What Is a Math Degree?

Mathematics is relevant to many fields and disciplines, so math students have similarly varied program and degree options. These degrees may focus on applied mathematics, which relates to statistics, engineering, medicine, and technology, or pure mathematics, which delves into more philosophical topics and often leads to more academic careers. A student’s chosen education influences their career path.

Degree-seekers at every level can pursue mathematics. The best mathematics programs offer specializations, which allow learners to focus on a subdiscipline or specific application, such as discrete mathematics, mechanics, or mathematical physics. Below, we’ll explore the major degree levels and types and discuss some of their unique qualities.

Math programs typically span about 60 credits at the associate degree level, taking students less than two years to complete. Since most math-related professions require a four-year degree or more, many students choose associate degrees as the first step toward careers in business, finance, economics, and engineering.

Associate degree graduates can still enter the workforce directly after graduation. Some employers hire these candidates for business and financial occupations, especially if they have relevant experience. Some of the more common entry-level careers include financial clerks, claims adjusters, and actuaries.

A bachelor’s degree in math runs for four years and includes 120 credits. Coursework varies, but programs typically offer fundamental training in the first two years. In the third and fourth years, learners progress into more advanced topics, such as intermediate calculus, complex variables, computational algebra, and statistics.

After completing a bachelor’s degree, graduates can pursue different careers depending on their training and interests. Many of the best online bachelor’s in mathematics help students pursue careers like operations research analyst, financial analyst, and accountant or auditor.

Degree type can impact a program’s curriculum and student careers, even when the topic is the same. A bachelor of art (BA) in math usually covers more general topics, including a variety of liberal arts courses, while a bachelor of science (BS) offers more specialized training specifically in mathematics.

Professionally, BA graduates often pursue more interdisciplinary fields, such as teaching or business. BS graduates are more prepared for analytical careers, such as finance or computer science. It is more common to earn a BA in mathematics, but many schools offer both degrees.

A master’s degree in math covers advanced study and research beyond entry-level careers. The training takes 1-2 years, and learners can take courses in topics like complex and numerical analysis, differential equations, and probability. Some careers available to master’s graduates include mathematicians and statisticians, survey researchers, and economists.

At the master’s level, specializations play a large role in curricula. Students can often create their own concentrations based on their research interests or choose a focus from among the popular options, which include mathematical finance, modeling, computer science, statistics, and business analytics. Graduate students can also pursue related programs, like a master’s in actuarial science or a master’s in math education.

A doctoral degree is the highest level of education available in mathematics, often taking 4-7 years to complete. Like a master’s degree, these programs offer specializations in many areas, including computer algebra, mathematical theory analysis, and differential geometry. Doctoral-level courses usually culminate with an original dissertation.

A Ph.D. in mathematics can lead to nearly any career in the field, though only a few require it. Career options include postsecondary teacher, physicist or astronomer, and some economist positions. Most doctoral students pursue teaching and research positions after graduation, so many programs focus on mathematics education.

Math degree graduates can access very high-paying jobs, though exact pay rates vary by candidate, location, and employer. The following information explores some of the more common careers available to math graduates, along with their median annual salaries, projected job growth numbers, and educational requirements.

This data may not represent every region, so students should research local employers and job information to get a more accurate portrayal.

Always ensure that any prospective school or program is accredited; your financial aid, transfer credits, and student employment often depend on it. The Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize the agencies that offer regional accreditation for the high-achieving institutions, making it easy to look up the credentials of a school before enrolling.

Math degrees do not require programmatic accreditation, so students should focus on checking for regional recognition.