The mathematics undergraduate program (MATH) offers two degrees, BA and BS in Mathematics, each with two options:
- Option A — Mathematics, which is a general degree for students interested in teaching or in continuing with a graduate education and
- Option B — Mathematical Sciences, which is more focused on applied mathematics.
A math degree teaches critical thinking, reasoning and problem-solving skills. These skills are highly valued by industry, government, and academia. In fact, career opportunities for math majors are numerous and varied. Some of the possible careers that a math major may choose include:
- Data scientists
- Logistics
- Actuaries
- Financial analysts
- Operations research analysts
- Cryptoanalysts
- K-12 Teachers
- Graduate studies and academia
Math majors typically have one of the highest median incomes of those who graduate from college. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for math occupations is well above $90,000 per year. Of course, your specific salary may depend on factors such as what industry you're working in and how much experience you have. Moreover, the BLS also reports that overall employment in math occupations is projected to grow 29% from 2021 to 2031 – much faster than the average for all occupations. This increase is expected to result in about 82,000 new jobs over the decade.
You can take a wide variety of interesting and cutting-edge courses. Here at UK, in addition to all the classical courses in the traditional math curriculum (abstract algebra, applied mathematics, mathematical analysis, topology) we have recently added a variety of new courses in cutting-edge areas of math that are geared to provide a focused emphasis for some of the careers mentioned above. Just some of these courses are:
- MA 323 — Mathematical Introduction to Data Science
- MA 327 — Strategic Decision Making: An Introduction to Game Theory
- MA 420G — Introduction to Stochastic Processes
- MA 421G — Mathematical Introduction to Deep Learning
- MA 427G — Financial Mathematics
The following links provide a detailed description of the program including the various opportunities for engagement (Math Club) and undergraduate research (UK Math Lab and REUs):
Undergraduate Program Overview
Transfer Equivalencies — https://admission.uky.edu/transfer/equivalencies
UK Core — http://catalogs.uky.edu/content.php?catoid=7&navoid=294