usually required for entry into master’s degree programs in mathematics.

Residency Requirement: At least 15 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Elementary Education (pdf)

For EECE requirements, please consult qc.cuny.edu/academics/EECE

Required Courses: MATH 119, MATH 141–143 (or 151–152), MATH 220, MATH 231, MATH 241, MATH 509, MATH 518 (or 618) and CSCI 12 or higher. One additional math course will be chosen with the advice and approval of the student’s department advisor. Each student must obtain a department advisor by the beginning of the junior year. A student pursuing this option is required to declare and complete a second major in EECE.

Residency Requirement: At least 9 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.

Minor in Math (pdf)

Required Courses: MATH 201, MATH 231 and at least 10 credits from other 200-, 300-, 600-, and 700-level MATH courses, not including MATH 271, 272, or 385. Nine credits must be taken at Queens College.

Note: Elementary Education students should consult that department for their special requirements for a minor in mathematics.

Residency Requirement: Minimum of 9 credits of these required and electives must be taken at Queens College.