Why Major in Mathematics?

There are many reasons

Some choose the subject because it is beautiful, others because it is practical and yet others for some combination of these reasons. Mathematics is wonderful training for the mind, a great training if you are thinking of being a lawyer for example, and it has an increasing range of applications, from the study of the genome and climate change to financial mathematics and medical statistics.  Mathematics has always been the language of physics, and, with the advent of computer modeling, is and essential component of almost all science.

An undergraduate degree in mathematics opens the door to many professions and to graduate study in a wide variety of disciplines. The American Math Society's site shows the variety of careers open to people who major in math-related fields.

Come talk to one of the Barnard mathematics faculty members if you have any questions.

If you are interested in possibilities for summer mathematical research, check out our research opportunities listing.

This page also contains some links to various organizations for women in mathematics.