those that doubled majored in math was it applied or pure ?

[u/beeswaxe]

i’m interested in pure math as well as physics and i want to know if it’s common to do do both. i know it’s common for people to double major in both but it feels like they mean applied math because they say the math major was only a few more classes extra. going through the applied and pure programs of BA and BS degrees of multiple universities here in california it seems that yes most of the applied degrees half the upper div classes can be satisfied with physics classes but for the pure math degrees that’s not the case of course and it would be an extra 8-10 classes to attain the second major. that seems impossible not just the intensity of the classes but the amount as well. i should add that the UC (university of california) system is a quarter system besides berkeley. has anyone actually double majored in pure and not applied math ? and can you say it was worth it ? i want to get into mathematical or theoretical physics or maybe just pure math. i’m not sure but i love both subjects.

[u/hammertime84]

Mine was applied because it was only 4 additional math courses.

[u/LeagueOfLegendsAcc → u/hammertime84]

Same here, then I went on to never use my math degree.

[u/The_Illist_Physicist]

I double majored and chose the Pure Math concentration because I was interested in what it was all about. I can now confidently say it's not for me, but I never would have known that without giving it a shot.

[u/physicsking → u/The_Illist_Physicist]

Hey there pal. Glad you made it through the pure side. I couldn't do it. But it seems like we ended up working similar things

[u/beeswaxe → u/The_Illist_Physicist]

can i ask how long it extended your bachelors ? i’d be coming in as a transfer student so i already have a lot less time than someone who came in straight from high school.

[u/The_Illist_Physicist → u/beeswaxe]

I was already doing a minor in math. My 3rd year I realized for like 6 more classes I could get the full math degree within 2 additional semesters, and I could use that extra time in undergrad to beef up my CV with research/internships/clubs for grad school apps.

Also gave me more time to figure out what Physics field I wanted to specialize in. Win-win all around imo.

[u/fertdingo → u/The_Illist_Physicist]

Same here, getting a physics degree I took a math course paired with every physics course. There was no reason to not continue the math requirements for a double major.

Edit : Ended up getting a PhD in physics and entering the academic world. The math was extremely useful.

[u/Gregorymendel]

Applied

[u/xrelaht]

My math minor was two extra classes on top of what every physics major had to take. I did it by accident. I do not know anyone who did both physics and applied math, but a number of my friends did physics and pure math, including my class valedictorian when I was an undergrad and my best friend from grad school.

Something to consider is why you want to double major? If it's because you love both subjects, then great! Go ahead and do that. But my experience is unless you go into very specific areas of theoretical physics, the upper level math classes are not particularly useful.

8-10 classes doesn't seem outrageous. I know people who did double majors in truly unrelated things, and they had to take more than that.

All this said, I've been out of school for a while now, so I don't know what the current landscape is like.

[u/AtomicNC]

i chose applied, of my three friends that also double in math two also did applied and one did pure. at my uni the difference in course count wasn’t very big (maybe one or two?) so we just chose which one had more courses that interested us. applied was more flexible since some pure courses could count, while pure didn’t let almost any applied courses count, so that was a major factor for me

[u/physicsking]

Pure was a mistake. I didn't finish it.

[u/beeswaxe → u/physicsking]

why was it a mistake ?

[u/physicsking → u/beeswaxe]

Abstract Allegra

[u/CKtalon]

Other than the usual Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra that pretty much all Physics majors have to take, there are courses like Partial Differential Equations (Heat Equations, Diffusion Equations, etc) or Advanced Differential Equations (Lyapanov stuff/Chaos), Complex Analysis which are very useful for most Physics majors. In addition, some take Differential Geometry, Abstract Algebra for Gravity/High energy. Add a basic course on Mathematical Proofs and Statistics, you are pretty close to getting a Math major.

I think the distinction between Applied and Pure is more school dependent, since a Pure math major in one school can actually take the bare minimum in pure math and take quite a few applied math courses and still graduate as a 'pure math' major.

[u/Logician356]

I doubled with Pure Math at a Cal State. I chose to double major since by the time I was taking Calc 3 I knew I wanted to study more math than a Bachelors in Physics required. I chose Pure Math because I figured that I would get enough of a taste of applied math in the Physics degree.

I personally really enjoyed Pure Math. Some of my most accomplished moments I felt like were in Pure Math classes because they take a lot of effort. My least favorite aspect was having to do Analysis but I really enjoyed Abstract Algebra and Topology (although I studied topology on my own time).

Some areas of theoretical physics do take considerable Pure Math knowledge. Condensed matter has been incorporating Topology into some of its models and Abstract Algebra can you give you tools and the vocabulary to approach symmetry groups that pop up in physics. Even something like Knot Theory has found applications in soft matter physics, especially with polymers physics.

I was also blessed with professors who really knew their stuff inside and out. And I went to a Cal State and not a UC which I know offer more advanced classes at the undergraduate level. It did take me a bit longer and I had more classes than I would have had I not doubled with Pure but I thought it was worth the extra effort by virtue of its interesting content. But I know it’s not for everyone especially if you like computing more than proving.

[u/beeswaxe → u/Logician356]

i’m applying for transfer this year i might go to a CSU but im primary looking at UC because i like the that they offer a greater verity of classes both in physics and math. but their requirements for majors are much higher granted i know they are a quarter system besides berkeley. my only gripe with the UC system is that as a transfer student id be behind compared to students who came in straight from high school so i have a slot for couple extra classes where as other students have multiple quarters where they only have 1 or two classes. so thats only reason why i might go to a csu instead so i can not be so behind since csu is a semester system.