The Mathematics Department at Seattle Pacific University seeks to provide excellent instruction to enable you to be competent in the mathematics required for your chosen field, and to share our expertise with the community through service and leadership.
Find out more about this department’s mission, vision, and learning outcomes.
The BA in Mathematics is designed to provide you with a good general background in mathematics. As a mathematics major, you will learn analytical skills that can be used in a wide variety of fields.
- A minimum 64 credits are required for this major, including 35 upper-division credits.
- This BA is an excellent background for students interested in mathematics as a liberal arts major and for those who wish to teach mathematics at the secondary level.
- If you are pursuing an endorsement in Secondary Education, you must take MAT 3401 and either MAT 3333 or MAT 3360 as part of the 12 mathematics elective credits for the BA.
- A maximum of 2 credits in MAT 4930 may be applied.
The BS in Mathematics is designed to prepare you for graduate work or a professional career in mathematics.
- A minimum 72 credits are required for this major, including a minimum of 40 upper-division credits.
- 15 credits in related, approved courses in which mathematics is applied are also required.
- Courses MAT 4363 and MAT 4830 are strongly recommended for the BS.
- You must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA for all mathematics courses to earn the BS in Mathematics.
- If you plan to pursue graduate work in mathematics, you are strongly advised to take further work in real analysis in the upper-division program and to acquire a reading knowledge of French, German, or Russian.
The BS in Applied Mathematics is a flexible, yet demanding, major designed for students interested in careers involving the applications of mathematics in a particular field.
In addition to completing coursework in mathematics, you must select a field of concentration in which mathematics is applied, and complete coursework in both fields. Example programs of study can be found on the Mathematics Department website.
- A total 78 credits are required for this major, including courses in mathematics and computer science, and a minimum of 20 credits in an applied field.
- A minimum 47 upper-division credits are required, including 27 in mathematics and 20 in the applied field.
- Courses MAT 3237, 3238 and 3360 are strongly recommended as part of the upper-division electives for the BS in Applied Mathematics.
- CSC 2430 may replace CSC 2230 for students emphasizing computing in their applied field.
- All upper-division elective courses for the major must be approved by the Mathematics Department. In consultation with your faculty advisor, you must submit an individual plan specifying your field of concentration and listing the upper-division elective courses you intend to take. This plan should be submitted and approved before you have completed more than two of your upper-division elective courses in either Mathematics or the applied field.
- At least three of your upper-division courses in the applied field should be mathematically oriented.
Note: Upper-division courses in the applied field will typically have lower-division prerequisites not listed in the credit total. Depending on the choice of concentration, you may have as many as 25 credits of necessary lower-division course work outside the major.
If you intend to minor in Mathematics, begin with MAT 1234, MAT 1235, and MAT 1236, which are prerequisite to most upper-division courses.
- A minimum 30 credits are required for this minor, including 15 upper-division credits.
- All upper-division electives for the Mathematics minor must be approved by the Mathematics Department faculty.
- MAT 3749 and MAT 4402 are strongly recommended for all minors.
- A secondary teaching minor must include MAT 3749, MAT 4402, and MAT 3442.
- A maximum of 3 credits in MAT 4904 or MAT 4930 may be applied.
entering and completing a major or minor
In order to earn a degree, you must complete an academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, and students are not required to enter a major immediately upon admission to the University. However, you should enter a major by the end of your sophomore year to help ensure your timely completion of a degree. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should identify and enter their major within their first two quarters at SPU.
- If this is your first quarter at SPU and you wish to enter a major or minor in this department, you may select a program by using the online Major or Minor Application form. You will receive an email notification of acceptance.
- If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, use the online Major or Minor Application form to select your major or minor. You will receive an email notification of acceptance. Students on academic probation (with an SPU cumulative GPA below 2.0) will not be permitted to enter a new major or minor until they regain good academic standing.
- The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major or minor; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in your mathematics courses to earn a BS in Mathematics.
- You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
- If you plan to pursue teacher certification, you should maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major or minor.
- You must complete the major or minor requirements in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year of admittance to the major or minor.
Elementary Teacher Certification
If you plan to obtain Residency Teacher Certification (K–8) and are interested in mathematics, you must major in the Integrated Studies major with a concentration in mathematics.
- This concentration consists of courses in calculus, algebra, geometry, and statistics.
- The advisor for the mathematics concentration is Professor Jerilynn Lepak (lepakj@ctienviron.com).
Secondary Teachers Certification
If you plan to obtain secondary (high school) Residency Teacher Certification with endorsement in mathematics, you should pursue a BA in Mathematics, and you must also complete Requirements for Secondary Certification through the School of Education.
If you intend to become a teacher, visit the School of Education for complete information.
Incoming students
High school preparation
Three years of high school mathematics, including trigonometry, are required for all students entering one of the degree programs. However, if you intend to make mathematics your career, you are urged to take a minimum of four years of high school mathematics.
Students deficient in their high school mathematics preparation must take the appropriate courses below the calculus level in consultation with the Mathematics Department to make up the deficiency before starting one of the math degree programs.
Advanced Placement
Check the AP, Cambridge International, and IB transfer chart to see how your test scores may count toward mathematics course requirements.
Mathematics placement
Appropriate placement into mathematics courses depends upon your intended major, as well as eligibility criteria. See Mathematics Placement for details.