Honors Requirements  |  Guidance and Expectations  |  Declaring Honors  |  Honors Checklist  |  Past Honors Theses

The honors program is intended for students who have strong theoretical interests and abilities in mathematics. The goal of the program is to give students a thorough introduction to the main branches of mathematics, especially analysis, algebra, and geometry. Through the honors thesis, students may be introduced to a current research topic, although occasionally more classical projects are encouraged. The program provides an excellent background with which to enter a Master’s or Ph.D. program in Mathematics. Students completing the program are awarded a B.S. in Mathematics with Honors.

It is strongly recommended that either the Math 60CM sequence or the Math 60DM sequence be taken during the student’s freshman year. This is a recommendation, not a requirement.

Honors Requirements

• The basic 64-unit program required of all Math majors.  These 64 units must include:

              o   Math 106 or 116

              o   Math 120

              o   Math 171

              o   7 additional 3-unit Math courses numbered 121 or higher (Phil 151 and 152 are allowed).  These 7 additional courses must include one course in each of the following categories: Algebra, Analysis, and Geometry/Topology.  Click here for details (under “Honors Program” towards the bottom of the page).

• An additional 6 units of Math 197: Senior Honors Thesis–recommended to be spaced over three quarters during senior year.
• Writing a senior honors thesis, to be submitted by the Monday of week 8 of the student’s graduation quarter.
• All courses counting towards the honors requirements (Math 106/116, Math 120, Math 171, all 7 additional Math courses, and Math 197) must be taken for a letter grade.

In addition to the minimum requirements laid out above, it is strongly recommended that honors students take at least one graduate-level Math course.  Math 205A, Math 210A, and Math 215A or 215B are recommended.

Guidance and Expectations

• To be eligible to apply for and graduate with honors, students must have an average GPA of at least a 3.0 across all Math classes counting towards the major.
• Students should wait to apply for and declare honors until winter quarter of their junior year, but no later than the last day of classes in spring quarter of junior year.
• Before you declare honors in Axess, set up meeting with the Math faculty member you’re interested in working with. If you do not know whom you’d like to work with, talk with your major advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies for guidance. Print out a transcript to bring to the meeting and share your interests and ideas for your thesis.
• As you work on your thesis, you are expected to have check-ins with your thesis advisor throughout each quarter you are enrolled in Math 197, including submitting drafts and getting feedback.  See the Math 197 guidelines for more information.
• To enroll in Math 197, first go over your plan with your thesis advisor.  Once the plan is confirmed, forward the Student Services Specialist an email with the thesis advisor’s approval (or if you met in person, an email sharing the plan and copying the advisor on the email) and for how many units. The advisor’s Math 197 section will then be added to Axess for you to enroll.  The department strongly recommends that honors majors take Math 197 for two units per quarter for 3 consecutive quarters.
• A draft is due in early/mid-May to the department if you are interested in being considered for the Firestone and departmental honors thesis awards.

Declaring Honors

1. Choose a Math faculty Academic Council member as your honors thesis advisor and meet with him/her for guidance and direction to map out a plan for the thesis.
2. Student and advisor must complete and sign the Honors Math Major Declaration Form.
3. Declare Honors in Axess.
4. Submit the completed and signed Honors Math Major Declaration Form to the department’s Student Services Specialist.
5. Your declaration will be reviewed soon after submitting the Honors Math Major Declaration Form to the department’s Student Services Specialist.  You will receive an email letting you know when your honors declaration has been approved in Axess or if there are any questions.

Honors Checklist

Use the Honors Checklist to help plan your courses and track your completion of the honors requirements.