Mathematics and Physics (BS)

Program Description

Mathematics deals with abstraction, logic, and quantitative reasoning. Because it has applications to nearly every branch of science and engineering, it’s essential for mathematicians to think about how their work infiltrates other branches of learning. Advances in physics — for example, those in electromagnetism and thermodynamics — often resonate deeply with mathematics.

At the School of Engineering, the BS in Applied Physics and Mathematics program serves as a means to bridge these 2 disciplines. The dual major allows students to gain a foothold in separate but substantial fields. In addition to learning the fundamentals of physics and math, students pursue a specialized course of study that a minor in either field just can’t match.

But it's important that these skills transfer over to the real world. That’s why this program provides internship opportunities at major financial, insurance, and technology firms in the New York area.

Students with experience in both mathematics and physics enjoy diverse and interesting careers. Graduates have the freedom to explore such stimulating fields as chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering. They’re also qualified for positions in software design, economics, aerospace engineering, law, and business.

Admissions

New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU.  For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply. 

Program Requirements

The program requires the completion of 128 credits, comprised of the following:

¹

These 4 courses can be within a single cluster or across multiple clusters. For optimal breadth of experience, students are encouraged to take electives across clusters and/or across disciplines within a cluster. These 4 humanities and social science electives must satisfy the following:

• 1 must be a 3000/4000 level humanities or social science elective; and
• 1 must be an Advanced Seminar, identifiable by course number 4504

Please see the General Education Requirements for further details.

²

Graduate courses may be substituted with adviser's approval.

³

8 credits are reserved for a 6 credit physics project plus a 2 credit senior physics seminar course or a 4 credit math project/thesis and an extra 4 credit math elective. The remaining 14 credits are reserved for two 4 credit STEM electives and two 3 credit free electives. The program adviser must approve electives selected from other disciplines.

Sample Plan of Study

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Gain a foothold in separate but substantial fields, bridging these two disciplines, learning about their applications to other branches of science and engineering.
2. Pursue a specialized course of study that explores both disciplines in greater depth.
3. Be ready for a variety of career options following graduation, including, but not limited to graduate study in chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering, as well as professional careers in software design, economics, aerospace engineering, law, and business.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Tandon Policies

Additional academic policies can be found on the Tandon academic policy page.