Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Applied Mathematics Minor


Mathematics has been a central feature of humanity’s intellectual achievements over the past several centuries. It is well established that mathematics provides the underlying framework to develop theory in the physical sciences and engineering. Moreover, mathematics is becoming increasingly important in the development of new knowledge in the social sciences and life sciences. These new application areas for applied mathematical sciences are undergoing remarkable growth. The Applied Mathematics minor gives students an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of modeling, analysis and scientific computing that make up the foundation of applied mathematics. The Applied Mathematics minor may be useful to students seeking to strengthen their educational experience in their major through building additional skills in quantitative reasoning and problem solving.

Minimum Requirements


To receive a minor in Applied Mathematics, a student must complete the following requirements (20 units total), and follow the Natural Sciences guidelines on minors.

Applied Mathematics Minor Core Courses [16 Units]


Lower Division Core Course [4 units]


Complete one of the following courses:

Upper Division Core Course [8 units]


Complete the following two courses:

Numerical Analysis Requirement [4 units]


Complete one of the following courses:

Applied Mathematics Minor Program Learning Outcomes


Upon graduating, we expect students completing the Applied Mathematics minor to able to:

  1. Solve mathematical problems using analytical and/or computational methods.
  2. Identify the usefulness of applying mathematics to solve real-world problems.
  3. Give clear and organized written and verbal explanations of mathematical ideas to a variety of audiences.
  4. Recognize the relationships between different areas of mathematics and the connections between mathematics and other disciplines.

Guidelines Applying to all Natural Sciences Minors


To declare a minor, students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 (C) or better. Students should consult an advisor in the School of Natural Sciences to officially declare the minor and plan their courses. The following guidelines must be adhered to:

  • At least five courses, four of which must be upper division, must be taken for a letter grade.
  • At least three of the required courses must be taken at UC Merced.
  • Only one course may be used to satisfy two minor programs’ requirements.
  • Only one course may be used to satisfy both a minor and a major requirement.
  • Work for the minor must be completed within the 150 unit maximum limit for graduation. If the student’s major and minor are in different schools, the higher unit maximum will apply.
  • Students must consult the course descriptions for prerequisites to required courses.
  • The minor will appear on the student’s transcript.