The University of Arizona

2. B.A./B.S. in Mathematics or Statistics & Data Science

Undergraduate Requirements Archive2021/2022 Undergraduate RequirementsB.A./B.S. in Mathematics or Statistics & Data Science

The information and requirements given here apply to the 2021–2022 catalog. For other catalog years, please consult the archive.

Upon declaring a major in mathematics or statistics & data science, students must select a degree in which the major will appear.  We offer your choice of a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.).  

These degrees have many common requirements, including minimum units, English composition, and many of the general education courses.  There are some differences, however.

Below, you can find the requirements specific to the two degrees. For requirements specific to each major, regardless of degree, see:

Our major checklists also provide a good overview of the requirements for the degree/major of your choice.

Comparing the B.A. and the B.S.

As far as the mathematics or statistics coursework is concerned, the B.A. and B.S. are identical. 

The requirements for the two degrees differ only in the following ways:

The B.A. in Mathematics or SDS

The B.S. in Mathematics or SDS

(*)CHEM 151 is recommended prior to beginning this sequence.

(**)Additional prerequisites must be met.

Note: B.S. students in either major may satisfy both the Laboratory Science Courses Requirement and the Application Courses Requirement by completing one of the Physics sequences. 

For mathematics majors, these courses must have a pre- or co-requisite of at least Calculus I (MATH 122B or higher). Choose from the following:

Agric & Biosystems Eng BE 201BE 284BE 428BE 481A;

 

Agric & Resource Economics AREC 304,

 

AREC 464

 

AREC 479;

 

Astronomy ASTR 250;
Atmospheric Sciences ATMO 430ATMO 436AATMO 469AATMO 469B;

 

Biochemistry BIOC 462ABIOC 462B,  BIOC 466
Biomedical Engineering BME 214BME 481B;
Civil Engineering CE 214;
Chemical & Environmental Engr CHEE 201,  CHEE 202CHEE 297CHEE 481ACHEE 481B;
Chemistry CHEM 161CHEM 162CHEM 325CHEM 404ACHEM 480ACHEM 480BCHEM 481;
Computer Science CSC 345CSC 422CSC 433CSC 436CSC 437

 

CSC 444CSC 445CSC 453CSC 460CSC 477CSC 483

 

Computer Science UA South CSCV 345;
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology ECOL 302ECOL 447ECOL 496N (ECOL 496N not offered recently);
Economics ECON 332,ECON 361;
Engineering ENGR 211CENGR 211EENGR 211P;
Environmental Science ENVS 420ENVS 470ENVS 479;
Geography & Development GEOG 463;
Geosciences GEOS 322GEOS 356GEOS 419GEOS 432GEOS 434AGEOS 440GEOS 469GEOS 479;
Hydrology and Water Resources HWRS 349AHWRS 421(HWRS 421 not offered recently), HWRS 431HWRS 460A;
Information Sci, Tech & Arts ISTA 421ISTA 450;
Molecular & Cellular Biology MCB 480;
Materials Science & Engr MSE 222MSE 345MSE 404MSE 415;
Mathematics MATH 493;
Optical Sciences OPTI 201R, OPTI 303, OPTI 495B;
Physics PHYS 140PHYS 141PHYS 142PHYS 143*, PHYS 161HPHYS 162HPHYS 240PHYS 241,PHYS 261H; *Note: PHYS 143 is only 2 units; 6 units are required.
Physiology PSIO 303PSIO 305PSIO 472;
Planetary Sciences PTYS 407;
Retailing & Consumer Science RCSC 216;
Systems & Industrial Engr SIE 250SIE 265;
Wildlife & Fisheries Science WFSC 444WFSC 445;
Watershed Management WSM 460A;
 or courses approved by your academic advisor.

For statistics & data science majorswe now recommend taking ISTA 322 to fulfill 3 units of this requirement. If you have enrolled in ISTA 322 and want it to fulfill an application course, please email the Math Center. The courses listed below must have a pre- or co-requisite of a statistics course or at least Calculus I (MATH 122B or higher). Choose from the following: 

Agric & Biosystems Engineering BE 201BE 284BE 423BE 428BE 485;
Animal & Comp Biomed Sciences ACBS 313;
Aerospace & Mechanical Engr AME 472
Astronomy ASTR 250;
Biochemistry BIOC 462ABIOC 462BBIOC 466;
Civil Engineering CE 214CE 310CE 449;
Chemistry CHEM 161CHEM 162CHEM 325CHEM 404ACHEM 480ACHEM 480B;
Computer Science CSC 345CSC 422CSC 433CSC 436CSC 437CSC 444CSC 445CSC 453CSC 460CSC 477CSC 483CSCV 345;
Statistics & Data Science DATA 493;
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology ECOL 302ECOL 447;
Economics ECON 332ECON 361;
Engineering ENGR 211C;
Environmental Science ENVS 420ENVS 470;
Epidemiology EPID 452EPID 479;
Geosciences GEOS 322GEOS 356GEOS 434AGEOS 469GEOS 479;
Information Sci, Tech & Arts ISTA 321ISTA 350ISTA 421ISTA 450;
Molecular & Cellular Biology MCB 416AMCB 480;
Materials Science & Engr MSE 345MSE 404;
Neuroscience & Cognitive Sci NSCS 344;
Optical Sciences OPTI 201R;
Physics PHYS 140PHYS 141PHYS 142PHYS 143*, PHYS 161HPHYS 162HPHYS 240PHYS 241PHYS 261H; *Note: PHYS 143 is only 2 units; 6 units are required.
Physiology PSIO 303PSIO 472;
Planetary Sciences PTYS 407;
Range Management RAM 456;
Renewable Natural Resources RNR 321RNR 417RNR 473;
Systems & Industrial Engr SIE 250SIE 265SIE 422SIE 496;
Sociology SOC 476;
Wildlife & Fisheries Science WFSC 444WFSC 445;
Watershed Management WSM 460A;
 or courses approved by your academic advisor.  


Double Degrees

Students pursuing a second major that has a degree title different from that of the first major are technically double degree students. Additional requirements may apply to double degree students that do not pertain to double major students (students with two majors that have exactly the same degree title). See an advisor for details. 

Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA)

Every undergraduate degree program at the University of Arizona requires satisfaction of the MCWA. a grade of A or B in ENGL 102, ENGL 108 (for ESL students), or ENGL 109H (for qualified students) will satisfy the requirement. If you earn less than a B in your second-semester composition course, you have several options for completing the MCWA. You may: