At Rensselaer our aim is to provide an education in mathematics, both as a subject in itself and as a discipline to aid in the development of other social and scientific fields.
The curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics features four capstones that have been designed to aid students in constructing programs which reflect their interests and career objectives. The capstone requirements are new and provide a higher level of flexibility in the curriculum, and they apply for students entering in the Fall, 2016, or later. (Students that entered the program prior to the Fall, 2016, may follow the previous requirements in place when they entered the program, or they may opt to switch to the new curriculum requirements.)
Students who successfully complete this program will be able to demonstrate:
Traditionally, mathematics has provided the language and rigorous analysis at the core of many areas of science and engineering, and today it is reaching exciting new areas such as art and social science. Our program in mathematics provides a deep and broad curriculum emphasizing rigorous proofs as they arise in mathematical analysis and linear algebra. There is enough flexibility for students to pursue additional topics in Abstract Algebra, Geometry and Number Theory, as well as other areas of pure and applied mathematics.
Requirements & Courses for students entering in the Fall of 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019. All course catalogs can be found here.
Mathematics is a fundamental component of modern scientific and engineering endeavors, for which it provides a common quantitative language. Having always been indispensable in engineering and the physical sciences, the use of methods and techniques of applied mathematics has been spreading rapidly into other areas of natural and social sciences. Our Applied Mathematics program emphasizes both the modeling of observed phenomena and processes, as well as methods of analyzing the resulting mathematical problems.
Requirements & Courses for students entering in the Fall of 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019. All course catalogs can be found here.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of numerical modeling and simulation in science, engineering and finance. Our curriculum focuses on the mathematical development, analysis, and application of numerical methods. It is also designed to allow for the flexibility to pursue associated studies in computer science and application fields.
Requirements & Courses for students entering in the Fall of 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019. All course catalogs can be found here.
Operations research, including mathematical programming and data science, is of fundamental importance in many areas of science, engineering, and business. In today’s world of massive data sets there is a significant need for mathematicians with a deep understanding of the analysis and algorithms for Big-Data applications. Our curriculum in operations research emphasizes the use of mathematics in developing and studying analytical models of discrete systems, especially those which arise in management, engineering and social sciences.
Requirements & Courses for students entering in the Fall of 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019. All course catalogs can be found here.
The Arch is a unique approach to education that provides flexibility in the semester schedule, allowing students to pursue professional and personal development opportunities that prepare them to meet the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century. The Arch is a requirement of the Rensselaer curriculum.
Summer Here
During The Arch, students remain on campus for the summer after their sophomore year, taking junior-level classes, and receive focused attention from professors at this pivotal point in their academic progression.
The World Away
Then, students leave the Troy campus for a semester during the traditional junior year—either fall or spring—to pursue their passions in the form of co-ops, internships, civic engagement, research, or international experiences. Students who pursue these opportunities during their academic career are better prepared for future professional careers and graduate school.
For more information regarding the Arch, please visit https://info.rpi.edu/the-arch
Every student who declares mathematics as a major is assigned a faculty advisor. Advisors are professors who help each student tailor their academic program to his or her needs throughout the full four years at Rensselaer. Students consult with their advisors during the registration period for each term, and advisors are available for advice or assistance at any time of the year, when questions or problems arise.
Don Schwendeman (student last name A-K), John Mitchell (student last name L-R), Gina Kuchinski (student last name S-Z)
Jeff Banks (student last name A-Li), Peter Kramer (student last name Liang-Z)
Eliane Zerbetto Traldi (student last name A-K) and Bruce Piper (student last name L-Z)
Gregor Kovacic (student last name A-Lan), Fengyan Li (student last name Land-R), Daniel Stevenson (student last name S-Z)
Mark Holmes (student last name A-J), Elizabeth Kam (student last name K-R), and Yangyang Xu (student last name S-Z)
Academic awards for seniors who demonstrated outstanding ability in his or her academic work.
Student researchers play a critical role in the world-changing discovery, innovation, and breakthroughs taking place across campus.
Discover groups of students that enjoy mathematics and solving problems, and that challenge themselves in annual math contests and competitions.
The nine free electives in the math curriculum provide a unique opportunity to pursue a dual major.
A national mathematics honor society promoting mathematical scholarship and collegiality between math students.
