Future Students
Why Be a Math Major
Mathematics is among the most fascinating of all intellectual disciplines, the purest of all art forms, and the most challenging of games. The study of mathematics is not only exciting, but important : Mathematicians have an opportunity to make a lasting contribution to society by helping to solve problems in such diverse fields as medicine, management, economics, government, computer science, physics, psychology, engineering, and social science.
As an undergraduate math major at UTEP, you will be able to participate in the activities of a professional mathematician like creating, applying, and teaching mathematics.
If you want to major in other field consider adding mathematics as another major. If you are planning to pursue an advanced degree you will find that a math major will be of tremendous help.
What Can You Do With a Mathematics Degree?
- Actuary: knowledge of statistics, finance, and business to assess the risk of events occurring and help create policies that minimize risk.
- Cryptologist: decoder skilled in the analysis of codes and cryptograms.
- Epidemiological Analyst: gathering and analyzing appropriate data pertaining to disease investigations.
- Forensic Analyst: collect, examine and analyze biological samples, and evaluate analysis results.
- Investment Analyst: undertakes research to provide ideas and information to fund managers.
- Teacher: Making students excited about math at an earlier age.
- Weather and Climate Analyst: use statistics in the study of weather and climate changes.
Many other job titles apply to mathematicians who have specialized in an applied branch of mathematics.
All of these careers begin with an education in mathematics, and a curiosity about the use of mathematics to solve problems.
Mathematics is a field with a surprising variety of specialties which have different "feels" to them. You probably won't like all of them equally, any more than most musicians feel the same about rock and classical music, or most English majors like all authors and periods equally. So if you come across a math course that isn't your favorite, but there are others that you really like, it just means that you are getting to know math better and your taste is becoming more refined.
Job Opportunities for Math Majors
In the Department
- Lab assistants
- Undergraduate/Graduate research
- Undergraduate/Graduate teaching assistants
- Math peer leader
At the University
- In Engineering projects
- In Genome projects
- In Bioinformatics/biostatistics projects
In Government
Almost every bureau and branch of the federal government employs mathematicians in some capacity. Mathematicians, statisticians, operations researchers, and actuaries work in the Department of Health and Human Services, the General Accounting Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and the National Institute of Standards. The Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Security Agency employ many mathematicians.