Honors Programs

The honors program is designed for students with a strong commitment to mathematics. It is recommended for students who intend to pursue graduate study. 

  1. A note on the Math for Economics Sequence and the Calculus Requirement
    Students who have declared or plan to declare an Economics major or Joint Math/Economics Honors Major can use the MATH-UA 131, 132, and 133 Math for Economics I - III sequence to substitute for the MATH-UA 121, 122 and 123 Calculus I - III requirements. You will have to get this approved by the Math Department. All other students must use the Calculus sequence. Students cannot mix-and-match, combine, our double count between the Math for Economics and Calculus sequences - no exceptions! If you have any questions regarding the Math for Economics and Calculus requirements, please contact the Math Department.

  2. A note on recent course number changes
    Effective Fall 2025, the following courses have been renumbered:

    MATH-UA 235 is now MATH-UA 185 Probability & Statistics
    MATH-UA 233 is now MATH-UA 333 Theory of Probability
    MATH-UA 234 is now MATH-UA 334 Mathematical Statistics
    MATH-UA 238 is now MATH-UA 338 Honors Theory of Probability
    MATH-UA 252 is now MATH-UA 352 Numerical Analysis
    MATH-UA 253 is now MATH-UA 353 Linear and Nonlinear Optimization
    MATH-UA 258 is now MATH-UA 358 Honors Numerical Analysis
    MATH-UA 282 is now MATH-UA 382 Functions of a Complex Variable

The course titles, content, material, workload, duration and instruction remain unchanged. Only the course numbers have been updated to better align with the Math Department’s sequencing of courses.

MATH-UA 185 Probability & Statistics no longer counts as an advanced math elective for the Joint Math/Economics Honors Major effective Fall 2025. The Math Department will honor MATH-UA 235 as an advanced math elective for the Joint Math/Economics Honors Major as long as the course was completed prior to Fall 2025. 

Majors

Applying for the Honors Program

  • Overall GPA of 3.65 or higher
  • Math/Joint Math Major GPA of 3.65 or higher
    • Students must have a Math Major or Joint Math Major GPA of 3.65 before applying for the Honors program
  • Department approval via declaration form
    • Complete the online major declaration form and select one of the Honors Major options. (Please note: you must be logged into your NYU e-mail account in order to access this form).

Graduating from the Honors Program

  • Overall GPA of 3.65 or higher at the time of graduation
  • Math/Joint Math Major GPA of 3.65 or higher at the time of graduation
  • Completion of all major/joint major requirements listed below
    • Note: the Honors major requirements are different from the non-honors major, please carefully review the Honors major requirements
  • Completion of the Honors research component
    • For Math Honors Majors: must be completed at the Math Department.
    • For Joint Honors Majors: must be completed at the Math Department or the other department of the joint major.

If you have questions about the math or joint math honors programs, please contact the Assistant Director, Academic Affairs, Adam Staszczuk at as11890@nyu.edu or the Program Administrator, Jackie Tucciarone, at jt4787@nyu.edu.

Note on Latin honors: Latin honors are designated by the College of Arts & Science, whereas the Honors Program is a departmental program. These are two seperate designations. Questions regarding Latin honors should be directed towards graduation@nyu.edu. 

HONORS MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

Honors Mathematics Major Checklist

The requirements for the Honors Mathematics major are thirteen courses numbered MATH-UA 120 or higher, including four required Honors electives. The only exceptions are MATH-UA 131, 132, and 133 Math for Economics I, II and III which are not open to anyone who has taken Calculus and are for Economics Majors. The courses must include:

Foundational Course Requirement

It is strongly recommended, but not required, that students take Analysis before taking Algebra.

Advanced Math Elective Requirement

  • Three (3) of the following courses:
    • MATH-UA 240 Combinatorics
    • MATH-UA 248 Theory of Numbers
    • MATH-UA 262 Ordinary Differential Equations or MATH-UA 268 Honors Ordinary Differential Equations
    • MATH-UA 263 Partial Differential Equations
    • MATH-UA 264 Chaos & Dynamical Systems
    • MATH-UA 329 Honors Analysis II
    • MATH-UA 333 Theory of Probability or MATH-UA 338 Honors Theory of Probability
    • MATH-UA 334 Mathematical Statistics
    • MATH-UA 349 Honors Algebra II
    • MATH-UA 352 Numerical Analysis or MATH-UA 358 Honors Numerical Analysis
      • cannot take MATH-UA 358 if you have already taken MATH-UA 394 Honors II and the topic was Honors Numerical Analysis
    • MATH-UA 353 Linear and Linear Nonlinear Optimization
    • MATH-UA 375 Topology
    • MATH-UA 377 Differential Geometry
    • MATH-UA 382 Functions of a Complex Variable
    • MATH-UA 393 Honors I 
    • MATH-UA 394 Honors II
    • MATH-UA 397 Honors III
    • MATH-UA 398 Honors IV

General Math Elective Requirement

  • Three (3) general Math elective courses numbered MATH-UA 120 or higher.
    • Excludes Math for Economics I-III if you have taken Calculus I-III (or Honors Calculus III).
    • Excludes Calculus I-III (and Honors Calculus III) if you have taken Math for Economics I-III.
    • Excludes any Honors version of a course that you have already taken the non-Honors version of, or vice versa. 

Honors Elective Requirement

Of the 13 required courses for the Math Honors major, four (4) courses must be Honors Electives. These are italicized & highlighted in the list above.

  • Graduate level MATH-GA courses do not count nor substitute the Honors elective requirement.
  • Honors Calculus III and Honors Linear Algebra do not count towards the honors elective requirement.

Honors Research Project Requirement

Students may satisfy the Honors Research Project requirement via two routes:

  1. participating in themathematics Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (S.U.R.E.) program under faculty supervision. Students who participate in this program are expected to dedicate 30+ hours of research per week over a 10-12 week period during the summer break. Upon concluding their research, students are required to submit an abstract and present their research at Courant's undergraduate research forum in the fall semester of their senior year. This is a competitive program with only a select number of spots. Students who are selected to participate will receive financial support for the summer.
    • Honors students interested in the SURE route must apply at the beginning of the Spring semester of their Junior Year.
  2. Alternatively, students must complete two (2) semesters of research independent study (MATH-UA 0997, 0998) under faculty supervision. Students are expected to dedicate 10-20 hours per week toward their research. Students must receive approval of their honors project from the Honors Faculty Advisor, Professor Chao Li. At the conclusion of the second research independent study, students are required to submit a 15-20 page final report, with the approval of their faculty mentor, and are encouraged to present their research at the Dean's Undergraduate Research Conference (DURC) in the spring semester of their senior year. 
    • All Math Honors majors who are not selected for SURE must satisfy the research project requirement via the independent study route.

Additional Guidelines

In addition to the above requirements, the following guidelines must be observed:

  • Any two computer science courses (numbered CSCI-UA 101 or higher, except CSCI-UA 380), DS-UA 112, or graduate data science DS-GA courses may be credited toward the general Math elective requirement only. However, no more than 2 non-math classes may fulfill the major requirements.
  • Students may petition to enroll in graduate mathematics MATH-GA courses and apply them to the general Math elective requirement section of their Math Major, so long as they are three-credit MATH-GA courses. Half-credit (1.5 credit) MATH-GA courses do not count towards the general Math elective requirement or the Honors elective requirement. Please see the Enrollment in Graduate Courses webpage for more details.
  • Students may double count no more than two courses between major and/or minor degree requirements.
  • Courses taken under the pass/fail option are not counted toward the major - no exceptions!
  • A grade of C or better is required in all courses used to fulfill the major requirement.
  • At least half of all courses in the major must be taken at CAS as a MATH-UA course.

JOINT HONORS MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS / COMPUTER SCIENCE

Joint Honors Mathematics and Computer Science Major Checklist

Mathematics Requirements

  • MATH-UA 121 Calculus I
  • MATH-UA 122 Calculus II
  • MATH-UA 123 Calculus III or MATH-UA 129 Honors Calculus III
  • MATH-UA 140 Linear Algebra or MATH-UA 148 Honors Linear Algebra
  • MATH-UA 325 Analysis or MATH-UA 328 Honors Analysis I
  • MATH-UA 329 Honors Analysis II
  • MATH-UA 343 Algebra or MATH-UA 348 Honors Algebra I
  • MATH-UA 349 Honors Algebra II
  • Two (2) advanced Honors electives from the following list:
    • MATH-UA 268 Honors Ordinary Differential Equations
    • MATH-UA 338 Honors Theory of Probability
    • MATH-UA 358 Honors Numerical Analysis
      • cannot take MATH-UA 258 if you have already taken MATH-UA 394 Honors II and the topic was Honors Numerical Analysis
    • MATH-UA 393 Honors I
    • MATH-UA 394 Honors II 
    • MATH-UA 397 Honors III
    • MATH-UA 398 Honors IV

Note: MATH-UA 120 Discrete Math is a prerequisite for CSCI-UA 310 Basic Algorithms listed below.

Computer Science Requirements

Honors Research Project

Students may complete the honors research project requirement at either department. A research project completed at the Math Department will be cross-honored by the CS Department, and vice versa. That being said, once a student commits to completing a research project at one department, they must satisfy the research requirements and abide by the policies of that department. 

To satisfy the research project requirement at the Math Department, students have two options:

  1. to participate in mathematics Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (S.U.R.E.) program under faculty supervision. Students who participate in this program are expected to dedicate 30+ hours of research per week over a 10-12 week period during the summer break. Upon concluding their research, students are required to submit an abstract and present their research at Courant's undergraduate research forum in the fall semester of their senior year. This is a competitive program with only a select number of spots. Students who are selected to participate will receive financial support for the summer.
    • Honors students interested in the SURE route must apply at the beginning of the Spring semester of their Junior Year.
  2. Alternatively, students must complete two (2) semesters of research independent study (MATH-UA 0997, 0998) under faculty supervision. Students are expected to dedicate 10-20 hours per week toward their research. Students must receive approval of their honors project from the Honors Faculty Advisor, Professor Chao Li. At the conclusion of the second research independent study, students are required to submit a 15-20 page final report, with the approval of their faculty mentor, and are encouraged to present their research at the Dean's Undergraduate Research Conference (DURC) in the spring semester of their senior year. 
    • All Joint Math/CS Honors majors who are not selected for SURE must satisfy the research project requirement via the independent study route.

JOINT HONORS MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS / ECONOMICS

Joint Honors Mathematics and Economics Major Checklist

Mathematics Requirements

  • MATH-UA 121 Calculus I or MATH-UA 131 Math for Economics I
  • MATH-UA 122 Calculus II or MATH-UA 132 Math for Economics II
  • MATH-UA 123 Calculus III (or MATH-UA 129 Honors Calculus III) or MATH-UA 133 Math for Economics III
  • MATH-UA 140 Linear Algebra (or MATH-UA 148 Honors Linear Algebra)
  • MATH-UA 328 Honors Analysis I
    • Students who take MATH-UA 325 Analysis must take MATH-UA 329 Honors Analysis II to make up missing the Honors Analysis I credit. In this situation, Honors Analysis II will not count towards the two honors elective requirement below. 
  • Two (2) Honors electives from the following list:
    • MATH-UA 268 Honors Ordinary Differential Equations
    • MATH-UA 329 Honors Analysis II 
      • cannot count MATH-UA 329 Honors Analysis II towards the honors elective requirement if you are taking the course to make up for missing Honors Analysis I credit.
    • MATH-UA 338 Honors Theory of Probability
    • MATH-UA 348 Honors Algebra I   
    • MATH-UA 349 Honors Algebra II  
    • MATH-UA 358 Honors Numerical Analysis
      • cannot take MATH-UA 358 if you have already taken MATH-UA 394 Honors II and the topic was Honors Numerical Analysis
    • MATH-UA 393 Honors I
    • MATH-UA 394 Honors II 
    • MATH-UA 397 Honors III
    • MATH-UA 398 Honors IV
  • Two additional math electives from the following: 
    • MATH-UA 240 Combinatorics
    • MATH-UA 248 Theory of Numbers
    • MATH-UA 250 Mathematics of Finance
    • MATH-UA 251 Mathematical Modeling
    • MATH-UA 262 Ordinary Differential Equations (if not taking MATH-UA 268 Honors Ordinary Differential Equations above)
    • MATH-UA 263 Partial Differential Equations
    • MATH-UA 264 Chaos & Dynamical Systems
    • MATH-UA 333 Theory of Probability (if not taking MATH-UA 338 Honors Theory of Probability above)
    • MATH-UA 334 Mathematical Statistics
    • MATH-UA 343 Algebra (if not taking MATH-UA 348 Honors Algebra I above)
    • MATH-UA 352 Numerical Analysis (if not taking MATH-UA 358 Honors Numerical Analysis above)
    • MATH-UA 353 Linear and Nonlinear Optimization
    • MATH-UA 375 Topology
    • MATH-UA 377 Differential Geometry
    • MATH-UA 382 Functions of a Complex Variable

MATH-UA 185 Probability & Statistics no longer counts as an advanced math elective for the Joint Math/Economics Honors Major effective Fall 2025. The Math Department will honor MATH-UA 235 as an advanced math elective for the Joint Math/Economics Honors Major as long as the course was completed prior to Fall 2025. 

Economics Requirements

The economics requirements include:

  • Introduction to Macroeconomics (ECON-UA 1)
  • Introduction to Microeconomics (ECON-UA 2)
  • Microeconomic Analysis (ECON-UA 11)
  • Macroeconomic Analysis (ECON-UA 13)
  • Analytical Statistics (ECON-UA 20) if not taking Mathematical Statistics (MATH-UA 234)
  • Introduction to Econometrics (ECON-UA 266)
  • Plus any three economics elective courses, at least two of which must be theory electives numbered ECON-UA 300-399. Note that students who take MATH-UA 234 instead of ECON-UA 20 for the statistics requirement must take a total of four ECON-UA electives.

Honors Research Project Requirements

Students may complete the honors research project requirement at either department. A research project completed at the Math Department will be cross-honored by the Economics Department, and vice versa. That being said, once a student commits to completing a research project at one department, they must satisfy the research requirements and abide by the policies of that department. 

To complete the Honors Research Project requirement at the Economics Department, students must begin the three-course honors sequence no later than the spring semester of their Junior year:

  1. ECON-UA 266 Introduction to Econometrics
  2. ECON-UA 410 Honors Tutorial
  3. ECON-UA 450 Honors Thesis
    • Students are expected to dedicate 10-20 hours per week toward their research.

To satisfy the research project requirement at the Math Department, students have two options:

  1. to participate in the mathematics Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (S.U.R.E.) program under faculty supervision. Students who participate in this program are expected to dedicate 30+ hours of research per week over a 10-12 week period during the summer break. Upon concluding their research, students are required to submit an abstract and present their research at Courant's undergraduate research forum in the fall semester of their senior year. This is a competitive program with only a select number of spots. Students who are selected to participate will receive financial support for the summer.
    • Honors students interested in the SURE route must apply at the beginning of the Spring semester of their Junior Year.
  2. Alternatively, students must complete two (2) semesters of research independent study (MATH-UA 0997, 0998) under faculty supervision. Students are expected to dedicate 10-20 hours per week toward their research. Students must receive approval of their honors project from the Honors Faculty Advisor, Professor Chao Li. At the conclusion of the second research independent study, students are required to submit a 15-20 page final report, with the approval of their faculty mentor, and are encouraged to present their research at the Dean's Undergraduate Research Conference (DURC) in the spring semester of their senior year. 
    • Joint Math/Econ Honors majors not selected for the SURE program must satisfy the research project requirement via the independent study route at the Math Department or the three-course honors sequence at the Economics Department.