University Catalog 2026-2027

Mathematics (BS)

The bachelor of science in mathematics is our most flexible curriculum. The mathematics and science requirements in the program along with the General Education Program in the humanities and social sciences ensure that graduates receive a broad education with a technical slant. At the same time, the large number of elective choices within the program makes it an appropriate curriculum for students with a variety of interests and career goals. Students can easily pair out a mathematics degree with another major (e.g. Statistics, Physics, Engineering, Math Educations, Economics, etc).

Undergraduate opportunities include:

  • Budapest Semester in Mathematics 
  • Society for Undergraduate Mathematics (SUM) Series - undergraduate presentations
  • Society for Undergraduate Mathematics (SUM) CLUB
  • Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) NCSU Chapter
  • Undergrads Union Grads (UUG)- mentoring program
  • NC State Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Mathematics (DRUM)

For more information about this program visit our website.

Contact

Department of Mathematics
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 8205
Raleigh, NC 27695

Dr. Alina Duca
Teaching Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs in Mathematics
SAS Hall 2108B
919.515.1875
anduca@ncsu.edu

Plan Requirements

Orientation (Verify Requirement) 1
COS 100Science of Change0
or E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments
Communications and Advanced Writing
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research4
Select one of the following Communications courses (Verify Requirement): *0
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Argumentation and Advocacy
Science Communication and Public Engagement
Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses:3
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing
Basic Mathematics
MA 141Calculus I 2, 54
MA 241Calculus II 2, 54
MA 242Calculus III 54
MA 225Foundations of Advanced Mathematics 53
MA 305Introduction to Linear Algebra and Matrices 53
MA 341Applied Differential Equations I 53
Basic Sciences 3
Courses must be taken from two different disciplines 8
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory
General Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences
and General Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences
University Physics I
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity
Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
Additional Basic Science4
Select one of the following Statistics courses: 33
Probability and Statistics for Engineers
Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory
Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression
Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I
Introduction to Mathematical Statistics II
Students considering graduate school are strongly encouraged to select (MA 421 or ST 421) with ST 422
Select one of the following introductory Programming courses: 33
Introduction to Computing and Data Science with AI - Python
Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN
Introduction to Computing - MATLAB
Statistical Programming
Introduction to Scientific Programming (Math)
Introduction to Computing - Java
Introduction to Scientific Computing
Computer-Based Modeling for Industrial Engineering
Advanced Mathematics 5, 6
MA 405Advanced Linear Algebra3
Note: Students in the Math Honors Program or those planning to pursue the Accelerated Bachelors/Master’s (ABM) degree program may be permitted to substitute MA 520 in place of MA 405.
MA 407Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors3
MA 425Mathematical Analysis I3
Math Electives 218
Select one of the following three options for the Major Paper Requirement1
Major Paper in Mathematics
Reading in Honors Mathematics
Independent Research in Mathematics
In-Depth Co-Requiremenmt (Verify Requirement)
Major Electives
Science/Engineering/Business/Statistics Electives12
Students are advised to utilize their Major and Free Electives credits to explore a minor or a second major. Please be aware that several courses listed as Major Electives may have prerequisites or specific restrictions.
Science/Engineering/Business/Statistics courses must be selected from the following list: ≥ BAE 200, ≥ BAET 200, ≥ BCH 300, ≥ BIO 181, BMA ***, BME ***, BBS ***, ≥ BIT 200, ≥ BUS 300, CE ***, CH 101, CH 102, CH 103, CH 104 , ≥ CH 201, CHE ***, ≥ CSC 111, DSC ***, ≥ E 304 , EC ***, ≥ ECE 200, ECI 305, ECI 416, EMS 470, EMS 480, EMS 490, ≥ ENT 300, ≥ ES 200, FIM ***, FS ***, FW ***, GN ***, GIS ***, ISE ***, ≥ LOG 400, ≥ MA 300, MAE ***, MB ***, ≥ MEA 130, MES ***, MSE ***, NE ***, ≥ NTR 300, OR ***, ≥ PSE 300, ≥ PY 200, ≥ PB 220, ≥ ST 114 , TOX 4**, ≥ ZO 250. Note: The following courses can’t be used as major electives: CSC 226 ECE 220
GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives5
GEP Elective3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives (Max 12 Hr S/U)12
Students are encouraged to use Free Electives credits to pursue a minor or second major. Free electives courses cannot be CH 100, CH 111, CSC 226, ECE 220, MA 101, MA 107, MA 108, MA 111, MA 121, MA 131, MA 231, PY 131, PY 211, PY 212, ENG 100. 100-level World Language Courses (WL*) can be used if not satisfying the language proficiency requirement.
Total Hours120
*

Minimum 2.0 major (math) GPA required for graduation.

1

The Orientation and Communication verify requirements are satisfied by some General Education Program courses which could potentially double count.

2

MA 141 Calculus I and MA 241 Calculus II must be completed with a grade of C or better.

3

At most one grade below a C- is permitted in Basic Science Electives (CH, PY, BIO). The Statistics and programming requirements must be satisfied with a letter grade of C- or better.

4

Students are strongly encouraged to complete a two-course sequence in Statistics.  The preferred statistics sequence is ST 371 followed by ST 372, in which case ST 372 can be used as a Science/Engineering/Bus/Stat elective. Alternatives include: (MA 421 and ST 422) or (ST 421 and ST 422). If MA 421 is taken as an advanced math elective then ST 422 will satisfy the ST requirement. If ST 421 is taken as ST elective then ST 422 can be used as a  Science/Engineering/Bus/Stat elective. ST 370 will be accepted only for students transferring into the Mathematics major having already taken ST 370.

5

At most one letter grade of D +/- is permitted in Math Elective courses. No grades of D +/- are permitted in required math courses (MA 141, MA 241, MA 242, MA 225, MA 305, MA 341, MA 405, MA 407, MA 425).

6

No more than 6 total credits each from undergraduate research (MA 491 Reading in Honors Mathematics), independent study (MA 499 Independent Research in Mathematics), or credit by examination may be used to meet program requirements (credit from AP exams or transfer credits is not included under this restriction). Also, students must complete at least one-half of the required mathematics credit hours (21) at NC State University.

 Additional Basic Science

BIO 105Biology in the Modern World3
BIO 106Biology in the Modern World Laboratory1
BIO 181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity4
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology4
BIT 200Early Research in Biotechnology4
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science3
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory1
CH 103General Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences3
CH 104General Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences1
CH 201Chemistry - A Quantitative Science3
CH 202Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory1
CH 203General Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences3
CH 204General Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences1
MEA 101Geology I: Physical3
MEA 110Geology I Laboratory1
MEA 130Introduction to Weather and Climate3
MEA 135Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory1
MEA 150Environmental Issues in Water Resources4
MEA 210Oceanography Lab1
MEA 211Geology II Laboratory1
NE 290Introduction to Health Physics3
NE 291Introduction to Health Physics Laboratory1
PB 200Plant Life4
PY 131Conceptual Physics4
PY 205Physics for Engineers and Scientists I4
PY 208Physics for Engineers and Scientists II4
PY 211College Physics I4
PY 212College Physics II4
SSC 200Soil Science3
SSC 201Soil Science Laboratory1

 Math Electives

MA 325Introduction to Applied Mathematics3
MA 326Mathematical Foundations of Data Science I3
MA 335Symbolic Logic3
LOG 335Symbolic Logic3
MA 341Applied Differential Equations I3
MA 351Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Models3
MA 401Applied Differential Equations II3
MA 402Mathematics of Scientific Computing3
MA 408Foundations of Euclidean Geometry3
MA 410Theory of Numbers3
MA 412Long-Term Actuarial Models3
ST 412Long-Term Actuarial Models3
MA 413Short-Term Actuarial Models3
ST 413Short-Term Actuarial Models3
MA 414Foundations of Cryptography3
CSC 414Foundations of Cryptography3
MA 416Introduction to Combinatorics3
CSC 416Introduction to Combinatorics3
MA 421Introduction to Probability3
MA 426Mathematical Analysis II3
MA 427Introduction to Numerical Analysis I3
CSC 427Introduction to Numerical Analysis I3
MA 428Introduction to Numerical Analysis II3
CSC 428Introduction to Numerical Analysis II3
MA 432Mathematical Models in Life Sciences3
MA 437Applications of Algebra3
MA 450Methods of Applied Mathematics I3
MA 451Methods of Applied Mathematics II3
MA 491Reading in Honors Mathematics1-3
MA 501Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists I3
MA 504Introduction to Mathematical Programming3
OR 504Introduction to Mathematical Programming3
MA 505Linear Programming3
ISE 505Linear Programming3
OR 505Linear Programming3
MA 513Introduction To Complex Variables3
MA 512Introduction to Analysis3
MA 514Foundations of Cryptography3
CSC 514Foundations of Cryptography3
MA 515Analysis I3
MA 518Geometry of Curves and Surfaces3
MA 520Linear Algebra3
MA 521Abstract Algebra I3
MA 522Computer Algebra3
MA 523Linear Transformations and Matrix Theory3
MA 524Combinatorics I3
MA 528Options and Derivatives Pricing3
FIM 528Options and Derivatives Pricing3
ECG 528Options and Derivatives Pricing3
MBA 528Options and Derivatives Pricing3
MA 531Dynamic Systems and Multivariable Control I3
E 531Dynamic Systems and Multivariable Control I3
OR 531Dynamic Systems and Multivariable Control I3
MA 532Ordinary Differential Equations I3
MA 534Introduction To Partial Differential Equations3
MA 537Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos3
MA 540Uncertainty Quantification for Physical and Biological Models3
MA 544Computer Experiments In Mathematical Probability3
MA 546Probability and Stochastic Processes I3
ST 546Probability and Stochastic Processes I3
MA 547Stochastic Calculus for Finance3
MA 548Monte Carlo Methods for Financial Math3
FIM 548Monte Carlo Methods for Financial Math3
MA 549Financial Risk Analysis3
FIM 549Financial Risk Analysis3
MA 551Introduction to Topology3
MA 555Introduction to Manifold Theory3
MA 561Set Theory and Foundations Of Mathematics3
MA 565Graph Theory3
CSC 565Graph Theory3
OR 565Graph Theory3
MA 573Mathematical Modeling of Physical and Biological Processes I3
BMA 573Mathematical Modeling of Physical and Biological Processes I3
MA 574Mathematical Modeling of Physical and Biological Processes II3
BMA 574Mathematical Modeling of Physical and Biological Processes II3
MA 580Numerical Analysis II3
CSC 580Numerical Analysis II3
MA 583Introduction to Parallel Computing3
CSC 583Introduction to Parallel Computing3
MA 584Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations--Finite Difference Methods3
MA 587Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations--Finite Element Method3
MA 591Special Topics1-6

In-Depth Co-Req (Verify Requirement)

MA 325
MA 341
Introduction to Applied Mathematics
and Applied Differential Equations I
0
MA 326
MA 402
Mathematical Foundations of Data Science I
and Mathematics of Scientific Computing
0
MA 341
MA 401
Applied Differential Equations I
and Applied Differential Equations II
0
or MA 501 Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists I
MA 341
MA 432
Applied Differential Equations I
and Mathematical Models in Life Sciences
0
MA 401
MA 450
Applied Differential Equations II
and Methods of Applied Mathematics I
0
or MA 451 Methods of Applied Mathematics II
MA 407
MA 437
Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors
and Applications of Algebra
0
or MA 521 Abstract Algebra I
MA 405
MA 520
Advanced Linear Algebra
and Linear Algebra
0
or MA 523 Linear Transformations and Matrix Theory
MA 407
MA 414
Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors
and Foundations of Cryptography
0
or CSC 414 Foundations of Cryptography
MA 407
MA 521
Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors
and Abstract Algebra I
0
MA 407
MA 514
Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors
and Foundations of Cryptography
0
or CSC 514 Foundations of Cryptography
MA 408
MA 518
Foundations of Euclidean Geometry
and Geometry of Curves and Surfaces
0
MA 410
MA 416
Theory of Numbers
and Introduction to Combinatorics
0
MA 412
MA 413
Long-Term Actuarial Models
and Short-Term Actuarial Models
0
MA 416
MA 524
Introduction to Combinatorics
and Combinatorics I
0
MA 421
MA 412
Introduction to Probability
and Long-Term Actuarial Models
0
or MA 413 Short-Term Actuarial Models
MA 425
MA 426
Mathematical Analysis I
and Mathematical Analysis II
0
or MA 512 Introduction to Analysis
MA 425
MA 513
Mathematical Analysis I
and Introduction To Complex Variables
0
or MA 515 Analysis I
MA 427
MA 428
Introduction to Numerical Analysis I
and Introduction to Numerical Analysis II
0
MA 450
MA 451
Methods of Applied Mathematics I
and Methods of Applied Mathematics II
0
MA 515
MA 551
Analysis I
and Introduction to Topology
0
MA 532
MA 534
Ordinary Differential Equations I
and Introduction To Partial Differential Equations
0
MA 546
MA 547
Probability and Stochastic Processes I
and Stochastic Calculus for Finance
0
MA 548
MA 549
Monte Carlo Methods for Financial Math
and Financial Risk Analysis
0
MA 573
MA 574
Mathematical Modeling of Physical and Biological Processes I
and Mathematical Modeling of Physical and Biological Processes II
0
MA 580
MA 583
Numerical Analysis II
and Introduction to Parallel Computing
0
MA 584
MA 587
Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations--Finite Difference Methods
and Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations--Finite Element Method
0

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
MA 141 Calculus I 2 4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 4
COS 100 Science of Change 1 2
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours14
Spring Semester
MA 241 Calculus II 2 4
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
Introduction to Programming Elective 3 3
COM 289 Science Communication and Public Engagement 1 3
 Hours14
Second Year
Fall Semester
MA 242 Calculus III 5 4
MA 225 Foundations of Advanced Mathematics 5 3
PY 205 Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 3 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MA 305 Introduction to Linear Algebra and Matrices 5 3
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 5 3
ST 371 Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory 3, 4 3
Science/Engineering/ Business/Statistics Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
MA 405 Advanced Linear Algebra 5 3
Advanced Mathematics Elective 5 3
Advanced Writing Elective 3
PY 208 Physics for Engineers and Scientists II 3 4
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
MA 425 Mathematical Analysis I 5 3
Science/Engineering/ Business/Statistics Elective 3
Advanced Mathematics Elective 5 3
Free Elective 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Select one of the following: 5 3
Mathematical Analysis II
Advanced Mathematics Elective 5, 6 3
MA 494 Major Paper in Mathematics 1
Science/Engineering/ Business/Statistics Elective 3
Free Elective 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
MA 407 Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors 5 3
Advanced Mathematics Elective1 5, 6 6
Science/Engineering/ Business/Statistics Elective 3
Free Electives 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
*

Minimum 2.0 major (math) GPA required for graduation.

1

The Orientation and Communication verify requirements are satisfied by some General Education Program courses which could potentially double count.

2

MA 141 and MA 241 must be completed with a grade of C or better.

3

At most one grade below a C- is permitted in Basic Science Electives (CH, PY, BIO). The Statistics and programming requirements must be satisfied with a letter grade of C- or better.

4

Students are strongly encouraged to complete a two-course sequence in Statistics.  The preferred statistics sequence is ST 371 followed by ST 372, in which case ST 372 can be used as a Science/Engineering/Bus/Stat elective. Alternatives include: (MA 421 and ST 422) or (ST 421 and ST 422). If MA 421 is taken as an advanced math elective then ST 422 will satisfy the ST requirement. If ST421 is taken as ST elective then ST 422 can be used as a  Science/Engineering/Bus/Stat elective. ST 370 will be accepted only for students transferring into the Mathematics major having already taken ST 370.

5

At most one letter grade of D +/- is permitted in Math Elective courses. No grades of D +/- are permitted in required math courses (MA141, MA241, MA242, MA225, MA305, MA341, MA405, MA407, MA425).

6

No more than 6 total credits each from undergraduate research (MA 491), independent study (MA 499), or credit by examination may be used to meet program requirements (credit from AP exams or transfer credits is not included under this restriction). Also, students must complete at least one-half of the required mathematics credit hours (21) at NC State University.

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