What is Mathematics and Statistics?
The study of mathematics and statistics focuses on the core problem-solving and quantitative as well as qualitative reasoning skills that form the backbone of most scholarly and professional pursuits. Because of this versatility, coursework in mathematics and statistics can serve as a "wild card" that will prepare students for success in a multitude of careers and graduate programs.
Awareness
First Year
- Develop attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
- Develop strong statistical, analytical, problem solving, and computer skills.
- Take MA 150 Contemporary Math-Stat Seminar
Middle Years
- Depending on your career goals, take at least one of the following courses to help you
specialize in a subdiscipline;
Last Year
- Apply to graduate.
- Apply for jobs.
- Apply for graduate school (optional).
- Apply for scholarships and/or assistantships for graduate school.
Exploration
First Year
- Explore student organizations and
leadership opportunities through Involve South. - Explore the UTeach South Program and find out if it is a good fit for you.
Middle Years
- Apply for the Pi Mu Epsilon Honor Society after completing two mathematics courses beyond MA 126 - Calculus II.
- Apply for other honor societies and explore their scholarship offerings.
- Explore Study Abroad opportunities.
Last Year
- Research graduate programs
- Math/Stat graduate programs often go under names such as Applied Mathematics, Mathematics with Computation, Mathematical Sciences, Applied Statistics, Biostatistics, Statistical Data Science, and many others. You may consider a STEM graduate program, such as Computer Science.
Preparation
First Year
- Login to Handshake and build profile strength to 75%+.
- Contact Career Development. Meet with a career consultant to discuss career goals and research fields of specialization in mathematics and statistics.
Middle Years
- Prepare to apply for internships, summer jobs, or volunteer positions.
- Attend the HireAJag Career Fair (held each fall and spring) and networking events to become knowledgeable of career opportunities available.
Last Year
- Decide between job search or graduate school before final semester.
- Meet with Career Development to finalize resume and job search or graduate school planning.
Research Options
- Communicate with different faculty on their areas of research and decide which align with your Math/Stat interests.
- Explore on campus undergraduate research opportunities - Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) or other research opportunities - Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs.
- Apply for undergraduate summer research programs (either on-campus SURF program or
other REU nationwide programs).
What can I do with this major?
101 Careers in Mathematics
is published by MAA Press: An Imprint of the American Mathematical Society. It details over one hundred different professionals, each of whom had a different path to their career of choice that included a degree in mathematics or statistics. But very few of them use the term “mathematician” or “statistician” in their titles! Instead they have roles such as:
- Finance Specialist
- Chief Investment Officer
- Supply Chain Analyst
- Software Developer
- Database Administrator
- Subject Matter Expert in Cryptography
- Senior-Level Bicycle Planner
What skills will I earn?
- Written and Verbal Communication
- Problem-Solving
- Critical and Logical Thinking
- Computational Proficiency
- Modeling Real-World Situations with Mathematics
- Data Literacy and Statistical Methodologies
- And many more, depending on your course selection
