Students majoring in mathematics complete a capstone project during their senior year to fulfill the Senior Comprehensive Requirement. The capstone project is either a Senior Comprehensive Project or, for honors students, an Honors Project in mathematics. The capstone project is an opportunity for the student to deeply explore a mathematical topic under the guidance of a faculty member and share their insights with others.
Senior Comprehensive Projects
For a Senior Comprehensive Project, the student works with a professor to select a topic that relates to but goes beyond the usual scope of a 300- or 400-level mathematics course, writes a paper on the topic, and gives a talk based on the paper to students, faculty, and guests.
Students often select topics that relate to their interests beyond mathematics. For example, a student minoring in finance may choose a mathematical topic that relates to finance.
The student takes the one-credit course MATH 492 during their graduation semester.
Honors Projects
The Honors Project is a year-long endeavor in which an honors student works intensively on the definition and solution of a scholarly problem, or on the development of a creative work. The honors student’s work is guided by an adviser and submitted to two readers for approval. Upon completion, it is publicly presented to interested faculty, students and guests.
An Honors Project in mathematics with a grade of C or better fulfills the Senior Comprehensive Requirement.
An honors student takes the three-credit course HON 498/499 during their senior year. Further details about a Degree with Honors are provided in the Honors Program website.