Mathematics Minors
A minor is a grouping of 6 or more courses, totaling 18 to 21 credits, of which 12 credits are usually in 300 to 400 level courses. A minor may be similar to, and named for, an existing major such as Chemistry. Or, it may be a special, interdisciplinary grouping such as Judaic Studies. The department or college offering the minor determines which courses are required and any course options. Some colleges may actually require a formal minor as part of the degree program.
A minor provides an excellent opportunity to blend another subject area into your degree your degree program on a smaller scale without the additional requirements of a double major, dual degree or combined degree. A minor may be related to and complement your major, or, it may be in a completely different academic/professional area. Some colleges may not approve a minor that is too close to your major. Because a completed minor appears on your transcript after graduation, it shows in an official way, another area of preparation and highlights another dimension of educational background to support an application for graduate study or employment.
Enrolling in a Minor:
Restrictions, Limitations, Eligibility Requirements
Pursuing a minor should be dicussed with your academic advisor. Then complete a petition form, available in your dean's office, requesting to formally pursue the minor. The petition must be signed by your advisor, the department or college offering the minor, and your home college dean's office, which will complete the paperwork to enter the minor on your student record.
Information about the few minors that have enrollment limits or eligibility requirements can be obtained at the sponsoring department/college. The sponsoring unit can explain specific course requirements and options for the minor.
When pursuing a minor, try to have the paperwork completed before registration because the minor must be officially listed on your record to assure registering for certain restricted courses.
Minor in Mathematics
The minor in mathematics requires the completion of 21 credits with a grade point average of 2.0 or better. Students complete a 15 credit core that includes:
- The calculus sequence: MAT 295, 296, 397 and:
- either MAT 331 (recommended) or MAT 485
In addition, students select 6 credits in one of the following subject areas:
- Algebra: MAT 531 and one course chosen from MAT 534, 541 or MAT/CIS 545
- Analysis: Any two courses chosen from MAT 511, 512, 513, 562
- Applied Mathematics: Any two courses chosen from MAT 517, 518, 532
- Differential Equations: MAT 514, 517
- Geometry: MAT 531, 551 or MAT 531, 554
- Probability and Statistics: MAT 521, 525 or MAT 521, 526
Note: Students who take MAT 485 instead of MAT 331 may not use the differential equations sequence to satisfy minor requirements.
Minor in Statistics
The Statistics Program at Syracuse University is an interdisciplinary program within the College of Arts and Sciences. It includes faculty from computer and information science, management, mathematics, psychology, and the social sciences, among others. It was created in 1989 by a team of faculty members from across the University in order to meet the growing demand for statistics training and advice at all levels of the academic community--undergraduate, graduate, and faculty. The Program offers an undergraduate concentration in applied statistics, sponsors a speakers series that hosts visiting statisticians and scientists, and offers an M. S. in Applied Statistics degree.
Statistics Courses:
A complete listing of courses in statistics and related subject matter may be found in both the Undergraduate Catalogue and the Graduate Catalogue. These courses are provided by various departments of the University, including Economics, Geography, Mathematics, Psychology, Public Affairs, Sociology, and other social sciences, and in the School of Management (in both "Managerial Statistics" and "Quantitative Methods'), Information Studies, Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering and the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. Each semester the Program compiles a descriptive listing of course offerings that provide basic instruction in statistical science and its applications. This listing appears regularly in the Time Schedule of Classes.
The Program Faculty:
There are more than 50 faculty members affiliated with the Program, distributed throughout the academic programs of the University. A list is available upon request. The Executive Committee includes:
Susan Borker, Sociology
Chung Chen, School of Management
Pinyuen Chen, Mathematics
Daniel Griffith, Geography
Silas Halperin, Psychology
Mark Miller, Computing Services
Kishan Mehrotra, Computer and Information Science
Jan Ondrich, Economics
Steve Stehman, SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry
Undergraduate Minor Program of Study:
The undergraduate minor requires 18 credit hours of coursework in statistics (at least 15 of these must be taken at SU), consisting of 1 course or sequence in basic statistics, 1 course in regression analysis, and the remaining credits to be chosen from other statistics courses. The student selects these six courses with the help of an advisor, who is a member of the Program's faculty, and the Program Director. The resulting curriculum should minimize overlap of course content. Once submitted to the Program Director, the minor program of study must be approved by a committee of program faculty.
Each minor program must satisfy the following distributional requirements:
Basic Statistics: (3 credits)
APM 391: Introduction to probability and statistics
APM 395: Probability and statistics for engineers
CIS 321: Introduction to Probability and Statistics
ECN 521: Economic statistics
ISE 326: Statistical methods for engineers
MAS 261: Introductory statistics for management
MAT121: Probability and statistics for the liberal arts
MAT 221: Elementary Probability and Statistics I
MAT 321: Statistical methods in social science
MAT 521: Introduction to probability and statistics
MFE 326: Probability and statistics methods
STT101: Introduction to statistics
Regression analysis (3 credits)
ECN 522: Econometrics Methods
MAS 466: Data mining for managers
Additional coursework (12 credits)
APM 510: Statistical analysis
ECS 525: Probability for engineers I
ECS 526: Statistics for engineers
GEO 386: Introduction to quantitative methods in geography
MAT 525: Mathematical Statistics
MAT 526: Probability
MAS 362: Decision tools for management
MAS 465: Applied sample survey methods
MAS 477: Time-series analysis and Forecasting
MAX 201: Quantitative methods for the social sciences
PSY 252: Statistical methods II
SOC 318: Introduction to research
SOC 513: Statistics for social science
Admission:
The College of Arts and Sciences offers the applied statistics minor as an optional program of study that may be taken in addition to major programs, and recognizes it on an arts and sciences student's transcripts. To apply for admission to this minor, a student must complete a petition to the faculty (forms may be obtained from 329HL), and submit it to the Director of the Program. The Director forwards approved petitions to the Dean's Office for his signature. The Statistics Program has sole discretion in admitting students to this minor. The minor is recorded on transcripts only after a student has been certified by the home college for a degree with a major program of study.
Contact: Pinyuen Chen, pinchen@syr.edu, 315-443-1577.
