Honors Program
in
Mathematics
This page is meant to help you navigate our Honors Program.
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If you have any questions,
do not hesitate to contact me
Selection Process
Towards the end of January each year, we initiate the application process for the honors program. Once the application period begins, you will receive an email (sent to the majors mailing list) notifying you of the open application. The department holds a meeting in early April to evaluate all candidates, and by mid-April, we will inform you if you are invited to join the honors program. Key considerations during the selection process include:
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Your grades and performance in courses, especially those at the 300+ level.
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Recommendations from instructors of your 200+ level courses.
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Assessing the feasibility of completing the honors program, considering your course load and commitments (your honors project will take 10-15 hours per week).
In terms of proactive measures, focus on excelling in your current courses, aiming not just for A's but also to be among the top students in your mathematics classes.
​In terms of proactive things to do, there isn't much, but make sure that you do very well in your courses now (not just A's, but try to be one of the top students in many of your math and CS classes).
Requirements
GPA requirement.
The university mandates a 3.7 GPA, with the possibility to petition if your GPA is between 3.5 and 3.69.
Other requirements upon Admission.
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Take a graduate mathematics course in the Fall.
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Write, submit, and defend an honors thesis.
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Register for at least 1 credit of Math 495BW in your final semester.
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Participate in the honors program in residence at Emory for two consecutive semesters.
Additional Information
About MATH 495BW.
​Math 495BW fulfills the continued writing requirement, and you can register for 1, 2, 3, or 4 credits, although it counts as only one continued writing requirement. To specify the number of credits needed, please email me in the Fall. There's no substantial difference between 1, 2, 3, or 4 credits; if additional credits are necessary, opt for 3 or 4, while for those on a reduced schedule with potential extra costs, 1 credit suffices.
Importantly, the course 495BW serves as a recognition of the writing efforts already invested in your thesis, and no additional workload is imposed. In cases where a student is unable to complete honors, agreements are made between the student and the advisor to conclude 495BW such as through a writeup of achieved results.
About the Residence Requirement.
​Participation in the honors program is mandatory for two consecutive semesters preceding graduation. Specifically, if you plan to graduate in the Fall instead of the Spring, undertaking honors is feasible. In such cases, kindly contact me at your earliest convenience for coordination. Notably, there is no obligation to enroll in 495BW during the initial semester; it is a requirement only in the subsequent semester.
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About the Graduate Course.
If you have already completed a graduate course, this prerequisite is considered fulfilled (though you are encouraged to take additional graduate courses if desired). Common courses chosen by students include Math 511, 515, 521, or 535, although alternative options are also popular.
Mathematics honors students have the flexibility to opt for a graduate course from the Computer Science department, provided it is approved (contact me for approval). To enroll in the graduate course, please reach out to me directly with your course number and student ID, as direct registration is not permitted. Our staff will facilitate your enrollment. It's important to note that the course cannot be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. Prerequisites for graduate courses are often inaccurately listed online, but the prerequisites should generally be discernible; for example, Math 315 is a prerequisite for 515, 411/412 for 511, and 421/422 for 521.
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If you have any uncertainties about course prerequisites, please contact me for clarification. The graduate course does not fulfill elective or other degree requirements. While taking a second graduate course is permissible as an elective, the initial graduate course exclusively fulfills the honors program requirement and does not contribute to any other degree requirements.
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About your Research and finding an advisor.
Some students may already have a specific faculty member in mind or be actively involved in research, while others may not. I offer assistance in finding a mentor. My general advice is to reach out to faculty members you are interested in working with, even if you haven't interacted with them before, and inquire about their willingness to mentor honors students. It's not necessary to have a predefined research project; your faculty mentor will collaborate with you to identify a suitable project. Typically, initial discussions, whether in person or over email, involve exploring potential projects and assessing your interest before making a commitment.
To explore our department's research interests, click here.
It's advisable to schedule regular meetings with your mentor throughout both the Fall and Spring semesters. Be prepared to allocate a minimum of 10-15 hours per week for your research endeavors and an additional 10 hours per week for the graduate course, as these courses typically involve more substantial workload.
About your Thesis requirements.
The specifications for the actual content of an honors thesis are relatively open-ended and are at the discretion of the thesis advisor. Examples of previous theses can be found here. These projects vary widely, with many resulting in publishable work, while others are predominantly expository. Some theses involve a substantial amount of coding, while others may not involve coding at all.
The thesis defense typically consists of a concise presentation of your thesis work, lasting approximately 30-50 minutes. Your defense committee comprises three members, including at least one math faculty member and one non-math faculty member. Oxford faculty members are eligible to serve on the committee as well. You are encouraged to extend invitations to other faculty, friends, and family to attend the defense.
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Office of Undergraduate Education.
For inquiries related to procedures such as deadlines, paperwork, and submissions, please direct them to OUE. The honors program coordinator, Alex Mathis-Porter, will be your point of contact. During the Fall, you can expect to receive communication from them, including instructions and deadlines. Additionally, there will be several informational meetings to attend for further guidance.
Note.
Should you opt to engage in the honors program and subsequently alter your decision, kindly inform me. If you have any further inquiries, feel free to contact me directly without hesitation.
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