Pursue your passion for problem-solving with a major in Mathematics, and prepare for high-impact careers in engineering, statistics, finance, cryptography, aeronautics, scientific research or business.

Major Roadmap

Explore your options — classes, internships, research and study abroad. Use the Mathematics BA Major Guide or Mathematics BS Major Guide to find what interests you, discover what you love, and create a major experience that jumpstarts your future. 

Deepen your understanding of calculus, modern algebra, physics and statistics, and build your programming and computational skills in applied computer science courses.

Partner with professors to conduct research in your areas of interest, whether that’s biology or political science. You’ll benefit from the university’s state-of-the-art computer infrastructure, software and data storage for innovative research. Take advantage of Austin’s dynamic technology and innovation scene and the mathematics meetings that happen in the city each semester. Leave St. Edward’s ready to continue your education in graduate school or immediately begin your career in urban development, market research, computer technology, government or teaching.

What do our graduates do?

Mathematics majors go on to a variety of careers and graduate schools from St. Edward’s. Here’s a sample.

  • Data analyst for Apple
  • Procurement analyst for SpaceX
  • Data analyst for the National Security Agency
  • Mechanical designer at Fugro Oil & Energy Company
  • Full stack developer at T3
  • Graduate research fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
  • PhD candidates in Mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin, Human & Statistical Genetics at Washington University, and Physics at Vanderbilt University and Case Western Reserve University
  • Master’s students in mathematics at Emory University, the ESTEEM Graduate Program for entrepreneurship at the University of Notre Dame, mechanical engineering at Purdue University and University of Texas, statistics and data science at the University of Houston, and education and school leadership at Harvard University.

A Day at St. Edward’s

A summer internship connects Mathematics major Stella Cunningham ’21 to the city of Austin and a possible career. Read about her day as a St. Edward's University student and the exciting research she completed.

The Classroom and Beyond

As a Mathematics major, you’ll be part of a community of students and professors who value creativity and the courage to tackle difficult, unsolved problems. You’ll build these relationships alongside your problem-solving skills in classes, research projects, competitions and extracurricular clubs.

Experiential Education

A core component of the St. Edward’s mathematics program is a four-semester sequence of research courses. In these classes, you’ll conduct open-ended research on unsolved problems individually with faculty members. You’ll present your findings at regional and national professional conferences, where you’ll meet other mathematicians and learn about graduate-school options and careers in your field.

Mathematics majors participate in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition, the preeminent math competition for undergraduates worldwide. A typical competition involves two 3-hour sessions in which students solve 12 problems. Thousands of math majors nationwide score 0 points every year due to the hyper-strict grading scale, so any positive score is a noteworthy accomplishment. In the past decade, four students from St. Edward’s have earned a positive score on the exam.

Student Organizations

The St. Edward’s Math Club is a student chapter of the Mathematics Association of America. Members have traveled together to regional mathematics conferences, presented math concepts and helped with science fairs at local schools, and participated in the global MegaMenger collaborative fractal build. The club also hosts student and alumni research talks and serves as a forum for social events like Halloween pumpkin carving, bowling, laser tag and pizza parties.

The St. Edward’s Maker Club attracts tinkerers and programmers who have worked on projects involving 3-D printing, soldering, programming LED strips, and creating art through programming.

Teaching Assistantships

Strong students with an interest in teaching and mentoring can serve as teaching assistants for introductory classes. At St. Edward’s, all classes are taught by professors, but student teaching assistants help tutor and lead study sessions. You’ll expand your communication and people skills by helping other students learn the material. If you’re interested in teaching, you could also become a tutor in the Math Lab.

Math Students Launch Balloons into Hurricane Harvey

Three math majors assisted faculty with graduate-level research to produce the only sounding data available in Southcentral Texas during Hurricane Harvey.