Programs for First-Year Students

Mathematics offers three kinds of honors experiences for first-year students. The first is for students who want to take an advanced class other than (or along with) calculus; the second is for students who will not be claiming AP credit, and the last is for students with high AP scores.

The Freshman Research Initiative

Two honors-level courses are available for students in the Freshman Research Initiative.  These courses are designed to prepare students for research in mathematics; each is taught by a young faculty member who is a leader in their field of research. The courses aim to show the excitement of research, as well as provide students with the tools necessary to succeed in mathematical research.

The first course, taught by Prof. Kui Ren,  focuses on techniques of applied mathematics; this links to a  recent syllabus.  The second, taught by Prof. Tim Perutz, covers topics in pure mathematics. Again, a recent syllabus is available.

Students apply for this program by contacting Grace Choy, gchoy@mail.utexas.edu.

AP Tracks

AP AB

Students with a 5 on the AP AB exam may take an honors version of the scientific calculus, M408D. which brings together advanced students from all Colleges. The course is M408D-AP and is taught by a professor in the senior faculty, known for world-class research as well as superb teaching. It picks up where AP AB leaves off, so students do not waste time repeating material. As with all honors classes, it places strong students together in an environment that values deep understanding rather than simple algebra.

Students may register through the Advising Center in PMA 4.101, during Summer or Fall registration.

AP BC

Students with a 5 on the AP BC exam may take an honors course, M427L-AP. This course fulfills the requirements for second-semester scientific calculus, M408D.

Rather than cover material of a standard calculus class, this course goes directly into an upper-division treatment of multivariable calculus and covers this topic from an advanced perspective. In addition, M427L-AP covers additional material, such as theorems of Stokes, Green, and Gauss, that are not found in general calculus. This material prepares students for advanced engineering (eg., fluid dynamics, and aerodynamics), physics (eg., electricity and magnetism, quantum field theory), and mathematics (eg., differential topology, Lie groups, etc.). Together with AP BC credit, this course meets the calculus requirement in all Colleges and gives the student upper-division math hours.

Students apply for this course by contacting the Math Advising Center in PMA 4.101, during Summer or Fall registration.

Upper Division Courses

There are four upper-division courses, allowing a student to fulfill math requirements while taking honors-level courses.

M427K Honors Differential Equations

This course is taught in the Spring semester; it provides greater depth than the usual differential equations course, has less emphasis on computation, more conceptual material.  Each professor chooses additional topics, based on their research interests.

M325K Honors Discrete Mathematics

Taught in the Spring semester by Prof. Michael Starbird, the course covers topics in mathematics rarely seen in undergraduate courses, such as countability.

Students apply for this course by contacting the Math Advising Center in PMA 4.101, during Fall registration.

M341 Honors Linear Algebra

Taught in the Spring semester by Prof. Ronny Hadani, the course covers linear algebra from an advanced perspective. You can view the Spring 2009 syllabus here.

Students apply for this course by contacting the Math Advising Center in PMA 4.101, during Fall registration.

Honors Degree Requirements

Students may apply to graduate with Departmental Honors (presented on diploma). The requirements are:

• A University GPA of at least 3.00 and a Math GPA of at least 3.50
• Completion of at least sixty hours of in-residence coursework toward the degree
• A grade of A in one of M 365C, 367K, 373K, or 374G, and another of these courses with a grade of at least B

AND

Enrollment in M 379H, Honors Tutorial Course, and a thesis on the subject of the student’s research or project approved in comprehensive examination by a committee consisting of at least three faculty members

Contact

For more information, contact the Honors Advisor, Dr. Theresa Martines.

Alternately, stop by the MPA Advising Office to talk to one of our academic advisors.