UVA Mathematics

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
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<p>I'm starting at UVA this fall, and I am pretty certain that I am going to major in math, with the intention of continuing to grad school. However, I have a couple questions about the department.</p>

<p>What exactly is undergrad math research like, and how easy is it to do at UVA? I'm a Science Scholar (and Echols, but I think that that's less relevant), if it helps.</p>

<p>What are typical first-year/semester courses, given that I have AP and dual-enrollment credit for BC and Multivariable Calculus, respectively (so, second-year might be a better description)? On that topic, is Lou's List missing courses? [url=<a href="http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/mySIS/CS2/page.php?Semester=1118&Type=Group&Group=Mathematics%5DIt%5B/url"&gt;http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/mySIS/CS2/page.php?Semester=1118&Type=Group&Group=Mathematics]It[/url&lt;/a&gt;] seems to have many of the courses that I would expect, but there's no complex variables course, for example, which seems odd.</p>

<p>How hard are the classes? Does it just depend on the professor/course? Would it be at all reasonable to take, say, Intro to ODEs and Basic Real Analysis in the same semester (for someone with exposure to the material of both courses)? Is there a good reason to do this, or not do do this?</p>

<p>How hard is it to get permission to take graduate-level classes? I don't know if it's presumptuous to think that I'll have a reason to do so, but I do have something like 12 credits of math already (including AP Statistics).</p>

<p>Thanks for any help.</p>

2

<p>Calling Hazel (a math major who is killing it)</p>

3

<p>I just finished my first year and so far have taken multivariable calc, linear algebra, and ODE, and I’ve been satisfied with the quality of the professors so far. I can’t speak for upper level classes, but the material I’ve learned wasn’t all that difficult (probably due to minimal proof writing).</p>

<p>Since you already have credit for multivariable, I would definitely recommend taking ODE and linear algebra first semester, and maybe even advanced calculus or basic real analysis.</p>

<p>Although, I’m not sure if adv. calc will be particularly useful unless you’re interested in physics, and it might be better to put off real analysis until spring when a better professor teaches it.</p>

<p>Oh and complex variables is only offered in the spring. I’ve been told complex variables should be taken after analysis (even though it’s not a prerequisite).</p>

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<p>Have you looked at this to find the UG math courses offered at UVa and suggested sequences? </p>

<p><a href=“http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/mathematics/academics/undergraduate/degree/documents/major_requirements.pdf[/url]”>http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/mathematics/academics/undergraduate/degree/documents/major_requirements.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Lou’s List only shows the courses offered that semester. E.g., the current version lists those classes offered Fall 2011. If you want to see classes usually offered in the Spring, change the “term” on Lou’s List to Spring 2011. For further listings of all classes authorized for the Math Dept., look at the Undergraduate Course Record: [University</a> of Virginia - Acalog ACMS?](<a href=“http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/]University”>http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/). One caveat, though, just because a course is listed doesn’t mean it will be offered during your tenure at UVa. Some departments list when various courses are offered on their specific pages and others do not.</p>

<p>Good luck at UVa.</p>

5

<p>I came in with Calc 2 and 3 and Diff Eq. Here was my schedule fwiw:</p>

<p>semester 1: prob (310) and survey (354… my favorite class ever… apparently unlike most other math majors who hate it???)
semester 2: pseudo-grad algebra - 552 (big mistake, do not do this… hardest class ever, even one of my friends who just got an nsf fellowship… he used to post here actually, ehiunno… says it was a beast of a class. at least take real and 551 first)
semester 3: 553 (number theory… great class)
semester 4: 503 (history of math… also a great class but only take it with k parshall who is currently not teaching it for a few years)
summer: stat with calc 312… horrible class but i loved the prof, this random irish dude.
semester 5: discrete (404 - phenomenal easy class) and linear - 351 (again easy class, again i took it with k parshall, my 3rd class with her, she was my advisor. her husband also taught my number theory class).
semester 6 (last math classes): complex - 334 (hard class to wrap your head around, I still got an A but it was really topology heavy at least with zoran. he at least made all of the tests just lecture problems with new numbers which was ridiculous) and geometry - 570 (this is a great class, the math ed people take it so it isn’t too hard, and is really interesting. i took this and discrete with greg arone who is a great teacher especially considering/because of his hearing impairment, he over compensates and so teaches much better than a lot of other profs).
I got pretty good grades in the 300 level classes my first year, but the 500 level one was out of my league. The other 500 levels I got A-s in if that helps you gauge stuff, like, if you take your first year to actually prepare yourself you can handle it later for sure. The 500 level ones are open to ugrads, but not the 700 level ones. You could probably get into those as a College Sci Scholar though… again like your 3rd or 4th year.</p>

<p>So I never took Diff Eq here or Real, but I’ve heard great things about Real so I think a lot of good profs teach that class, if you are into re proving calculus (seriously… hated calculus. I am an algebra person through and through, the topology and calculus in 334 was horrible for me). Not as good things about Diff Eq.</p>

<p>I would REALLY recommend Math 300, the intro to college math proofs or whatever class. I wish this class had existed when I was coming in my first year, but I really loved Survey with K Parshall and it ended up making my math experience here amazing so I guess I don’t regret that. I actually couldn’t get into Linear and so I took that class instead and I’m really glad, Linear would have been with Zoran instead of being able to take it later with KP. Zoran is okay but he never really prepares for class like KP does.</p>

<p>Anyways there is going to be a new math professor this fall but seriously the professor makes the class so make sure to check that they have good ratings on thecourseforum (.com).</p>

<p>I also didn’t research, but KP’s husband, the one I mentioned who taught number theory, just took on an REU this summer so I think it is pretty open and if you approach a prof they can set you up with someone who is interested in what you are interested in. You also should realize most math REUs are for some reason at colleges you don’t go to. There’s a big application process. But really make sure to chat up your profs, go to their office hours just to hang out. KP always liked that and we do lunch now. And don’t be bullied into letting them assign you an advisor, just go to the prof you like and they will probably take you on since you are pretty above average with what you are coming in with. That’s how I got KP even after she stopped teaching classes. But you gotta watch out for the non English speaking math profs. It’s a big deal. Like I said, course forum. Seriously. I’ve talked about this non native English speaking professor problem a lot on these forums… Haha.</p>

<p>Anyways if you want my opinion on anyone in particular you can post it here or PM me. Because I had so many repeat profs (read: avoided bad profs like the plague and chose my classes based on good profs) there are a lot I can’t comment on…</p>

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<p>Thanks for the help. I might ask you in detail about professors later on, actually.</p>