MATH Requirements in the MATH Major Programme for Broadbase Science entrants 2024

Last updated: July 2024.

Table of content.

Official sources of information.

Every two or three years the requirements of MATH programme may be revised. When you have a question concerned with study, you had better seek an official answer.

(Do not rely on hear-say: what the senior students tell you may or may not be applicable in your situation. This is especially important to you as a new University Core Curriculum was implemented not so long ago.)

Below are the reliable sources of information.

  1. CUSIS.

    The MATH study scheme and the information in the catalogue of MATH courses in CUSIS are official documents. They are what you can definitely rely upon.

  2. Department Homepage.

    General information of the MATH major programme can be found at the homepage of the Department of Mathematics.

  3. Academic advisor, and course teachers.

    Once you have declared for MATH or for potential major in MATH, you will be assigned an academic advisor in the Department of Mathematics.

    When you have questions about the MATH programme, you may approach your academic advisor or your course teachers for help. They can at least re-direct you to the right persons who can answer your questions.

  4. Email enquiries.

    If you have some very specific questions about the MATH programme and you can't find any answer in the CUSIS or the department homepage, you may write to the department.

    When you write to the department, use your CWEM address. Also include your name and your student ID. A clear subject title will help the department identify your problem and is certainly welcome.

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Purpose of this page.

The information in this page is meant to provide a summary of the basic requirements in MATH courses (alongside key options within the requirements), leading towards graduation in the MATH programme, common to all MATH students. Such requirements as stated here are what you must take into account when you plan your study.

These charts present such requirements in the form of `road-maps'.

  • The first chart focuses on the MATH major requirements, with the arrows indicating the relations between the various parts of the requirements, and the parenthesis indicating the specific terms for certain required courses to be completed.
  • The other charts are about various streams available in the MATH programme.

If you are admitted to Broadbase Science from the DSE and did not have much exposure to mathematics beyond your maths lesson at school, you may find the `soft information' presented in this set of `Frequently Asked Questions' useful to you as well: the Q&A's supplement the `hard information' presented in this page, and provide suggestions on how you may do better beyond the absolute minimum of satisfying the requirements (described in this page) on time.

Reminder.

  • It is NOT the purpose of this page to give you any tailor-made advice on what is most desirable or most preferrable in the planning for your specific situation.

    In fact, we understand that the specific plans of our students may vary according to the academic background, the needs, and the goals of the individual students.

    Therefore, to draw up a study plan which is most suitable to you, you are advised to:---

    • use the information provided by this page as a basis for your plan, and
    • check the study scheme and the course lists in CUSIS to see whether your plan is workable.

    When you are unsure whether certain detail in your plan will work out at all, you are always welcome to:---

    • consult your academic advisor (but `not at the last minute'), and/or
    • talk with your course teachers, and/or
    • to write to the department.

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First-year MATH required courses, and Honours Course options.

Below is the optimal pattern of MATH required courses for the first year of study leading towards a MATH major degree.

Term of study Course Code Course Title Number of units
Term 1 (First Semester) MATH1010 University Mathematics 3 units
Term 1 (First Semester) MATH1030 Linear Algebra I 3 units
Term 2 (Second Semester) MATH1050 Foundation of Modern Mathematics 3 units

This pattern is expected to be followed by the average Broadbase Science students who intend to graduate in MATH at a reasonable pace(a1), and with a smooth progress to further MATH required courses(a2).

An option intended for MATH students who have done comfortably in MATH1010 and MATH1030 in Term 1 (First Semester) is that of taking both MATH1050 and MATH2010 in Term 2 (Second Semester). Such an option facilitates an accelerated progress of the MATH required courses in the longer run.(a3)

The STARS stream offered by the Faculty of Science is an option for Broadbase Science students who intend to graduate in MATH. Term 2 (Second Semester) is the starting point of the STARS stream in the framework of the MATH curriculum.(a4)

Remarks.

  • (a1) Reasonable pace of progress.

    The MATH study scheme is designed on the assumption that for all MATH students:---

    • all three level-1000 and eight level-2000 MATH required courses (9 units and 23 units respectively) are passed within the first three years of study, and
    • advanced MATH courses and/or non-MATH courses (for the various streams available in the MATH curriculum) are to be taken mainly in the third and fourth years of study.

    In the light of the pre-requisites of the various courses, a delay of one or more of MATH1010, MATH1030, MATH1050 may cause a `pile-up' of the level-2000 MATH required courses, and may indirectly restrict your options in higher years of study (not only in course selection, but also in exchange/internship opportunities, scholarships et cetera).

  • (a2) Pre-requisite matters: the roles of MATH1010, MATH1030, MATH1050 in the making of smooth progress to further MATH required courses.

    • MATH1010 is a pre-requisite for MATH1050 and for MATH2010.

      Without having passed MATH1010, you can take neither MATH1050 nor MATH2010.

    • MATH1030 is a pre-requisite for MATH2040 and for MATH2070.

      If you do not take MATH1030 in the first year of study, you may end up delaying these two courses.

    • MATH1050 is a pre-requisite for several `proof-type' required courses in MATH programme, namely MATH2040, MATH2050, MATH2070.

      If you do not take MATH1050 in the first year of study, you have to plan your MATH courses (especially the MATH required courses) in the second and third years of study so as to avoid delaying your completion of the MATH major requirement.

  • (a3) Option of taking MATH2010 in Term 2.

    If you plan to graduate in streams which are more demanding in mathematics (such as the Enrichment Stream), you should consider taking MATH2010 in Term 2.

  • (a4) STARS stream.

    Be aware that there are some eligibility criteria for joining the STARS stream. For more information about the STARS stream, refer to this page. To apply for the STARS stream, contact the faculty.

If you have already made up your mind to declare for MATH and satisfy certain eligibility conditions, you may opt to replace MATH1010, MATH1030, MATH1050, MATH2010 with the respective Honours Courses MATH1018(a5), MATH1038(a5), MATH1058(a6), MATH2018(a6), which are designed for MATH students with good abilities and with prospective further studies in mind:

Term of study Course Code Course Title Number of units
Term 1 (First Semester) MATH1018 Honours University Mathematics 3 units
Term 1 (First Semester) MATH1038 Honours Linear Algebra I 3 units
Term 2 (Second Semester) MATH1058 Honours Foundation of Modern Mathematics 3 units
Term 2 (Second Semester) MATH2018 Honours Advanced Calculus I 3 units

Remarks.

  • (a5) Eligibility for the First Semester Honours Courses MATH1018, MATH1038.

    For the question on eligibility for MATH1018, MATH1038, refer to the Honours Course homepage.

    Mathematics Enrichment entrants are pre-assigned to the Honours Courses MATH1018, MATH1038 in the first semester.

  • (a6) Eligibility for the Second Semester Honours Courses MATH1058, MATH2018.

    For the question on eligibility for MATH1058, MATH2018, refer to the Honours Course homepage.

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MATH required courses beyond the First Year of Study.

Below is the list of MATH required courses at level-2000 or above, common to all MATH major students, irrespective of the streams(b1) in which they graduate.

Optimal term(s) of study(b2) Course Code Course Title Number of units
Term 2 or 3 MATH2010(b3)(b7) Advanced Calculus I 3 units
Term 3 or 4 MATH2020(b3)(b7) Advanced Calculus II 3 units
Term 4 or 5 or 6 MATH2230(b3) Complex Variables with Applications 3 units
Term 3 or 4 MATH2040(b7) Linear Algebra II 3 units
Term 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 MATH2070(b7) Algebraic Structures 3 units
Term 4 or 6 MATH2221(b4) Mathematical Laboratory II 2 units
Term 3 or 4 or 5 MATH2050(b3)(b7) Mathematical Analysis I 3 units
Term 4 or 6 MATH2060(b3)(b4)(b7) Mathematical Analysis II 3 units
Third or fourth year MATH3060(b5) Mathematical Analysis III 3 units
Final Year MATH4400/MATH4900(b3)(b6) Project/Seminar 3 units

Remarks.

  • (b1) Streams and elective courses for streams.

    Every MATH students will graduate in one of the streams below:

    • Enrichment Stream.(b8)
    • Enrichment and Computational and Applied Mathematics Stream.(b8)
    • Computational and Applied Mathematics Stream.
    • Computational Big Data Analytics Stream.
    • Mathematics Stream.
    • Mathematics-Education Stream.
    • Mathematics-Multidisciplinary Stream.

    For each stream, there will be some specific stream requirements. They usually translate into the taking of a further 27 units of courses, as specified for that stream. For some streams, however, there may be some special requirements on major GPA.

    For more detail on the various streams, including the specific requirements for each stream, consult the study scheme in CUSIS. A quick reference (though not necessarily most updated) on streams is available here. For the `road-maps' of some of these streams which incorporate the MATH major requirements and the respective stream requirements, see these charts.

    Be reminded that you are required to declare your stream to the Department at least several months before you graduate.

  • (b2) Optimal term(s) of study.

    The time frame suggested by this list is of advisory nature only, based on the progress of the average MATH student, and the course offering pattern of the department in the recent past. The latter may change by the time you are in the higher years of study.

    In principle you may take any one of these MATH required courses after you have satisfied the respective pre-requisites and co-requisites for the course.

    However, be careful when you plan to take any specific course in this list:

    • If you take the course too early, you may be mathematically not sufficiently prepared for it. As a consequence, you may fail to gain maximum benefit from the course, and your academic result may suffer.
    • If you take the course too late, you run the risk of delaying your overall progress. In the worst scenario you might end up delaying your graduation. Moreover, your options for advanced courses may become more limited, because those advanced courses could assume background knowledge in that particular course, or even require that particular course as pre-requisite.

  • (b3) Pre-requisite matters.

    MATH2010 is a pre-requisite for MATH2020; MATH2020 is a pre-requisite for MATH2230.

    MATH2050 is a pre-requisite for MATH2060 and for MATH4900.

    Be aware that you will not be allowed to take a course unless you have fulfilled the pre-requisite for that course.

    Take into account of the above, or you will risk delaying graduation.

  • (b4) Course offering pattern for MATH2060, MATH2221.

    MATH2060, MATH2221 are likely to be offered in the Second Semester only.

  • (b5) Mathematical Analysis III and its alternatives.

    For the purpose of fulfilling graduation requirements, MATH3060 may be replaced by STAT2001 or STAT2006.

    MATH3060 is a continuation of MATH2060/2068, and it is usually offered in the First Semester only.

  • (b6) Capstone courses: MATH4400, MATH4900.

    You are required, and allowed, to take only one of MATH4400, MATH4900.

    Most students are expected to take MATH4900, and are expected to do so in Term 7.

  • (b7) MATH Honours Courses beyond the First Year of Study.

    While you are not obliged to take Honours courses in order to graduate in the MATH programme, you are encouraged to do so if you intend to acquire a broader and deeper understanding in mathematics, and if you want to reap the full benefits of the Enrichment Stream or the Enrichment and Computational and Applied Mathematics Stream.

    Under the assumption that you have taken MATH1050/MATH1058 and MATH2010/MATH2018 in your first year of study, the tentative schedule for the offering of the Honours Courses during your second/third year of study will be:

    Term of study Course Code Course Title Number of units
    Term 3 MATH2028 Honours Advanced Calculus II 3 units
    Term 3 MATH2048 Honours Linear Algebra II 3 units
    Term 3 or 5 MATH2058 Honours Mathematical Analysis I 3 units
    Term 4 or 6 MATH2068 Honours Mathematical Analysis II 3 units
    Term 4 MATH2078 Honours Algebraic Structures 3 units

    For the question on eligibility for these Honours courses, refer to the Honours Course homepage.

    In any case, if you are not taking an Honours course, you can still take its non-Honours counterpart to fulfil graduation requirement.

  • (b8) Pre-requisites for advanced pure maths courses.

    A timely completion of MATH2050/2058, MATH2060/2068, MATH2070/2078, MATH2230 will allow for more flexibility in course selection for the fulfilment of the Enrichment Stream requirements. The reason is that the pre-requisites for various electives for this stream, such as MATH3040, MATH3070, MATH3093, MATH4010, MATH4050, MATH4060, MATH4080, involve MATH2050 or MATH2058, MATH2060 or MATH2068, MATH2070 or MATH2078, MATH2230, MATH3030, MATH3060.

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