Mathematics Majors

Bachelor of Science students are required to include two majors or a double major in their degree program, except in "named" degrees.

Basic rules: 7 courses from a prescribed list, at most two counted from first year, three counted from third year. Some courses may be compulsory. For more precise, and official, information see the Undergraduate Handbook.

Majors with a significant Mathematics component

Mathematics, Single or Double major

Mathematics is the study of universal patterns and structures; it is the quantitative language of the world; it underpins information technology, computer science, engineering, and the physical sciences; and it plays an increasingly important role in the biological and medical sciences, economics, finance, environmental science, sociology and psychology.

You can do a Single or a Double Major in Mathematics. You can combine a major in Mathematics with other Majors, in particular the following in which mathematics courses are an important part: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Computational Modelling, Environmental Modelling, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, and Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics. Because of the prerequisites involved, these majors normally require MATH1014 (or MATH1116 for the later year Honours level courses).

You can continue onto graduate studies in mathematics or in a range of other fields such as those included in the above majors. Or you can work in many different occupations. By 2020 it is estimated up to 70% of all job categories are likely to change, 35% will disappear and be replaced by jobs that do not currently exist. “Employers … are more likely to hire someone with a good background in mathematics” (Ross Gittins, economics editor, Sydney Morning Herald). The 1999 US Jobs Rated Almanac ranked 250 jobs based on salary, work environment, security, stress level, physical demands, and outlook. The top five jobs were in mathematics or computer science and 9 of the top 10 were maths or computer related.

Astrophysics (with Physics & RSAA)

Astronomy and astrophysics is the study of everything beyond the Earth. It includes spaceflight, planets, stars, galaxies, black holes, dark matter, quasars, cosmology and the Big Bang.

Astronomers work in universities, at observatories, for various space agencies such as NASA, and at planetariums and science centres. Many ANU astronomy and astrophysics graduates can be found in all of these occupations. Astronomy jobs are, however, hard to find. Luckily, training in astronomy and astrophysics leaves you highly employable in many other fields. Astronomy graduates have mastered a wide range of mathematical, scientific, engineering and computational skills: this combination is very unusual and is much sought after by employers.

Computational Modelling (with Computer Science & Physics)

Computational Modelling is the application of mathematical models and computational techniques to the analysis of scientific, industrial and financial problems. It involves the formulation and analysis of models, the development and application of software packages and programs, computational simulation and visualization, mathematical and numerical analysis, and high-performance supercomputing. Typical application areas include stock market analysis, car crash simulation, drug design, earthquake prediction, medical imaging and oil recovery.

The major is offered jointly by the Departments of Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics. Students have access to computer resources that are unsurpassed in Australia. The ANU campus hosts the Australian Partnership for Advanced Computation (APAC) and its national facility supercomputer, and is a part of the APAC national education program. The ANU (and the University of NSW) are the primary nodes in the new “National Information and Communication Technology Australia Limited” (NICTA) funded by the Federal Government. NICTA is Australia’s pre-eminent research, research training and commercialization facility in these areas.

Students taking the major may emphasise either mathematics or computer science, and will acquire a strong background in both. Most students will choose to specialize (and will probably take a second major) in related fields or areas of application, such as biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, physics or statistics.

Graduates with skills and knowledge in the area of the major are highly sought after in industry and corporate IT areas, in scientific and financial research, and in large government departments or hospitals. Many will continue to post graduate study.

Environmental Modelling (with CRES, SRES, ICAM)

Australia’s environmental challenges and technically advanced society have put it at the international forefront of environmental modelling. Because of global climate change, desertification (including salinisation) and deforestation, we face critical environmental problems; for example, allocation of scarce water resources to meet increasing economic, water-quality and ecological demands. This Major combines an introduction to how mathematics and computing are helping to solve these problems together with courses dealing directly with environmental issues.

Career opportunities for graduates include research (CSIRO, universities, International Geosphere Biosphere Program), natural resource management (Murray Darling Basin Commission, Environment Australia, Bureau of Rural Sciences, state government agencies), and the private sector (environmental engineering, environmental impact assessment). Skills in this area provide a solid base for career opportunities also in other fields where mathematical modelling is crucial, such as engineering, finance and the sciences.

Later year students considering this major should note that for the third year GEOG courses, completion of either two or three second year courses in the Science Faculty, or permission of the lecturer, are sufficient prerequisites.

Mathematics and Statistics (with School of Finance and Applied Statistics)

Mathematics is the quantitative foundation for the physical and biological sciences, information technology, economics and commerce. Statistics is the science of learning from data; it is critical in determining what information is reliable and which conclusions can be trusted. Statisticians analyse data, design and test statistical models, make predictions, and design and analyse surveys and experiments.
The major provides a way for students to acquire a good mathematics background with a range of statistical skills. Students may continue on to graduate studies and further research. Students with the quantitative skills and knowledge acquired in this major are keenly sought after by employers in insurance and finance companies, and government departments, in fields such as agriculture, census work, consulting, genetics, bioinformatics, marketing, forestry, risk assessment, social and management sciences, and many others. Students may elect to take out a second major in mathematics, or statistics, or one of the other majors involving potential areas of application.

Mathematical Economics with the Faculty of Economics and Commerce

The major in mathematical economics gives students an opportunity to explore the intimate relationship between mathematics and economics through a program of study which focuses on mathematical analysis, modern statistical techniques and economic theory.

Mathematical Finance with the Faculty of Economics and Commerce

Mathematical /Quantitative Finance is an important and rapidly growing discipline. Apart from its huge contributions to the theory and practice of Finance, it has proved to be a major attraction both to mainstream Finance students and to Maths/Probability/Statistics students who want to add an interesting and important applications area to their study programme. In addition to this, it has given tremendous impetus to research in and applications of Probability Theory and some other Maths areas over the last 10 years or so. There is a large demand for qualified graduates in the area. Quantitative Finance students need a strong background in all three disciplines: Finance, Probability, and Statistics, as well as a good general mathematical background.

Mathematical Physics (with Physics & RSPhysSE)

This major is intended for students with a keen interest in both (Theoretical) Physics and (Pure) Mathematics. It is the pathway to research into modern areas of Theoretical Physics as well as Mathematical Physics (such as String Theory and Integrable Models). This major will normally be done as a double major with either Physics, Mathematics or Astrophysics.

Quantitative Biology & Bioinformatics (with BAMBI, BOZO, JCSMR & CBiS)

The intention of the major is to attract students with good quantitative skills into biology, and for these students to keep a quantitative stream going through to third year. The 2003 report from the US National Research Council, the Board on Life Sciences, entitled Undergraduate Biology Education for Future Research Biologists, emphasises “… the importance of building a strong foundation in mathematics and the physical and information sciences to prepare students for research that is increasingly interdisciplinary in character” (Recommendation 1). The importance of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and the physical sciences for future researchers in biology is the fundamental emphasis of this report.

Students doing the major will need in first year to complete BIOL1003, BIOL1004, two courses in mathematics, two in chemistry, and are strongly urged to do physics or computer science, even though a consequence is that they would not then do other first biology courses. Students will be required to complete the second year course MATH 2307 “Bioinformatics and Biological Modelling” and will study some mathematics and biology through to third year. Students are strongly encouraged to do further biology and mathematics courses and will often take out a second major emphasising one of these directions.

 

Physics and other Science Majors involve variable amounts of Mathematics

List of all Science Majors

This page was updated on Friday September 11, 2009