Bachelor's Programme in Mathematics

Matematikprogrammet offers a wide range of courses leading to a Bachelor's degree with specialisation in mathematics or mathematical statistics. In addition to equipping students with a solid knowledge of key areas of mathematics and mathematical statistics, the programme also aims to provide insight into the areas of application of mathematics and its great importance in other sciences. The programme prepares students for further studies in mathematics and mathematical statistics at an advanced level and for qualified work in business and public administration.

The programme leads to a:

Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Mathematics
alternatively
Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Mathematical Statistics

To provide an insight into the various branches of mathematics, such as analysis, algebra, probability theory, statistics and numerical methods, as well as some of the applications of mathematics, the programme begins with a three-semester general education block consisting of basic courses in these subjects, as well as optimisation and programming. In the third year, students choose one of the programme's three specialisations:

• Mathematics
• Computational Mathematics and Optimisation
• Mathematical Statistics

Within each specialisation, students take the faculty-wide course NTH001 Theoretical and Historical Perspectives on Natural Sciences (7.5 credits) and a number of specialisation courses, which are specified below, and complete an independent project worth 15 credits within their main area of study. The remaining courses can be chosen freely.

Teaching and training in scientific communication is provided systematically and is integrated into four of the compulsory courses.

The following describes a normal course of study:

Semester 1

• MMG220 Foundations of Mathematics (7.5 credits)
• MMG230 Single Variable Calculus 1 (7.5 credits)
• MMG250 Linear Algebra (7.5 credits)
• MVG302 Programming with Python (7.5 credits)

Semester 2

• MMG240 Single Variable Calculus 2 (7.5 credits)
• MMG260 Algebra and Linear Algebra (7.5 credits)
• MMG320 Multivariable Calculus 1 (7.5 credits)
• MMG420 Computational Mathematics 1 (7.5 credits)

Semester 3

• MMG330 Multivariable Calculus 2 (7.5 credits)
• MSG111 Probability Theory (7.5 credits)
• MSG210 Mathematical Statistics (7.5 credits)
• MMG430 Introduction to Optimisation (7.5 credits)

Semesters 4-6

All specialisations take the course NTH001 Theoretical and Historical Perspectives on Natural Science (7.5 credits). In addition to this, the following applies to the three specialisations.

Mathematics specialisation

Students take the following specialisation courses:

• MMG500 Algebraic Structures (7.5 credits)
• MMG700 Analytic Function Theory (7.5 credits)
• MMG600 Real Analysis (7.5 credits)
• MMG710 Fourier Analysis (7.5 credits)

In addition, students complete an independent project within the course MMG910 Thesis for the Bachelor Program in Mathematics (15 credits).

In addition to this, students take elective courses worth 37.5 credits.

Computational Mathematics and Optimisation specialisation

Students take the following specialisation courses:

• MMG520 Computational Mathematics 2 (7.5 credits)
• MMG801 Partial Differential Equations (7.5 credits)
• MMG622 Advanced Course in Optimisation (7.5 credits)
• MMG710 Fourier Analysis (7.5 credits)

In addition, students complete an independent project within the course MMG921 Thesis for the Bachelor Program in Mathematics, specialisation Computational Mathematics and Optimisation (15 credits).

In addition to this, students take elective courses worth 37.5 credits.

Mathematical Statistics specialisation

Students take the following specialisation courses:

• MSG501 Statistical Learning with Regression Models (7.5 credits)
• MSG800 Basic Stochastic Processes (7.5 credits)
• MSA150 Fundamentals of Probability Theory (7.5 credits)
• MSA251 Experimental Design and Sampling Theory (7.5 credits)
• MSG510 Processing Large Data Sets (7.5 credits)

In addition, students complete an independent project within the course MSG910 Thesis in Mathematical Statistics for the Bachelor Program in Mathematics (15 credits).

Beyond this, students take elective courses worth 30 credits.

General objectives for the Bachelor's degree

Knowledge and understanding

For the Bachelor's degree, the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including knowledge of the scientific basis of the field, knowledge of applicable methods in the field, specialisation in some part of the field, and orientation in current research issues.

Skills and abilities

For a bachelor's degree, the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to search for, collect, evaluate and critically interpret relevant information in a problem situation and to critically discuss phenomena, issues and situations,
• demonstrate the ability to independently identify, formulate and solve problems and to carry out tasks within given time frames,
• demonstrate the ability to present and discuss information, problems and solutions orally and in writing in dialogue with different groups, and
• demonstrate the skills required to work independently in the field covered by the programme.

Judgement and approach

For a bachelor's degree, the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments within the main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects,
• demonstrate an understanding of the role of knowledge in society and of people's responsibility for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify their need for further knowledge and to develop their competence.

Local objectives

After completing the programme, students shall have basic knowledge of algebra, analysis, probability theory, statistics, computational mathematics and programming.

In addition to the objectives for the Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, the following specific learning objectives apply to each specialisation.

Mathematics:

• have in-depth knowledge in certain areas of algebra and analysis
• have acquired confidence in basic mathematical problem solving
• have a basic ability to prove mathematical results
• be familiar with the role of computers in mathematics
• have the ability to search for and assimilate mathematical text
• be able to formulate mathematical results, both orally and in writing

Computational Mathematics and Optimisation:

• have in-depth knowledge in certain areas of differential equations, computational mathematics and optimisation
• have acquired confidence in basic mathematical problem solving
• have the ability to construct mathematical models for realistic problems, and to analyse these numerically and, to a certain extent, analytically
• be familiar with the role of computers in applied mathematics
• be able to search for and assimilate texts in applied mathematics
• be able to formulate mathematical results, both orally and in writing

Mathematical statistics:

• understand and be able to independently use basic methods in probability theory, stochastic processes and statistics
• have acquired confidence in basic mathematical problem solving
• be able to construct statistical models for realistic problems and analyse them
• be familiar with the role of computers in applied statistics and simulation, and in particular be able to handle large amounts of data
• be able to understand and evaluate applied statistics in scientific reports
• be able to formulate statistical results, both orally and in writing

Follow-up and evaluation of the programme are carried out in accordance with the current Policy for Quality Assurance and Quality Development in Education at the University of Gothenburg.

Each course within the programme is evaluated separately. The programme as a whole is continuously monitored by the programme committee.

Students who follow the educational programme at the prescribed pace are guaranteed a place on all courses within the programme.