skip to content
Mathematics Honors Programs

Introduction
The Honors Programs in Mathematics are an option for highly motivated and mathematically talented students who are interested in mathematics, engineering, and sciences. The Mathematics Department offers Honors courses at various levels of sophistication so as to enable any Honors student interested in mathematics to take challenging and stimulating mathematics courses appropriate for his or her background. These programs enable students to obtain an undergraduate mathematics education of the highest level that will prepare them for graduate study or a position in industry, education, or government.

UConn Honors Programs

A Torus in R3

The University offers several honors programs for students who wish to become involved in intensive study of mathematics. These are the Sophomore Honors Certificate, the Honors Scholar Program and the University Scholar Program. For general information on these go to the UConn Honors Program web site. The Sophomore Honors Certificate has among its requirements, 16 credits of Honors courses to have been taken by the end of the Sophomore year.

The Honors Scholar program has among its requirements 12 credits in 2000+ level courses from the major, including at least three credits in independent study aimed towards an Honors thesis plus the thesis. Courses taken to fulfill the requirements of the Sophomore Honors Certificate cannot be used towards the requirements for graduation as an Honors Scholar. Honors credit is available for several upper division Mathematics Department offerings including Math Scholars' courses, Undergraduate Seminars and the Honors Thesis course. In addition, the student may convert to Honors credit any of the mathematics 2000+ level courses with the approval of the course instructor and the student's advisor.

The Mathematics Department offers Honors versions of the standard introductory calculus sequence.

It is expected that this sequence will be accessible to most Honors students in the university whether or not they are mathematics majors. They are a good choice for students seeking an Honors mathematics experience, but are not interested in the more challenging Advanced Calculus program. The basic subject matter of these courses is similar to that in the corresponding non-honors versions, however, instructors have considerable opportunity to enrich the courses. They are suited for students who will need calculus and differential equations as a basic tool for their future work. These classes are open to students who have taken earlier Honors calculus classes in the same series, or are in the University Honors Program, or have the instructor's permission. Students in the Honors Program receive Honors credit for these courses.

The Honors Thesis
To graduate as an Honors Scholar, the student must complete an Honors thesis under the supervision of faculty, usually, but not necessarily, from the Department of Mathematics. The thesis work introduces the student to research, including bibliographical and/or historical research, or a deeper study of an important mathematical topic that goes beyond what is covered in undergraduate courses. Usually this is completed during the senior year while the student takes Math 3796W, Senior Thesis in Mathematics. An Honors student receives Honors credit for this course. Some faculty who advise a senior thesis will expect the student to begin work on the thesis at the start of the senior year, or during the summer before the senior year, while other faculty who advise a senior thesis only require one semester of work. Therefore we strongly urge students to choose their advisor by spring of the junior year; the student and advisor will determine the scope of the thesis and how much work needs to be done in the summer and fall.

Important Links for Honors Students