What should I major in if I like Mathematics but don't want to major in Mathematics?

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
1

<p>I enjoy Mathematics very much. I want to major in something mathematics related, but not Mathematics. Last semester I took Calculus II and I loved it. This semester I took Calculus III and Logic and Proof; I loved Calculus; I am close to hating Logic and Proof.</p>

<p>I like solving problems; I do not like writing proofs. I am sure Mathematics is not the right major for me, but I still want to learn as much problem -solving / calculational mathematics as I can. I want to use algebra, trigonometry, and calculus, and ever more that I may not know about yet, but I really really really don't want to ever see a proof again. What majors would you suggest? A few I have considered are Physics, Chemistry, or something Engineering related. I know for sure I do not want to do computer science.</p>

<p>I am most interested in Physics, and by that, I mean leaning more about it. I have no had a Physics course, but in Calculus we obviously deal with some Physics problems, especially when learning about vectors. I took a Chemistry course my Freshman year, and I loved it. I wouldn't mind doing Chemistry, but most of the Mathematics we did was algebra; I still want to use trigonometry and calculus. </p>

<p>I want to add though, my university does not offer a Physics major, but has many classes in Physics. I am going to talk to the department head and see if I can "design my own major" which I have heard of people doing.</p>

<p>If it helps to add, before coming to college I always wanted to work with my hands; I don't want to sit behind a desk all day, but I would rather do calculus behind a desk, than use my hands and solve algebra.</p>

<p>Lastly, I was just looking over my university's majors and saw Forensic Science. The description said students would need skills in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Does anyone know how much Mathematics is involved with Forensic Science, and how much I use my hands vs how much I write things on paper?</p>

<p>Thanks to anyone who helps me.</p>

2

<p>Some majors which use math in a problem solving way:</p>

<p>Engineering
Physics
Statistics
Finance (quantitative)
Economics</p>

<p>However, any of them can get more deeply into mathematical proofs at the PhD level.</p>

3

<p>I think that sucking it up and learning to deal with proofs is a very useful skill in the long run. It is painful and unpleasant, but it really makes some of the more advanced tools of math available to you. Eventually you get used to proofs and they aren’t too awful.</p>

<p>Physics sounds like it would be interesting for you, as would applied math (either way you should suck it up and slog through the advanced calculus course). Chemistry has some very interesting mathematically oriented fields (quantum and physical chemistry) at the higher level, but most work throughout the chemistry major is routine lab work with little more than algebraic manipulation. I personally recommend physics or math.</p>

4

<p>Math major graduate here. I took a pretty good amount of proof classes as well as applied/statistics classes. I enjoyed most of my proof writing classes but at times I felt they were utterly useless. Depending on your profession after college, they very well could be.</p>

<p>As a programmer, I find those proof classes utterly useless. Some people at my company have made it to where they are without a degree at all. Most of the other programmers at the company I work at hold degrees in computer engineering. Classes with proofs I don’t feel like they have taught me to be anymore logical than I was when I started college. They did however challenge me in a way I have never had before, which was a good mental exercise. I am waiting to hear back from a defense contractor’s hiring manager who is considering me for the position of a mathematician/physicist role. </p>

<p>I did take physics classes and on an exam we would have random proofs show up sometimes. Mostly in the mathematical methods classes.</p>

5

<p>You sound like me, and I went into structural engineering. I love using math to design buildings! Every day is different. You don’t just sit at a desk all the time, either - you go out on job sites. I like it because you use theoretical skills but also need to be able to draw the nuts and bolts (literally) of a structure.</p>