Mathematics B.A.

This degree is the BA in Mathematics without a concentration. Students can add one or more of the concentrations in Applied Mathematics, Combinatorics & Optimization, Pure Mathematics, or Statistics and Data Science to this degree by fulfilling the respective Concentration Requirements (achieved by taking specific Upper-Division Elective Courses). Typically, students declare one of these four concentrations during their sophomore or junior year. Note that the requirements for the Mathematics Education concentration are extensive and differ substantially from the requirements for the other concentrations. Students interested in Mathematics Education are encouraged to declare this concentration as early as possible, preferably during their first year at UM.

General Degree Requirements

To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information.

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.

Bachelor of Arts - Mathematics

Credit Requirements

The major specific credits are much lower for double-majors and for students completing a minor in another subject:

41 credits for students completing a second major, and
46 credits for students completing a minor.

GPA Requirement

A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for all courses used to fulfill major requirements.
In addition, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for all mathematical sciences courses used to fulfill major requirements. (Mathematical sciences courses are those with a prefix of M or STAT.)

Course Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses
Complete all of the following courses:
M 171	Calculus I	4
or M 181	Honors Calculus I
M 172	Calculus II	4
or M 182	Honors Calculus II
M 210	Introduction to Mathematical Software	3
M 221	Introduction to Linear Algebra	4
M 273	Multivariable Calculus	4
M 300	Undergraduate Mathematics Seminar	1
M 307	Introduction to Abstract Mathematics	3
Electives ¹
Complete 18-23 credits (6-7 courses) of the following courses. At least three courses must be at the 400 level. See note below about the elective credit requirement.		18-23
M 274	Introduction to Differential Equations
M 301	Teaching Mathematics with Technology
M 325	Discrete Mathematics
M 326	Number Theory
M 361	Discrete Optimization
M 362	Linear Optimization
M 381	Advanced Calculus I
M 412	Partial Differential Equations
M 414	Deterministic Models
M 429	History of Mathematics ²
M 431	Abstract Algebra I
M 432	Abstract Algebra II
M 439	Euclidean and NonEuclidean Geometry
M 440	Numerical Analysis
M 445	Statistical, Dynamical, and Computational Modeling
M 461	Data Science Analytics
M 462	Theoretical Basics of Big Data Analytics and Real Time Computation Algorithms
M 472	Introduction to Complex Analysis
M 473	Introduction to Real Analysis
M 485	Graph Theory
STAT 342	Probability and Simulation
STAT 421	Probability Theory
STAT 422	Mathematical Statistics
STAT 452	Statistical Methods II
Science Requirement ³
Complete 18 credits in at most 3 areas selected from astronomy (ASTR), biology (BIO), chemistry (CHMY), computer science (CSCI, except CSCI TR), economics (ECNS), forestry (FORS, WILD), geosciences (GEO), management information systems (BMIS), and physics (PHSX).		18
Language/Computer Science Requirement ⁴
Complete either the General Education Language Requirement or complete one of the following courses:		3
CSCI 150	Introduction to Computer Science
CSCI 151	Interdisciplinary Computer Science I
CSCI 152	Interdisciplinary Computer Science II
Total Hours		62-67

¹: Students completing a second major need take only 18 credits. Students completing a minor in another subject need take only 20 credits. All other students must complete 23 credits and 7 courses. At least 4 of the courses in this category must be taken at UM-Missoula (only 3 if M 307 is taken at UM-Missoula).
²: M 429 is also an advanced college writing course. Most Mathematics majors use M 429 to meet the advanced college writing general education requirement.
³: Students completing a minor in another subject or a second major are exempt from this requirement. Transfer courses listed on the transcript as CSCI TR* may include course work in other areas such as Computer Applications (CAPP) and therefore do not count towards this requirement unless a student successfully petitions the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
⁴: Students completing a second major are exempt from this requirement.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Elective Computer Labs and Independent Study Courses
Computer labs and independent study courses from the following list are optional; if taken (0-2 credits), they count toward the total number of credits required for the Mathematics Elective requirement.
M 363	Linear Optimization Laboratory
M 392	Independent Study
M 492	Independent Study
STAT 457	Computer Data Analysis I
STAT 458	Computer Data Analysis II

Four Year Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
Autumn		Hours
M 171	Calculus I	4
Science Elective		3
General Education		6
HUSC 194	Seminar/Workshop	1
	Hours	14
Spring
M 172	Calculus II	4
M 210	Introduction to Mathematical Software	3
Science Elective		3
General Education		6
	Hours	16
Sophomore
Autumn
M 221	Introduction to Linear Algebra	4
M 273	Multivariable Calculus	4
Science Elective		3
General Education		3
	Hours	14
Spring
M 307	Introduction to Abstract Mathematics	3
Science Elective		3
General Education		9
	Hours	15
Junior
Autumn
M 300	Undergraduate Mathematics Seminar	1
M 274 or M 301 or M 325 or M 326 or M 361 or M 362 or M 381 or M 412 or M 414 or M 429 or M 431 or M 432 or M 439 or M 440 or M 445 or M 461 or M 462 or M 472 or M 473 or M 485 or STAT 342 or STAT 421 or STAT 422 or STAT 452	Introduction to Differential Equations (Math Elective 300+) or Teaching Mathematics with Technology or or Number Theory or Discrete Optimization or Linear Optimization or Advanced Calculus or Partial Differential Equations or Deterministic Models or History of Mathematics or Abstract Algebra I or Abstract Algebra II or Euclidean and NonEuclidean Geometry or Numerical Analysis or or Data Science Analytics or Theoretical Basics of Big Data Analytics and Real Time Computation Algorithms or Introduction to Complex Analysis or Introduction to Real Analysis or Graph Theory or Probability and Simulation or Probability Theory or Mathematical Statistics or Statistical Methods II	6
Science Elective		3
Elective		6
	Hours	16
Spring
M 274 or M 301 or M 325 or M 326 or M 361 or M 362 or M 381 or M 412 or M 414 or M 429 or M 431 or M 432 or M 439 or M 440 or M 445 or M 461 or M 462 or M 472 or M 473 or M 485 or STAT 342 or STAT 421 or STAT 422 or STAT 452	Introduction to Differential Equations (Math Elective 300+) or Teaching Mathematics with Technology or or Number Theory or Discrete Optimization or Linear Optimization or Advanced Calculus or Partial Differential Equations or Deterministic Models or History of Mathematics or Abstract Algebra I or Abstract Algebra II or Euclidean and NonEuclidean Geometry or Numerical Analysis or or Data Science Analytics or Theoretical Basics of Big Data Analytics and Real Time Computation Algorithms or Introduction to Complex Analysis or Introduction to Real Analysis or Graph Theory or Probability and Simulation or Probability Theory or Mathematical Statistics or Statistical Methods II	6
Science Elective		3
Elective		6
	Hours	15
Senior
Autumn
M 274 or M 301 or M 325 or M 326 or M 361 or M 362 or M 381 or M 412 or M 414 or M 429 or M 431 or M 432 or M 439 or M 440 or M 445 or M 461 or M 462 or M 472 or M 473 or M 485 or STAT 342 or STAT 421 or STAT 422 or STAT 452	Introduction to Differential Equations (Math Elective 300+) or Teaching Mathematics with Technology or or Number Theory or Discrete Optimization or Linear Optimization or Advanced Calculus or Partial Differential Equations or Deterministic Models or History of Mathematics or Abstract Algebra I or Abstract Algebra II or Euclidean and NonEuclidean Geometry or Numerical Analysis or or Data Science Analytics or Theoretical Basics of Big Data Analytics and Real Time Computation Algorithms or Introduction to Complex Analysis or Introduction to Real Analysis or Graph Theory or Probability and Simulation or Probability Theory or Mathematical Statistics or Statistical Methods II	3 or 4
M 412 or M 414 or M 429 or M 431 or M 432 or M 439 or M 440 or M 445 or M 461 or M 462 or M 472 or M 473 or M 485 or STAT 421 or STAT 422 or STAT 452	Partial Differential Equations (Math Elective 400+) or Deterministic Models or History of Mathematics or Abstract Algebra I or Abstract Algebra II or Euclidean and NonEuclidean Geometry or Numerical Analysis or or Data Science Analytics or Theoretical Basics of Big Data Analytics and Real Time Computation Algorithms or Introduction to Complex Analysis or Introduction to Real Analysis or Graph Theory or Probability Theory or Mathematical Statistics or Statistical Methods II	3
Elective		9
	Hours	15-16
Spring
M 412 or M 414 or M 429 or M 431 or M 432 or M 439 or M 440 or M 445 or M 461 or M 462 or M 472 or M 473 or M 485 or STAT 421 or STAT 422 or STAT 452	Partial Differential Equations (Math Elective 400+) or Deterministic Models or History of Mathematics or Abstract Algebra I or Abstract Algebra II or Euclidean and NonEuclidean Geometry or Numerical Analysis or or Data Science Analytics or Theoretical Basics of Big Data Analytics and Real Time Computation Algorithms or Introduction to Complex Analysis or Introduction to Real Analysis or Graph Theory or Probability Theory or Mathematical Statistics or Statistical Methods II	6
Elective		9
	Hours	15
	Total Hours	120-121

Last updated Autumn 2025

This degree template can be adapted for students who are not ready to take M 171 (Calculus I) in their first semester.

Up to 12 of the 18 credits in Science Electives can be replaced by a minor or a second major.

Student can add a concentration in Applied Mathematics, Combinatorics & Optimization, Pure Mathematics or Statistics & Data Science by choosing part of their Math Electives from the chosen area. Students interested in Mathematics Education must follow the degree template for Mathematics Education.

Details regarding the Math and Science Electives are in the Catalog and on Degree Works. Choose these courses in consultation with your math advisor.

Details regarding the General Education course work are in the Catalog and on Degree Works. Choose these courses in consultation with an advisor. In particular, take WRIT 101 as early as possible.

Students not completing the General Education language requirement must take one of several computer sciences courses as part of their Science Electives.

39 upper-division (300+ course) credits are required.

University of Montana Catalog 2025-2026