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This archived information is dated to the 2011-12 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Mathematics

In this section:

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

Minor in Mathematics

Master of Science in Mathematics

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics

Ph.D. Minor in Mathematics

Up one level:

School of Humanities and Sciences

Emeriti: Solomon Feferman, Robert Finn, Yitzhak Katznelson, Joseph Keller, Georg Kreisel, Harold Levine, Tai-Ping Liu, R. James Milgram, Donald Ornstein, Robert Osserman

Chair: Steven Kerckhoff

Professors: Simon Brendle, Gregory Brumfiel, Daniel Bump, Emmanuel Candes, Gunnar Carlsson, Ralph L. Cohen, Brian Conrad, Amir Dembo, Persi Diaconis, Yakov Eliashberg, Eleny Ionel, Steven Kerckhoff, Jun Li, Rafe Mazzeo, Maryam Mirzakhani, George Papanicolaou, Lenya Ryzhik, Richard Schoen, Leon Simon, Kannan Soundararajan, Ravi Vakil, Andras Vasy, Akshay Venkatesh, Brian White

Associate Professor: Soren Galatius

Szegö Assistant Professors: Ricardo Andrade, Isabelle Camilier, Jose Cantarero Lopez, Thomas Church, Jian Ding, Pierre Garapon, Martin Luu, Peter McNamara, Ronan Mukamel, Yi Wang

Lecturers: Eric Bahuaud, Mark Lucianovic, Jeremy Van Horn-Morris, Wojciech Wieczorek

Courtesy Professors: Renata Kallosh, Grigori Mints

Consulting Professors: Brian Conrey, David Hoffman

Simons Fellows: Richard Bamler, Alexander Subotic

Web site: http://math.stanford.edu

Courses offered by the Department of Mathematics are listed under the subject code MATH on the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses web site.

The Department of Mathematics offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics, and participates in the program leading to the B.S. in Mathematical and Computational Science. The department also participates in the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs in Scientific Computing and Computational Mathematics and the M.S. degree program in Financial Mathematics.

MISSION OF THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM IN MATHEMATICS

The mission of the undergraduate program in Mathematics is to provide students with a broad understanding of mathematics encompassing logical reasoning, generalization, abstraction, and formal proof. Courses in the program teach students to create, analyze, and interpret mathematical models and to communicate sound arguments based on mathematical reasoning and careful data analysis. The mathematics degree prepares students for careers in the corporate sector and government agencies, and for graduate programs in mathematics.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The department expects undergraduate majors in the program to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are used in evaluating students and the department's undergraduate program. Students are expected to demonstrate:

  1. the ability to comprehend mathematical arguments.
  2. problem solving skills.
  3. the ability to formulate proofs and to structure mathematical arguments.
  4. the ability to communicate mathematical ideas.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT IN MATHEMATICS FOR FRESHMEN

Students of unusual ability in mathematics often take one or more semesters of college-equivalent courses in mathematics while they are still in high school. Under certain circumstances, it is possible for such students to secure both advanced placement and credit toward the bachelor's degree. A decision as to placement and credit is made by the department after consideration of the student's performance on the Advanced Placement Examination in Mathematics (forms AB or BC) of the College Entrance Examination Board, and also after consideration of transfer credit in mathematics from other colleges and universities.

The department does not give its own advanced placement examination. Students can receive either 5 or 10 units of advanced placement credit, depending on their scores on the CEEB Advanced Placement Examination. Entering students who have credit for two quarters of single variable calculus (10 units) are encouraged to enroll in MATH 51-53 in multivariable mathematics, or the honors version 51H-53H. These three-course sequences, which can be completed during the freshman year, supply the necessary mathematics background for most majors in science and engineering. They also serve as excellent background for the major or minor in Mathematics, or in Mathematical and Computational Science. Students who have credit for one quarter of single variable calculus (5 units) should take MATH 42 in Autumn Quarter and 51 in Winter Quarter. Options available in Spring Quarter include MATH 52, or 53. For proper placement, contact the Department of Mathematics.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

The Department of Mathematics participates with the departments of Computer Science, Management Science and Engineering, and Statistics in a program leading to a B.S. in Mathematical and Computational Science. See the "Mathematical and Computational Science" section of this bulletin.

INTRODUCTORY AND UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

The department offers two sequences of introductory courses in single variable calculus.

  1. MATH 41, 42 present single variable calculus. Differential calculus is covered in the first quarter, integral calculus in the second.
  2. MATH 19, 20, 21 cover the material in 41, 42 in three quarters instead of two.

There are options for studying multivariable mathematics:

  1. MATH 51, 52, 53 cover differential and integral calculus in several variables, linear algebra, and ordinary differential equations. These topics are taught in an integrated fashion and emphasize application. MATH 51 covers differential calculus in several variables and introduces matrix theory and linear algebra; 52 covers integral calculus in several variables and vector analysis; 53 studies further topics in linear algebra and applies them to the study of ordinary differential equations. This sequence is strongly recommended for incoming freshmen with 10 units of advanced placement credit.
  2. MATH 51H, 52H, 53H cover the same material as 51, 52, 53, but with more emphasis on theory and rigor.

The department offers three classes on linear algebra: 51 (or 51H), 104, and 113.

Graduate Programs in Mathematics

TEACHING CREDENTIALS

For information concerning the requirements for teaching credentials, see the "School of Education" section of this bulletin or address inquiries to Credential Secretary, School of Education.

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