Mathematical Sciences, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in mathematics

Accelerated B.S. and M.S.

The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students in the mathematics concentration to earn both the B.S. in Mathematical Sciences and the M.S. in Mathematical Sciences with a concentration in mathematics in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 138 credits rather than the 150 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.

Students holding these degrees are better prepared for a career in a technical industry, for a career in teaching and/or for further studies in a quantitative Ph.D. program, such as mathematics, data sciences or statistics. An accelerated B.S. and M.S. degree in Mathematics offers a direct pathway toward high-paying positions in big tech companies and financial institutions. Over the past decade, the increasingly competitive application process for Ph.D. programs in mathematics has made it extremely difficult for students holding only a B.S. degree to be admitted. On the other hand, students graduating from VCU with a master’s in mathematical sciences have a history of getting into highly rated Ph.D. programs, often with generous funding.

Entrance to the accelerated program

Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.

Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours, including STAT 212, MATH 255, MATH 301, MATH 307, MATH 310 and MATH 407; an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.0 in mathematics course work. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may submit general GRE scores to receive further consideration. Students who are interested in the accelerated program should consult with the faculty adviser to the Mathematical Sciences M.S. program before they have completed 90 credits. Successful applicants would enter the program in the fall semester of their senior year.

Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate mathematics adviser and the faculty adviser to the graduate program.

Admission to the graduate program

Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application to the master’s program, which is submitted through Graduate Admissions no later than a semester prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the fall semester of the senior year. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin. One of the three required reference letters must come from a Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics faculty member.

Degree requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences degree (with a concentration in either applied mathematics or biomathematics) will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 120 credits in undergraduate program credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Students must pass a comprehensive exam in the core courses and selected elective courses determined by the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.

A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits may substitute for major requirements and required major electives for the undergraduate degree and are shared with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

The graduate mathematics courses that may be taken as an undergraduate once a student is admitted to the program are below.

Recommended course sequence/plan of study

What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.