Satisfying the Mathematics Comprehensive Requirement

To complete your requirements for a B.A. in mathematics you must complete either course 194, “Senior Seminar” or 195, “Senior Thesis”. Both classes involve written research, and you must submit a copy of your paper to the Mathematics Undergraduate thesis library. You are welcome to read copies of past papers in the Mathematics undergraduate advisor’s office to help you decide what your research will address.

Most Math majors complete the Senior Seminar. The Senior Seminar is a regularly scheduled class with an assigned instructor. You may take it either winter or spring quarter. Each student in the class researches a topic in mathematics, writes a 10- to 12-page paper on the topic, and presents the research orally in class. Be prepared to submit your topic to the Senior Seminar instructor before the quarter begins.

The Senior Thesis is an individual study course. You are responsible for finding a mathematics faculty member willing to be your thesis advisor. You and your advisor agree on the requirements for the thesis (such as the research topic, the frequency of student/advisor meetings, the due dates of outlines and drafts, and the required length of the paper), and you get an "Individual Study" petition from the Math Office and complete it with your advisor. When you submit the completed, signed petition to the department office, the department issues the course ID so that you can enroll. The thesis itself is a one-quarter-long research project (longer if your advisor agrees) resulting in a 20- to 30-page paper that shows the student's "substantial research effort and analytical thought." It is best to draft a proposal and find a faculty advisor (usually in the same general field as your intended research) the quarter before you wish to enroll in the individual study. Typically, the student submits the thesis no later than two weeks before the last day of instruction.