Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Mathematical Sciences, Bachelor of Science with a concentration in mathematics (and accelerated masters)

VCU

Community college:
A.A.&.S. or A.S. in Science (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
Associate degree
Program description

The Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics offers an undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences with concentrations in applied mathematics, biomathematics, mathematics and secondary mathematics teacher preparation. The department administers the Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences concentrations in applied mathematics or mathematics and is involved in administering the Doctor of Philosophy in Systems Modeling and Analysis. The curricula of these programs are run jointly with additional concentrations offered by the Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research. In the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences can choose a concentration of applied mathematics, which focuses on the analytical and computational techniques necessary to solve many of today’s problems. These methods traditionally had been applied in such areas as chemistry and physics, but now are applied in many other areas.


The Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences, a Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences with a concentration in either operations research or statistics and a Doctor of Philosophy in Systems Modeling and Analysis. The curriculum of the programs is run jointly with the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.

The Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research offers an undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences with concentrations in operations research or statistics. The operations research concentration focuses on modern mathematical techniques for solving problems arising from other fields, such as engineering, business or economics. The statistics concentration teaches students how mathematical models used in the investigation of uncertain phenomena are developed and applied to experimental and non-experimental data.

Career opportunities

Math can be found in almost every sector of the world of work. Students majoring in math should consider if they want to use math skills directly or indirectly in the workplace. This may determine the types of experiences and further education necessary to prepare for area of interest. People with math backgrounds may work in jobs with titles such as analyst, research associate, technical consultant, computer scientist, or systems engineer to name a few. Math majors develop many transferable skills: critical thinking, problem diagnosis and solving, computer skills, and quantitative skills. Other important skills to develop include good reasoning, persistence, and communication, both verbal and written. Seek relevant experiences through internships or part-time jobs. Students are encouraged to supplement curricular requirements with courses in business, economics, computers, or statistics for increased job opportunities.


Statistics can be used in a wide variety of fields within science, technology, business, medicine, and social sciences. Gain knowledge or take courses in a specific field of interest, such as medicine or finance, to pair with skills in statistics, math, and computers. The job outlook for statisticians is very strong because businesses have more access to data than ever before and that data requires analysis. Most statistician and upper level research jobs in either government or industry will require at least a master’s degree. Strong communication skills are critical in the field of statistics in order to communicate statistical information clearly to people who do not have technical backgrounds. Writing and presentation skills are also frequently used.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Computer Systems Analysts
  • Cost Estimator
  • Database Administrators 
  • Database Architects
  • Financial Analyst
  • Intelligence Analyst
  • Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
  • Mathematical Technicians
  • Risk Management Specialist
  • Statistician
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Actuary
  • Investment Banker
  • Mathematician
  • Secondary School Teacher
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Highest level of math required
  • MATH 201 or higher
Science required
  • 3-4 additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0 Cumulative & in Major

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Mathematical Sciences, Bachelor of Science with a concentration in mathematics (and accelerated masters)

Virginia Community College System (A.A.&.S. or A.S. in Science)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Explore the VCU Math department website.
  • Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Register to vote.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
Experience Year 2
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Math department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Participate in the VCU STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or VCU Math department-related events.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Explore the VCU Math department website.
  • Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Register to vote.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Math department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Participate in the VCU STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or VCU Math department-related events.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Mathematical Sciences, Bachelor of Science with a concentration in mathematics (and accelerated masters)

Virginia Community College System (A.A.&.S. or A.S. in Science)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
Students who earn this associate degree before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements.
SDV 100 or 101 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 263 Calculus I MATH 200 4 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 264 Calculus II MATH 201 4 Major
MTH 265 Calculus III MATH 307 4 Major
MTH 266 Linear Algebra MATH 310 3 Major
MTH 245 Statistics I STAT 212 3 Major (Ancillary)
Science Select two semester sequence: BIO 101-102, CHM 111-112, PHY 201-202, or PHY 241-242 VCU equivalents 8 Major (Ancillary)
Science Select an additional science class from the following options: BIO 101, CHM 111, PHY 201 VCU equivalent 4 Major (Ancillary)
Complete general education and elective requirements for associate degree VCU equivalents 23 Elective
Community college credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU.
Mathematical Sciences, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in mathematics
Foreign Language Foreign language (fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) 0 to 6 Major (Ancillary)
Select one of the following: MATH 255, CMSC 245, or EGRE 245 3 Major
MATH 300 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning 3 Major
MATH 407 Advanced Calculus 3 Major
MATH 490 Mathematical Expositions 3 Major
MATH 301 Differential Equations 3 Major
MATH 350 or MATH 356 Introductory Combinatorics or Graphs and Algorithms 3 Major
MATH 401 Introduction to Abstract Algebra 3 Major
MATH 409 General Topology 3 Major
Select one: MATH 427, MATH 428, or MATH 429 3 Major
Concentration electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 6 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) consider a minor or second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 21 to 27 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 60
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120
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. 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.