Mathematics at UNL
Have you considering Mathematics as a major? Are you enjoying your Fall 2022 Math course? Did you enjoy your HS Math courses? Considered Math but weren't sure what you would do after graduation? A strong mathematics background is essential to an increasing variety of careers. The Department of Mathematics encourages students to select a coherent body of courses in mathematics and in other disciplines that are consistent with their academic and career goals.
Options in the Major
Students majoring in Mathematics have seven different options available on both the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree to focus their advanced coursework in ways that meet their specific interests and career goals. All students complete a core set of requirements and can determine, in consultation with faculty and their academic advisor, which specific option and degree to follow. The option will be documented on the final transcript.
Standard Option
Recommended for students wishing to combine a strong education in mathematics with research or a coherent body of coursework in another discipline. This can literally mean pairing Math with anything, and almost everything has been done in the past. Career and internship opportunities usually align with interests areas that mix both Math and the other discipline.
Discrete Mathematics and Cryptography Option
Recommended for students wishing to combine a strong mathematics education with a coherent body of coursework in computer science focused on discrete mathematics and cryptography. The Mathematical theories behind computer science have implications for a variety of computing careers, and currently buzz word areas of computer science like artificial intelligence and machine learning are heavily mathematical.
Education Option
Recommended for students planning to pursue endorsement and certification to teach mathematics at the secondary level through an undergraduate degree in the College of Education and Human Sciences or through a graduate program. This option is perfect for someone who isn't completely set on secondary education or for someone who comes to secondary education too late to graduate in 4 years.
Mathematical Biology Option
Recommended for students interested in a mathematics major and a coherent body of coursework studying areas of biology in a quantitative manner. Covers everything from the mathematics behind zebra stripe patterns to mathematics of disease transmission. Could lean toward careers and education in Complex Biosystems.
Mathematical Finance Option
Recommended for students interested in a mathematics major and a strong body of coursework in actuarial science and finance. Has some similarities to the Actuarial Science major, but would allow for a broader variety of career options. Banking, Finance, and Insurance are some of the highest paying careers after graduation.
Mathematics of Physical Phenomena Option
Recommended for students interested in pairing a strong mathematics education with a body of coursework concerning the physical world that we live in. Explore Electrical Engineering, Geology, Mechanical Engineering, Meteorology-Climatology, or Physics as you pursue a major in Mathematics. The most common career fields align with engineering and the sciences.
Statistics and Data Science
Recommended for students interested in a mathematics major and studying data and statistical analysis using a coherent body of coursework in computer science and statistics. Currently, Data Science is one of the hottest career and internship areas within mathematics with options that align with a huge number of different industries. Data Scientists and Analysts work every where from Ameritas (banking/insurance) to Google to HyVee (groceries) to Sandhills Global (publishing).
The Math major does have a reputation for being solely a preparation for careers in education, and while you can do that, there are so many more opportunities. You will learn a large number of transferable skills like the following:
- Apply mathematical and scientific skills to solve real-world problems
- Develop basic techniques of statistical analysis
- Analyze and explain data
- Make predictions using mathematical, statistical, and scientific modeling methods
- Simplify complex information and present it to others
- Examine problems from multiple perspectives
- Use quantitative analysis techniques
- Use qualitative analysis techniques
These skills could lead you to internship opportunities like the following:
- Data Science Intern, The Hartford Insurance Company - Hartford CT
- Actuarial Intern, Lincoln Financial Group - Omaha NE
- Intern, American Embassy - Berlin, Germany
- Intern, Nebraska Human Resources Institute - Lincoln NE
- Intern, Bureau of Sociological Research - Lincoln NE
- Software Development Intern, Tigerpaw Software - Bellevue NE
- Intern, Tetrad Property Group - Lincoln NE
- Summer Intern, Southwestern - Nationwide
- Intern - Group Actuarial, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. - Lincoln NE
- Programming Intern, Firespring - Lincoln NE
- Associate Logistics Prefessional Intern, ConAgra Foods - Omaha NE
Your Academics plus your Experiences could lead to Job and Graduate School Opportunities like the following:
- Business Analyst, Sandhills Publishing - Lincoln NE
- Ph.D., Mathematics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln NE
- Quality Assurance Analyst, Nanonation - Lincoln NE
- Ph.D., Physics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln NE
- Implementation Consultant, Fast Enterprises - Centennial CO
- Ph.D., Economics, University of Tennessee - Knoxville TN
- Data Engineer, Hudl - Lincoln NE
- Master's Degree, Computer Science, University of Malaya - Kuala Lumpur ZZ
- Website Production Support, Cabela's - Omaha NE
- Ph.D., Neural Computation, Center for Neural Basis of Cognition - Pittsburgh PA
- Programmer/Analyst, Centrix Solutions, Inc. - Lincoln NE
- Doctor of Physcial Therapy, Creighton University - Omaha NE
- Math Teacher, Omaha Public Schools - Omaha NE
- Ph.D., Statistics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln NE
- Actuary, CNA Insurance - Chicago IL
- Master's Degree, System Engineering, University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia PA
- Social Insurance Specialist, Social Security - Kansas City MO
- Master's Degree, Biostaticis, University of Southern California - Los Angeles CA
- Statistical Analyst, Experian - Lincoln NE
- Ph.D., Agricultural & Resource Economics, University of California, Berkley - Berkley CA
- Mathematics Teacher, Norris School District #16 - Firth NE
- Master's Degree, Math Education, UNL - Lincoln NE
- Software Development Engineer, Microsoft - Redmond WA
- Master's Degree, Actuarial Science , UNL - Lincoln NE
- 2nd Lieutenant, United States Army - Ft. Benning GA
- Master's Degree, Physics , Ohio State University - Columbus OH
- Account Executive, 93.7 The Ticket - Lincoln NE
- Master's Degree, Atmospheric Science, University of Utah - Salt Lake City UT
- Data & Research Analyst, Mercer - Urbandale IA
Excited to learn more? Please contact Doug Pellatz or schedule an appointment with him through MyPlan.