Minor in Mathematics with Honors

Department of Mathematics, Texas A&M University

Director of Math Honors Program: Matthew Young (Blocker 641E, myoung@math.tamu.edu)

What is an Honors Mathematics Program?

The Mathematics Department offers a variety of honors courses. Mathematics minors who fulfill specific requirements, basically to take four mathematics honors courses and two science or engineering honors courses, can graduate with an Honors Minor in Mathematics designation on their transcripts. All honors classes taken at A&M for the honors minor in math will count towards Honors Fellows. (An Honors Major in Mathematics is also available.)

What is an honors course?

"Honors courses are intended to be more complex, not necessarily more difficult," and "are expected to provide increased intellectual challenge through more sophisticated material, a higher level of intellectual engagement, and more responsibility for the learning process than would typically be expected in an undergraduate course," according to the university. The philosophy of the Mathematics Department is that honors students should be more intellectually curious, more motivated, and more independent than the average undergraduate.

Perks of being an Honors Mathematics Minor

• Smaller classes with an enriched learning experience.
• Looks great on a resume.

Becoming an Honors Mathematics Minor

• Declare a mathematics minor through your department.
• Complete the requirements for the honors minor below.
• In the beginning of the semester in which you will graduate, notify the Director of Honors Programs in Mathematics that you are graduating with an Honors Minor in Mathematics.

NOTE: Any student with at least a 3.5 GPA may take an honors class if there are seats available, but doing so does not, by itself, earn the student the Honors distinctions. Any honors classes taken before declaring a mathematics minor may used to fulfill the program requirements.

Requirements to earn the transcript distinction of Honors Minor in Mathematics

Any student who has completed all of the requirements for a major in some field with a minor in mathematics is eligible for an Honors Minor in Mathematics. To receive the Honors Minor in Mathematics distinction the student must take 18 hours of honors coures at Texas A&M according to the following criteria:

1. at least 3 hours in an honors mathematics course 100 level or above (however, honors Calculus I does not count towards the honors minor in mathematics distinction);
2. additionally at least 6 hours in honors mathematics courses 300 level or above or 300H (formerly 220H);
3. additionally at least 3 hours in an honors mathematics course 400 level or above;
4. additionally at least 6 hours in honors courses at Texas A&M, which can be taken in any department, including mathematics.

NOTES:

• Of the 6 hours listed in 4. above, honors Calculus III may be used for a maximum of 3 hours.
• All honors courses must be taken at Texas A&M.
• No more than 6 hours combined of 491H and 485H may be counted towards an Honors Minor in Mathematics.

Eligible Mathematics Courses when offered; no guarantee that they will be:

• 152H, 172H (151H, 171H do not count towards the honors minor distinction!)
• 221H, 251H, 253H
• 300H (formerly 220H), 302H, 304H, 308H, 309H, 311H, 323H, 325H
• all 400-level honors math courses except 401, 403, 433, 490; &nbs 485H and 491H credit REU require the prior approval of the Director of the Honors Programs in Mathematics.
• all 600-level courses except 601, 695, 696.
• Three sample programs to fulfill the honors requirements are:
  • Math 152H, Math 251H, Math 300H (formerly 220H), Math 308H, Math 323H, Math 412H
  • Chem 101H, Chem 102H, Math 251H, Math 304H, Math 308H, Math 412H
  • Phys 206H, Phys 207H, Math 221H, Math 308H, Math 414H, Math 460H

Grade requirements at the time of graduation:

1. a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5;
2. a grade point average of at least 3.25 and no grade lower than a B in the 18 required honors hours;
3. no grade of F* on the transcript.