<p>Hello CC, I have a very simple question. Is a BSc in Math required in order to be admitted to a Math PhD program or you just need to have the prerequisite courses regardless of your major?</p>
<p>Check out this [GRE</a> Subject Tests: Mathematics](<a href=“http://www.ets.org/gre/subject/about/content/mathematics]GRE”>http://www.ets.org/gre/subject/about/content/mathematics)</p>
<p>That’s the content of the subject test. I do not believe any college requires you to be a math major though I probably would do that physics, engineering, or math. There is a lot on that subject test math majors usually cover all of it.</p>
<p>No, you can be Math, CS, Physics or Engineering…probably Chemistry too if one majored in Analytical Chemistry. The PhD programs care that you took the right courses. At a minimum it is: One whole year of some type of “analysis” (Analysis, Real Analysis, Advanced Theoretical Calculus) AND One whole year of Abstract Algebra.</p>
<p>One year = 2 semesters or 3 quarters</p>
<p>I wanted to point that out because some B.S. Math programs only require one semester of each OR 1 year of either Algebra or Analysis.</p>
<p>Perhaps not an explicit math major, but substantial course work in math approximating what a math major would take.</p>
<p>[PhD</a> Program | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley](<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/programs/graduate/phd-program]PhD”>PhD Program | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley)</p>
<p>For reference, the same department’s undergraduate math and applied math majors:</p>
<p>[Course</a> Requirements: Pure Mathematics | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley](<a href=“Meet the Mathematics Undergraduate Advising Community! | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley”>Course Requirements: Pure Mathematics | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley)
[Course</a> Requirements: Applied Mathematics | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley](<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/programs/undergraduate/major/applied]Course”>Course Requirements: Applied Mathematics | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley)</p>
<p>Well, I’m actually going for a CS major, but I’m very interested in the mathy-theoretical side of it and also in computational sciences which is also heavily math based, applied math anyway. Doing a PhD in Math is just only one of my options for grad school.</p>
<p>Say, if I don’t take some of the required courses, can I take them in the school I’d apply for the PhD? Would that be before or after getting admitted?</p>
<p>Physics or computer science (with enough calc/linear algebra/math electives), are probably your best bets as they are the “mathiest” undergrad majors. Then EE or ChemE or MechE or Aero.</p>
<p>For physics grad school, they usually want you to have taken classical mechanics, quantum, e&m, and stat mech/thermo. Find out what the analogous core group of classes are for math. I’ll wager it’s calc, analysis, discrete math, group theory but I’m just spit-balling. As in physics, I’ll bet that if you haven’t covered the necessary material as an undergrad (maybe you left one or two out) but you look promising, they would be willing to accept you but make you take the undergrad versions of those courses or self-study the material before starting the grad level version.</p>
<p>As a CS major, you are likely to have the schedule space to take core math major courses like real analysis, complex analysis, abstract algebra (useful in cryptography anyway), and linear algebra (theoretical and proof oriented). Or even add a second major in math. See the links in #4 for typical expectations for preparing for a PhD program.</p>
<p>Thanks for the links ucbalumnus, they were really useful.</p>
<p>A lot of people have asked me why don’t I simply major in Math, and that’s because I wanna be a little more competitive for the job market in case I don’t make it to grad school right after college.</p>