This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2026-27.
Major Requirements
The requirements for a major are as follows:
Preparatory Courses
These courses do not count toward the major, but are prerequisites to some upper-level courses.
All of the Following
In unusual circumstances, the following deadlines may be extended with departmental approval through student petition to the department chair.
- MATH 163 - Calculus III (completed by the end of the sophomore year)
- MATH 214 - Linear Algebra (completed by the end of the sophomore year)
- MATH 250 - Number Theory & Math Reasoning (completed by the end of the sophomore year with a grade of C or better)
- MATH 375 - Abstract Algebra I (completed by the end of the junior year)
- MATH 377 - Real Analysis I (completed by the end of the junior year)
Electives
- Four MATH electives
- One elective from 200-level or above
- Three electives from 300-level and above
Note that all four electives may be 300-level or above.
Electives may be any MATH course at the appropriate level except MATH 481, MATH 482 and MATH 483.
Senior Thesis
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Majors must complete a thesis, normally during MATH 483 - Senior Seminar: Mathematics
Note: Joint theses are allowed but will not normally be considered for honors. Exceptions may be made with departmental permission.
Recommended
The department strongly recommends that students pursuing a major in mathematics complete (with lab) or equivalent.
GPA Requirement
A minimum GPA of at least 2.00 in mathematics courses counted for the major is necessary to satisfy the major.
Honors and High Honors
To be considered for honors in Mathematics, a student must achieve a 3.3 GPA in the major. In order to be considered for high honors, a 3.7 GPA in the major is required. For both honors and high honors, completion of a course numbered 400 or above besides 481-483 is required.
Honors / High Honors are attained by a student's production and defense of a thesis of distinction. The student's thesis adviser puts forward the thesis for honors consideration. Subsequently, a committee of three faculty members is formed, one being the student's thesis advisor, the others chosen by the department. The student must give a defense of the thesis. The committee of three, with other faculty members acting in an advisory capacity with a recommendation, then grades the project, consisting of the thesis and defense. In order for honors to be granted, the committee of three must grade the project as A- or better. In the event all three grade the project as A or better, high honors will be granted.
Joint theses are allowed but will not normally be considered for honors. Exceptions may be made with departmental permission.
As a reminder to the student writing theses for two different departments: Colgate's Honor Code states that substantial portions of the same academic work may not be submitted for credit or honors more than once without the permission of the instructor(s).
Honors are not awarded for a thesis produced in a student's terminal semester at Colgate.
Mathematics Department
For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the catalog page.