Bachelors Degree in Mathematics

The mathematics and statistics fields work together with many other disciplines, creating exciting opportunities to use your skills and provide insight for other fields and majors.

Discover a thriving and diverse community of approachable faculty and enthusiastic students offers many opportunities to get involved. Students can attend seminars, join the Math and Statistics Student Club, participate in undergraduate research projects, gain valuable work experience with an internship, help out other students by working in the Math and Stats Support Center (MASS) and outreach to local high schools, compete in international mathematical modeling contests, or just hang out with other students on the floor.

World-Class Research Faculty

Engage in cutting-edge research with internationally recognized scholars and faculty research opportunities with funding from NSF and other agencies.

Facilities

The department has its own floor in a modern building with plenty of specialized classroom and large, inviting study areas.
Opportunities Start building your resume with internships, research projects, departmental honors, and/or service as an officer in one (or more) of our student clubs.

Careers in mathematics and statical fields are numerous and lucrative. Graduates can look forward to working with other computational and data scientists within industry and government to shape the world around you.

Some position titles of recent undergraduates in Mathematics and Statistics

• Data Scientist
• Software Developer
• Operations Manager
• .NET Developer
• Software Systems Analyst
• Data Research Analyst
• Quantitative Analyst
• Statistician
• Cyber Security Analyst
• IT Project Manager
• Teacher or Professor

Companies

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Comcast Corporation
• Ratheon Company
• Kaiser Permanente
• Google Inc.
• Frontier Airlines Inc.
• Cherry Creek School District
• Centurylink Inc.
• XCEL Energy Inc
• World Energy Partners LLC
• Multiple Universities

Curriculum

The department maintains undergraduate and graduate curriculum that facilitates the intellectual growth of a diverse body of students at all levels. Our curricula prepares undergraduate students to be integral members of the growing STEM workforce in Colorado, the U.S., and the world.

Majoring in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences: 42 hours

Our broad curriculum in applied mathematics and statistics prepares graduates to thrive in a wide range of data science opportunities in industry and academia.

Course topics include:

• Calculus
• Machine Learning
• Linear Algebra
• Statistical Analysis
• Programing
• Modeling
• Data Analyst
• Computational Math
• Mathematical Proof Writing
• Programing

Our department’s community is committed to creating a supportive culture that welcomes and celebrates all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities, and in which our diverse students, staff, and faculty are valued and respected.

CU Denver Core: 34-40 Hours 

You’ll be educated in

• English and mathematics
• international and cultural diversity perspectives
• arts and humanities
• behavioral, physical, and social sciences

CLAS Graduation Requirements: 15-26 Credit Hours

These courses give you a better understanding of the issues and skills you need to succeed.

Topics include:  

• Logic, Language, and Scientific Reasoning 
• Psychology 
• Writing for the Sciences 
• Public Health

Double Majors

You, like many of our students, may be interested in a double major. Common combinations include:

• Economics
• Data Science

Certificates to consider

We recommend these minors and certificates as excellent extensions of your Communications bachelor degree.

Applied Statistics Undergraduate Certificate

There is a growing need for qualified statistical analysts of the ever-increasing amounts of data collected in business, industry, and government. The Certificate in Applied Statistics program is designed to give students a strong background in statistical methodology and data analysis in preparation for opportunities in the workforce or for graduate studies.

Learn about the Applied Statistics certificate

Data Science Undergraduate Certificate

Data scientists will have essential competencies in several areas related to analysis of data. In particular, a data scientist should: have strong programming ability in a language popular in data science (e.g., Python, R, Julia); be able to extract, manipulate, and visualize data; have an understanding of probability and statistics in order to quantify uncertainty; be able to build complex models for finding patterns and explaining data. This certificate should provide students with essential skills for introductory data science.

Learn about the Data Sceince certificate

Add a Masters in Applied Mathematics or Statistics to your bachelor's degree in as little as one extra year (4+1)

Save time and tuition while expanding your career opportunities at the same time by enrolling in the BA/BS + MA/MS in Applied Mathematics or Statistics program. 
Benefits include
More career opportunities: Some career paths require that job candidates hold advanced degrees. Completing the BA/BS + MA/MS program allows you to apply for higher level positions more quickly, providing an advantage in a competitive job market.
Saves time. Combining the Bachelors and Masters programs allow you to complete your undergraduate and graduate studies quickly, typically within five years instead of six or more.
Cost: A shorter timeline to (Applied Mathematics or Statistics) completion means less tuition, fees, and related educational expenses.
Teaching assistantships: The Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences  may offer you, as a qualified MA student, research, or teaching assistantships. Combining the BA and MA degrees may allow you to access these opportunities.
Faculty: Combining the BA and MA degrees allows you to continue to take courses at the graduate level from the same familiar, award-winning, and caring faculty members.
Learn more about the CU Denver Master of Arts in Communication.

Learn about the Masters in Applied Mathematics degree

​Learn about the Masters in Statistics degree

Learning outcomes for Mathematics

Knowledge Areas

Students must acquire both a conceptual and operational understanding of the following core areas of the undergraduate program:

• Differential and integral calculus in one and several variables
• Abstract mathematics as represented by basic logic, set theory and methods of proof
• Linear algebra
• One area of specialization (e.g., differential equations, discrete mathematics, statistics, optimization)
• One area of breadth outside of specialty (e.g., graph theory, probability, statistics, real analysis, geometry, history of mathematics, abstract algebra, computer science)

Skills

Students must acquire the following skills at an appropriate level:

• Precision and clarity in the oral and written communication of mathematical ideas
• Proficiency in the use of technology in mathematics
• Proficiency in the formulation and construction of proofs
• Facility in problem solving, modeling, approximation and mathematical exploration, both in groups and independently
• Appreciation of teamwork
• Attitudes. Through coursework and research, students are expected to cultivate the following attitudes and dispositions:
• Confidence in one's own mathematical skills and knowledge
• Desire for continuous and independent learning
• Appreciation for the dynamic role of mathematics in science, society and history
• Awareness of career opportunities in mathematics
• Awareness of the interrelations among areas of mathematics

Tuition

The cost of tuition is different for in-state and out-of-state students. See the link for the current table of rates.

Residents of Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) states may qualify for reduced tuition rates. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program requires students to maintain current residency in WICHE state until degree completion. 

Learn about the WUE program 

Scholarships

Each year, CU Denver undergraduate students are awarded over $30 million in scholarships from institutional, local, state, and national sources. Learn more, and apply here. 

Other opportunities

The department of Integrative Biology and other departments have paid positions (both in the work-study program and outside of it) which may include jobs as graders, teaching assistants, and learning assistants. Please expect to have to apply. Learn more here.

Admission Requirements 

If you are an incoming freshman to CU Denver (in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants), you can apply through either the Common Application or the Milo Application. Transfer students will need to submit the Milo Application.  

Incoming first-year students 

CU Denver requires that students complete the Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR). You will not have to meet all Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS) for admission, but you will need to complete CU Denver coursework by graduation. 

Transfer Students 

We have strong connections with other four-year and community colleges. If you have completed more than 24 hours of transferable coursework, you will be evaluated for admission on the basis of your college GPA without regard to your high school performance. If you have fewer than 24 hours, you will be evaluated based on both your high school and college GPAs. For more information and to plan your transfer, see transfer admissions in the admissions office. 

International Students 

You will need to begin your application through the Office of International Affairs. They will help you manage your application process. 

Apply to CU Denver

Application deadlines

Spring

Domestic Application: January 1 
International Applications: Priority is September 15, and Final is October 15

Summer

Domestic Applications: May 15 
International Applications: Priority is January 15, and Final is March 15 

Fall

Domestic Applications: August 1
International Applications: Priority is March 15, and Final is May 15