Math Major

Core Requirements

57 units of Math courses are required, and ALL MUST BE TAKEN FOR A LETTER GRADE (NO EXCEPTIONS). This unit number is reduced by the number of 200-level graduate Math courses.

The full list of requirements can be found in the Stanford Bulletin

Within the 57 units, the following must be met. Single-variable calculus credit can be counted toward the requirement.

At least 8 Math Courses above Math 63CM/63DM

  • If a student has 10 units of single-variable calculus credit and has taken 3 courses among the Math 50 and/or Math 60CM/DM series (at most 15 of the multi-variable calculus units can count towards the major), this leaves a remaining of 8 Math Department courses above Math 63CM/DM. 
  • Note: For students whose Math course experience at the 100-level or in Math 56 straddles the transition to 4 units from 3 units (which occurred over Summer 2022), the figure of 57 will be further reduced by the number of 100-level courses below the 190’s taken prior to Autumn 2022.
  • Math 56 may count towards the 8 courses.

Out-of-Department Courses that count as Math Department Courses

  • Certain courses outside of the department can count as Math Department courses. These are: 
    • Stats 116 (no longer offered)
    • Stats 118 or 200 (at most one, but not both and neither if Stats 116 is being used)
    • Phil 151
    • Phil 152
  • No other courses outside the Math Department can count in this way. There are no exceptions to this for any reason. (Stats 117 is a pre-approved elective, see list below.)

Other Math Courses

  • Courses that CAN be counted toward the requirement include:
    • Math Q courses (IntroSems) 
  • Courses that CANNOT be counted include: 
    • Math 193
    • Math 193X
    • Math 198 
  • Courses taken during participation in the Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) may be able to count toward the math major requirements (pre-approval required). Please see this page for more information.

Additional Requirements for the 57 Units

  • If a student is planning on using a cross-listed course towards the major or minor that is not the Math cross-listing, contact the Student Services Officer with the course name. 
  • At least 32 units, reduced by the number of 200-level graduate Math courses, must be taken at Stanford.
  • Only Math 50/60CM/60DM series and first-year single-variable calculus can be double counted toward any other major or minor.
  • All Math Major students are required to complete a capstone. See the Capstone page for more information.

Electives

Four elective courses are required. This goes beyond the 57 core units discussed above.

The following rules govern the elective course choice:

  • Math Department courses numbered Math 101 and above can be used as electives except for Math 193, Math 197, and Math 198.
  • Students can choose from any of the approved out-of-department courses as their electives. A list of such courses is given below.
  • Math 193X and Math 199 may only be counted as electives, not as the core Math courses.
  • One of these elective courses may be taken as CR/NC. (Note: The letter grade policy does not apply for courses taken in Spring 2020 and the 2020-2021 academic year due to COVID-19. Please see the official requirements.)
Pre-Approved Electives

The courses in the table below are automatically approved to count as elective courses for the major.

  • This list is not exclusive. If other courses are high enough in math content, they are likely to be approved.
  • Primarily only undergraduate courses are included here, but many graduate courses may also be used.
  • Please contact mathstudentservices [at] stanford.edu (mathstudentservices[at]stanford[dot]edu) well in advance of graduation (ideally by the fall quarter of your senior year) if you have questions about the usability of courses not on this list. 

Department

Courses

Astronautics & Aeronautics:

100*, 218

*If taken in 2023-2024 or earlier.

Biology141, 165, 188
Bioengineering101
Chemistry:151, 153, 171, 173, 175
Classics:136
Computational and Mathematical Engineering: 108
Computer Science:103, 109, 123, 129, 148, 154, 157, 161, 166, 168, 205L, 221, 224N 228, 229, 229T/M, 230, 233, 234, 235, 250, 251, 254, 255, 256, 259Q, 261, 265, 267, 268, 269Q, 354, 355
Economics:50, 51, 52, 102A/B/C, 103, 111, 136, 137, 140, 160, 162, 167G 180, 181, 182, 202, 203, 204, 284
Electrical Engineering:263, 274, 276, 364A, 364B, 387
Engineering:14, 15, 60, 62, 76
Earth Systems Science:246A
Management Science & Engineering:111, 112, 121, 135, 145, 211, 220, 226, 232H, 244, 245A, 245B, 310
Music:320, 423, 424
Philosophy:

150/250, 151*, 152*, 154/254, 162

*PHIL 151 & PHIL 152: Each may count towards either the 57 core Math units or as an elective course, but not both.

 

Physics:

14N, 41*, 43*, 45, 61*, 70, 71 (formerly 63), 81 (formerly 65), 100, 104, 107, 108, 110, 112, 113, 120, 121, 130, 131, 134, 160, 161, 170, 171, 172, 210-269, 330. 

*At most one elective toward the major can be taken not for a letter grade.

Physics AP credit does not count toward the elective requirement. 

Political Science:356A, 356B
Statistics:

110, 116*, 117, 118*, 141, 160, 191, 200*, 203, 205, 206, 207, 213, 217, 218, 229, 231, 240, 270, 271, 305A, 315B, 318

*STATS 116 (no longer offered), STATS 118 or 200 (at most one, but not both, and neither if STATS 116 is being used): Count as Math courses. May count towards either the 57 math units or as an elective course, but not both.

Petition for an out of department elective

A course that uses a lot of numbers or basic algebra doesn’t necessarily qualify as an elective for the Math major. There must be a certain level of Math that is used throughout the course (e.g., at least Math 21 or above) that is demonstrated by course material such as exams, or a course website. For example, a Computer Science course that's primary focus is on coding, or a natural science course that is primarily focused on lab experiments does not qualify. See the table of pre-approved elective courses for a sense of this.

If you would like to petition for a class to count as an elective, please be prepared to provide either course material (such as exams or problem sets with solutions) or a course website which gives a clear indication about the level of Math used throughout the course. 

Submit a petition

Writing in the Major (WIM)

WIM (Writing in the Major) is a University requirement for the major and must be taken for a letter grade at Stanford (transfer credit is not allowed). Students may choose one course:

  • Math 101
  • Math 109
  • Math 110
  • Math 120
  • Math 171

WIM Guidance

Grading Policy

Students may take 1 course CR/NC towards the elective requirements.

Note: The CR/NC policy from the 2020-21 academic year does not extend beyond Summer 2021. From Autumn 2021 onwards all courses towards the Math major must be taken for a letter grade.

Resources and Additional Information

Resources

  • Math Major Checklist
  • Please send questions to mathstudentservices [at] stanford.edu (mathstudentservices[at]stanford[dot]edu)

More Information on Requirements

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