FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How do I get a Math advisor assigned to me?

   Call the Math Department office at 303-556-8442. Ask the secretary to assign you one. You may change advisors at any time. Any regular faculty member in the Math Department may serve as your advisor.

2. What is a Math Option?

   Besides the BS in mathematics, the department offers several options. These options choose specific courses among the required courses to emphasize certain areas in mathematics. The options will appear on your transcript, not on your diploma. You may actually declare an option or use the option requirements to help you choose your courses for the requirements for the BS degree. The option requirements are more strict than the general requirements and you should not choose one unless you think its name on your transcript is worth the restrictions. The list of options and their requirements are on the mathematics undergraduate home page.

3. Whom do I see to transfer a mathematics course I took at another institution to an equivalent CU-Denver mathematics course at UCD? What information must I bring to this person?

   The person to see is the staff support person for the undergraduate program. The office is in the main Mathematics Department office on the 6th floor of the CU Building Room 601. You should bring a syllbus or course outline for the course in question, which includes the prerequisites for the course. If you have any of your work for the course, that would also be helpful. If the institution at which you took the course is not a accredited institution of higher education in the United States, you will need to provide information about that institution. Transfer credit requests are reviewed roughly once a week. You will notified by email of the decision.

4. What is the difference between a BS in applied mathematics with a computer science option and a BS in computer science?

   The computer science major usually has just enough hours in mathematics to get a math minor. A math major with a computer science option has at least 21 more hours in mathematics. You would go with the math major if you were more interested in developing mathematical programs or using the computer to solve scientific problems. You would go with a computer science major if you had a broader interest in the structure of hardware and/or software than just mathematical applications. You would do well to talk to both a math advisor and a computer science advisor to get more specific information.

5. Which upper division math courses can I take at Metro and still get credit for a UCD math degree?

   Every upper division math course at Metro that is equivalent to a UCD math course can be apply toward your degree at UCD. There are, however, three residency requirements. The first is a department requirement that at least 15 upper division math credits applied toward the degree must be from classes taken at UCD. The last two are college requirements. A student must earn a minimum of 30 residence credit hours in CLAS and a minimum of 21 out of the last 30 credit hours applied toward the degree must be in residence in CLAS. Students with further questions in this area should see a CLAS advisor.

6. Can I apply a 5000 level math class to both an undergraduate and graduate degree?

   No. In fact, if you take a 5000 level or above math class while still an undergraduate, you must inform CLAS advising and your math advisor if you do not want to have it count toward the undergraduate degree. There is a restriction on the number of graduate courses taken as an undergraduate you can transfer to the graduate program.

7. I have been going to school part time. Do the math courses I took 10 years ago still apply towards my degree?

   If you are working on an undergraduate math degree and you have not used the courses toward any other degree, then there is no time limit for credit. If they are to be transferred, there must be equivalent courses at UCD. However, if some of the courses are prerequisites for current courses, then the instructors will assume you know the material currently taught in the prerequisite courses. If you have forgotten the material or if the course has changed, it might be advisable to retake it.

8. What must I do to have another major and a math major?

   It depends what the second major is.

   • If the second major is also in CLAS, then you must simply satisfy the requirements for both majors and the rules for the college.
   • If the second major is in a different college, like the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences then you must
   • Satisfy the requirements for both colleges.
   • Satisfy the requirements for both majors
   • Take an additional 30 credit hours over the required hours for graduation of the college that has the highest required hours for graduation.
   • You must be registered in the college with the highest tuition
   • You do not have to satisfy the residency requirement of CLAS that the last 30 credit hours must be courses taken in CLAS providing that at least 30 credit hours (but not necessarily the LAST 30 ) are taken in CLAS
   • You shoud be aware that if one college accepts a course as part of the core requirement, the other college may not. Talk to the advisors in BOTH colleges before taking a core course.