Undergraduate Resources

Students pursuing a minor in mathematics must complete 15 hours of MATH or STAT courses at the 3000 level or higher, with at least three courses carrying the MATH prefix. A minimum grade of C is required in each course.

Courses required for a student’s major or Auburn’s core curriculum cannot be used to satisfy minor requirements. Students should review current requirements in the Auburn University Bulletin and work with their advisor to complete the appropriate minor form.

Students pursuing a minor in statistics must complete 15 hours of approved statistics coursework. Required courses include STAT 3600/3610 or STAT 3010/4020. Elective options may include STAT 4610, STAT 4620, STAT 4630, STAT 5110 and STAT 5630.

A minimum grade of C is required in each course. Students should review current requirements in the Auburn University Bulletin and consult the department for course substitutions or advising questions.

Students who want to change their major should contact COSAM Student Services for advising and next steps. Students outside COSAM may need to work with both their current college and COSAM Student Services to complete the change-of-major process.

A degree in mathematics or statistics prepares students for far more than one career path. Students build skills in problem-solving, analytical reasoning, data analysis and abstract thinking — skills that are valuable across business, technology, government, education, health care, engineering and research.

Mathematics and statistics students learn how to break complex problems into smaller parts, identify patterns, evaluate evidence and develop solutions that can be applied in the real world. Those skills are increasingly important in a technology-driven economy shaped by data, artificial intelligence, modeling and quantitative decision-making.

Graduates may pursue careers in areas such as:

• Data science and analytics
• Actuarial science and risk management
• Finance and business intelligence
• Operations research and logistics
• Software, computing and technology
• Aerospace, defense and engineering
• Education and academic research
• Government and public policy
• Health care, biotechnology and medical research

Students interested in applied mathematics may work on problems involving transportation systems, supply chains, energy networks, engineering design, defense technology or scientific modeling. Students interested in statistics may focus on data analysis, experimental design, forecasting, machine learning, risk assessment or decision-making under uncertainty.

The career outlook for graduates with strong mathematical and statistical training is strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that mathematicians, statisticians, actuaries and data scientists all have median annual wages above the national median, with especially strong projected growth for data scientists and actuaries.

Auburn mathematics and statistics graduates have gone on to work in insurance, consulting, aerospace, technology, cloud computing, education and other fields. Many students also pursue graduate or professional study in mathematics, statistics, data science, engineering, medicine, law, business or related areas.

Whether students plan to enter the workforce after graduation or continue their education, a degree in mathematics or statistics provides a flexible foundation for careers that require clear thinking, quantitative skill and creative problem-solving.