Department of Mathematics
Introduction
Mathematics has always been a fundamental component of human thought and culture, and the growth of technology in recent times has further increased its importance. UNC–Chapel Hill offers several degrees in mathematics and the mathematical sciences, providing students a choice of careers in this field. Among the jobs in industry, government, and the academic world that involve mathematics are actuary, data analyst, modeler, optimizer, statistician, and computer analyst.
Advising
All majors and minors have a primary academic advisor assigned in ConnectCarolina. Students should regularly meet with their advisors and review their Tar Heel Trackers to be sure that they are satisfying distribution and degree requirements. In addition, drop in advising is available each semester in the math department. Students who have declared a math major and have completed MATH 233 are required to attend a math department advising session to discuss course selections and any other questions before a hold on registration is lifted. The department’s director of undergraduate studies and manager of student services (see contact tab above) are also available by appointment. Further information on courses, undergraduate research opportunities, the honors program, careers, and graduate schools may be obtained from the department’s website.
Placement into Mathematics Courses
Standardized test scores such as the Advanced Placement (AP) or the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) can be used for placement into mathematics courses. Students who do not have placement scores via the AP, ACT or SAT may take the department's ALEKS Placement Test. Please visit the placement page of the department’s website for specific information regarding placement and departmental placement tests.
Graduate School and Career Opportunities
The B.S. degree program, especially if it includes the sequences MATH 521–MATH 522 and MATH 577–MATH 578, is excellent preparation for graduate study in the mathematical sciences. The B.A. degree can be excellent preparation for graduate study in many fields, including admission into professional schools of law, business, and medicine. Both degrees are viewed by many employers as attractive, especially when accompanied by electives in areas such as statistics, computer science, data science, economics, and operations research. Undergraduate mathematics majors with critical thinking skills and good analytical abilities are in demand in many business, industry, and government fields.
Professors
David Adalsteinsson, Idris Assani, Prakash Belkale, Roberto Camassa, Yaiza Canzani, Ivan V. Cherednik, Hans Christianson, M. Gregory Forest, Boyce Griffith, Jingfang Huang, Shrawan Kumar, Yifei Lou, Jeremy Marzuola, Richard McLaughlin, Jason Metcalfe, Sorin Mitran, Katherine Newhall, Richárd Rimányi, Lev Rozansky, Justin Sawon, Alexander N. Varchenko, Mark Williams.
Associate Professors
Olivia Dumitrescu, Jiuzu Hong, David Rose, Pedro Sáenz, Andrey Smirnov.
Assistant Professors
Arunima Bhattacharya, Thomas Chandler, Shahar Kovalsky, Caroline Moosmueller, Casey Rodriguez, Philip Tosteson, Daping Weng.
Teaching Faculty
Emily Burkhead, Joseph Compton, Mark McCombs, Elizabeth McLaughlin, John Noonan, Miranda Thomas.
Professors Emeriti
Joseph A. Cima, Patrick B. Eberlein, Ladnor D. Geissinger, Sue E. Goodman, Jane M. Hawkins, Christopher Jones, Ancel Mewborn, Karl E. Peterson, Joseph F. Plante, Robert Proctor, James D. Stasheff, Michael E. Taylor, Jonathan M. Wahl, Warren R. Wogen.
