Undergraduate Princeton Preview

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE MATHEMATICS MAJORS

Why Major in ÍâÍøÌìÌÃ?

ÍâÍøÌìÌà 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.Ìý 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.Ìý For many of our students the first proof course, typicallyÌý215 (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.ÌýÌý

Our undergraduate majors form a large group of independent-minded and curious people with a rich variety of intellectual interests.Ìý In recent years we have had approximatelyÌý70-75 majorsÌýand their programs of study include advanced courses in many other disciplines such as computer science, physics, economics and finance, biology and philosophy.Ìý A substantial fraction of our majors write aÌýsenior thesisÌýwith an advisor from one of these other departments, along with a second reader from mathematics.Ìý 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.Ìý 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 inÌýMAT214 (Introduction to Number Theory)Ìýor inÌýMAT203 (Vector Calculus)Ìýinstead.Ìý

Most students in the standard calculus sequence (MAT103,ÌýMAT104,ÌýMAT201) or linear algebra (MAT202) are prospective majors in the natural sciences, engineering, finance, economics and other social sciences.Ìý 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.

Ìý

János Kollár

Department Representative, Associate Chair

kollar@math.princeton.edu

609-258-4185

_______________________________________

Jennifer M. Johnson

Assistant Department Representative

jmjohnso@math.princeton.edu

609-258-4203

_______________________________________

Vlad Vicol

Undergraduate Placement Officer

vvicol@math.princeton.edu

609-258-4234

_______________________________________

LeeAnn Coleman

Undergraduate Program Administrator

larushin@princeton.edu

609-258-4201

______________________________________

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For the 2017-18 academic year, our department consists of 74Ìýfaculty members, 25 visitors and researchers, 8 emeritus faculty members in residence, 79 graduate students, and 70 undergraduate majors.

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SPRING 2018 COURSE OFFERINGS

103 Calculus IÌý Ìý

MWFÌýC01Ìý10:00 AMÌýJennifer JohnsonÌýFine 224

MWFÌýC02Ìý11:00 AMÌýJennifer JohnsonÌýFine 224

MWFÌýC03Ìý12:30 PMÌýTatiana HowardÌýFine 314

Ìý

104 Calculus IIÌý Ìý

MWFÌýC01Ìý9:00 AMÌýJonathan HanselmanÌýFine 601

MWFÌýC02Ìý10:00 AMÌýJonathan HanselmanÌýFine 601

MWFÌýC02Ìý10:00 AMÌýJonathan HanselmanÌýFine 601Ìý

MWFÌýC03Ìý11:00 AMÌýYakov Shlapentokh-RothmanÌýFine 601

MWFÌýC03AÌý11:00 AMÌýChun-Hung LiuÌýLEW 122

MWFÌýC04Ìý12:30 PMÌýChun-Hung LiuÌýLEW 122

MWFÌýC04AÌý12:30 PMÌýStephen McKeownÌýFine 601

Ìý

175 ÍâÍøÌìÌà for Economics/Life Sciences

MWFÌýC01Ìý10:00 AMÌýYueh Ju LinÌýFine 110

MWFÌýC02Ìý11:00 AMÌýGreg GauthierÌýFine 110

MWFÌýC03Ìý12:30 PMÌýGreg GauthierÌýFine 110

Ìý

APC/MAT199 Math Alive

T ThÌýC01Ìý11-12:20ÌýAdam Marcus, Ian GriffithsÌýBOWEN 222

Ìý

MAT 201 Multivariable Calculus

MWFÌýC01Ìý9:00 AMÌýMihaela IgnatovaÌýFine 322

MWFÌýC02Ìý10:00 AMÌýMihaela IgnatovaÌýFine 322

MWFÌýC03Ìý11:00 AMÌýDan Ketover Fine 322

MWFÌýC03AÌý11:00 AMÌýRafael Montezuma Pinheiro CabralÌýLEW 121

MWFÌýC04Ìý12:30 PMÌýDan KetoverÌýFine 322

Ìý

202 Linear Algebra w/Applications

MWFÌýC01Ìý9:00 AMÌýOanh NguyenÌýFine 314

MWFÌýC01AÌý9:00 AMÌýJoe WaldronÌýFine 801

MWFÌýC01BÌý9:00 AMÌýFrancesco LinÌýLEW 121

MWFÌýC02Ìý10:00 AMÌýAna MenezesÌýFine 314

MWFÌýC02AÌý10:00 AMÌýFrancesco LinÌýLEW 121