Any thoughts on math major?

[WeeMadArthur]

You could do a math minor. That was pretty popular with EE's when I was in school. Personally, I had enough math in my EE courses. The minor or double major is probably a better idea than switching to math. Not sure how marketable those advanced math skills are unless you are in cryptography (NSA likes math) or want to be a professor.

[Kathleenh54]

My daughter is thinking of being a math major in college and I was interested to read that with all the clamoring for better science and math courses for girls, they might still wind up teaching. Teaching is an honorable profession but I'd have thought there'd be more than one or two career opportunities.

[brittZ]

Originally Posted by Kathleenh54

My daughter is thinking of being a math major in college and I was interested to read that with all the clamoring for better science and math courses for girls, they might still wind up teaching. Teaching is an honorable profession but I'd have thought there'd be more than one or two career opportunities.

Math is highly theoretical in nature. Studying math does not lead to skills that are useful in a lot of fields outside of academics - i.e. teaching. However, a degree in math can be used to gain entry to computer science positions as well as cryptography work for the government or high level security companies. Also consider that many times just having a degree opens doors for careers regardless of what the degree is.

[ducksburg]

Math is crucial to science and engineering.I've noticed that most prestigous engineering professors are pretty good at math.

I'm not looking for math minor,I just want to learn more math which will help me succeed in other fields.

thank you all!

[ducksburg]

Originally Posted by Kathleenh54

My daughter is thinking of being a math major in college and I was interested to read that with all the clamoring for better science and math courses for girls, they might still wind up teaching. Teaching is an honorable profession but I'd have thought there'd be more than one or two career opportunities.

Math major student can easily switch to engineering or science,even financial disciplines.For example,petroleum industry needs math guys to solve some oil problem by math model.

[irothste]

A math major leads to a teaching career . . . FALSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is really a common misconception. There are many high paying jobs that one can do with a math major. I am a math professor but I worked for a couple of years as an engineering analyst.

For those that want to get stop at the BS degree, the most lucrative careers with a degree in math is as an actuary. Actuaries who have passed all the exams can make upwards of 200k a year.

Also many of the financial analysts on wall street have backgrounds in mathematics.

Software companies also like to hire former math majors as do game programmers.

The reason that this misconception that teaching is the only thing to do with math is because frankly, most of us who teach math would rather teach math than do any of those other jobs.

For entry into graduate programs couple that economics/engineering/science/pre-law/psychology/social science/philosophy/finance degree with a degree in mathematics and watch your options WITHIN THE OTHER FIELD multiply. Almost every field nowadays.

There are people working in Mathematical Physics, Mathematical Biology, Financial mathematics . . . you name it.

As for what math to learn in Electrical Engineering? It really depends on your goals. If you plan to stop after the BS then whatever they have set for you will do. If you plan to do a PhD then you will want to probably get a second major or at least a minor in math.

[sphinx]

Good info.