If you want to get meta about everything all the time, Math is the major for you.

I don’t fuck with all of the hate majoring in math gets. The math department at Barnard is unique—small? Yes. But mighty? Also yes. Math is all about larger-than-life theories and thinking big while learning how to understand the minute, ordinarily undetectable or unthought of concepts of how things relate to one another. I personally find it to be analogous to philosophy, though it feels much more technical. Math is truly applicable to endless fields of study, areas of research, and corporate industries. If you’re looking for a major that will provide you endless tools to think deeply and get in the weeds on any problem you may face, math is for you.

Integrated with Columbia’s math department, the Barnard Mathematics department is made up of 6 primary faculty members. The department houses five variations of the math major: Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematics-Statistics, and Mathematics-Computer Science. Senior theses are rare, but not impossible.

Requirements

Each of the majors within the Barnard Mathematics department require 14 courses with the exception of Computer Science-Mathematics, which requires 15:

Mathematics:

  • Four courses in calculus or Honors Mathematics A-B, including Advanced Placement Credit.  A student who places out of Calc I/II with AP credits, will need to take a replacement course.
    • Calc I-IV OR Honors Mathematics A-B
  • Six courses in mathematics numbered at or above 2000, which must include the following:
    • Linear Algebra (MATH UN2010) (also satisfied by Honors Math A-B)
    • Intro Modern Algebra I (MATH GU4041)
    • Intro Modern Algebra II (MATH GU4042)
    • Intro Modern Analysis I (MATH GU4061)
    • Intro Modern Analysis II (MATH GU4062)
    • Undergraduate Seminars I (MATH UN3951) OR Undergraduate Seminars II (MATH UN3952 )
  • Four courses in any combination of mathematics and cognate courses.

Applied Mathematics:

  • Four courses in calculus or Honors Mathematics A-B, including Advanced Placement Credit.  A student who places out of Calc I/II with AP credits, will need to take a replacement course.
    • Calc I-IV OR Honors Mathematics A-B
  • Five courses in mathematics, which must include the following:
    • Linear Algebra (MATH UN2010) (also satisfied by Honors Math A-B)
    • Intro Modern Analysis I (MATH GU4061)
    • Sem-Problems in Applied Math (APMA E4901)
    • Sem-Problems in Applied Math (APMA E4903)
    • Undergrad Res. in Applied Math (APMA E3900) (may be replaced, with approval, by another technical elective for seniors that involves an undergraduate thesis or creative research report)
  • Additional electives to be approved by the Applied Math Committee, e.g.:
    • Analysis and Optimization (MATH UN2500)
    • Ordinary Differential Equations (MATH UN3027)
    • Fourier Analysis (MATH GU4032)
    • Etcetera

Mathematical Sciences:

  • Six courses from mathematics, which must include the following:
    • Calculus I (MATH UN1101)
    • Calculus II (MATH UN1102)
    • Calculus III (MATH UN1201)
    • Linear Algebra (MATH UN2010) (also satisfied by Honors Math A-B)
    • Intro to Higher Mathematics (MATH UN2000)
    • Ordinary Differential Equations (MATH UN3027 or MATH UN3027)
  • Five classes from a combination of statistics and computer science, including:
    • At least one of the following statistics courses:
      • Introduction to Statistics (STAT UN1101)
      • Calc-Based Intro to Statistics (STAT UN1201)
      • Or equivalent
    • At least one of the following programming courses:
      • Computing in Context (COMS W1002)
      • Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Java (COMS W1004) (preferred)
      • Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in MATLAB (COMS W1005)
      • Clean Object-Oriented Design (COMS W3107)
  • Three electives from a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science

Mathematics-Statistics:

  • One of the following sequences:
    • Calculus I (MATH UN1101), Calculus II (MATH UN1102), Calculus III (MATH UN1201), Linear Algebra (MATH UN2010), and Analysis and Optimization MATH UN2500
    • Honors Mathematics A (MATH UN1207), Honors Mathematics B (MATH UN1208), and Analysis and Optimization (MATH UN2500)
  • Five classes in statistics:
    • Required:
      • Calc-Based Intro to Statistics (STAT UN1201)
      • Probability Theory (STAT GU4203)
      • Statistical Inference (STAT GU4204)
      • Linear Regression Models (STAT GU4205)
    • Choose one from the following:
      • Elementary Stochastic Process (STAT GU4207)
      • Stochastic Processes for Finance (STAT GU4262)
      • Stochastic Processes-Applications I (STAT GU4264)
      • Stochastic Methods in Finance (STAT GU4265)
  • One class in computer science:
    • Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Java (COMS W1004)
    • Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in MATLAB (COMS W1005)
    • Clean Object-Oriented Design (COMS W3107)
    • Intro to Comp. for Engineering/Applied Science (ENGI E1006)
  • An approved selection of three advanced courses in mathematics, statistics, applied mathematics, industrial engineering and operations research, computer science, or approved mathematical methods courses in a quantitative discipline. At least one of these electives must be a Mathematics Department course numbered 3000 or above.

Mathematics-Computer Science (15 courses):

  • Four courses in calculus or Honors Mathematics A-B, including Advanced Placement Credit.  A student who places out of Calc I/II with AP credits, will need to take a replacement course.
    • Calc I-IV OR Honors Mathematics A-B
  • The following three classes in mathematics:
    • Linear Algebra (MATH UN2010) (also satisfied by Honors Math A-B)
    • Intro Modern Algebra I (MATH GU4041)
    • Undergraduate Seminars I (MATH UN3951) OR Undergraduate Seminars II (MATH UN3952)
  • Six core computer science classes:
    • Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Java (COMS W1004)
    • Data Structures in Java (COMS W3134)
    • Advanced Programming (COMS W3157)
    • Discrete Mathematics (COMS W3203)
    • Computer Science Theory (COMS W3261)
    • Fundamentals of Computer Systems (CSEE W3827)
  • At least two additional electives from computer science or math should be included. At least one should be level 3000 or higher; the second should be level 2000 or higher. Electives from other departments can be considered, such as statistics or applied math.

Course and Professor Recommendations:

Evan Sorensen – Professor Sorensen is genuinely one of the kindest and most effective professors I’ve had so far at Barnumbia. He’s new this year, but he is really great at answering questions and making complex concepts clear. He also very obviously loves math and loves what he does, which is really refreshing when you hit a rough patch in a class. If you can take a class with him, I highly recommend it.

Applied Computing (COMS BC3499) – If you have an independent research project that you think might reasonably fall into the Computer Science Department, I highly recommend taking Applied Computing if it’s running that semester. I took it with Professor Brian Plancher, who is my favorite person in CS at Barnard, and learned so much. It’s also a really rewarding experience to have an independent project go from start to finish in a single semester. Counts as an elective for most of the math majors!

Intro to Modern Algebra I/II (MATH GU4041-2) – Thaddeus has a bit of a fan club, but as someone who isn’t very deep into the major yet, I’ve never taken a class with him. However, many people speak very highly of him. The Intro to Modern Algebra sequence is required for a lot of the math majors, so think about trying out Thaddeus’ class. 

Advice:

  • Professor. First. I cannot stress this enough—when things get complex and classes get more difficult, taking class with a professor who you truly enjoy learning from and who you know cares about your understanding is crucial.
  • Go to office hours! Please! It is okay and normal to have questions—this is hard! TAs can also be an incredible resource if you need someone to talk to about the major, classes, etc. They’re awesome.
  • On that note, ask questions in class. As cliche as it is, there really are no stupid questions. Don’t be afraid to think out loud or be confused—other people are too!