Programs Classes to make math major more employable?

AI Thread Summary
Concerns about job opportunities in industry after completing a pure math major and pursuing a PhD are prevalent among students. While a physics minor may not significantly enhance job prospects, strong programming skills are emphasized as crucial for securing employment. Math majors can find lucrative positions in statistics and finance, but the path to becoming a professor is highly competitive. Recommendations include taking additional classes in computer science, applied math, economics, or statistics, depending on the desired industry. Practicing problem-solving skills through brain teasers is also advised, particularly for interviews in finance and trading firms. It is noted that taking probability and statistics courses during graduate school is challenging, as most undergraduate programs require these as core courses. Students are encouraged to consult their university's program information for specific requirements regarding probability and statistics courses.
proton
Messages
349
Reaction score
0
i'm almost done with my pure math major. i'll likely go to grad school to get phD, but I'm very concerned with job opportunities should i later decide i want to go into industry rather than academia. I've already completed the physics minor, but i doubt having a physics background helps that much. what other classes should i take? CS, applied math, econ, etc? or is my physics good enough?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Math majors can find easy employment with large salaries if they are willing to work in statistics and finance. That's just a backup plan, if you already like pure math after finishing a major then it is almost guaranteed that you will ejoy grad school and a future academic career. The odds of becoming a professor, however, are small so you will need to work hard!
 
If I were you, I'd try to just become really good at programming. You don't have to take classes for it, though... If you have a math degree and can prove that you have very strong programming skills, you should have no problem finding a job. Also spend a lot of time practicing brain teasers and puzzles... You'd be surprised how far you can get in interviews with very selective finance and trading firms if you just show that you are quick and can go into full blown problem solving mode at the tip of a hat.
 
Classes in probability and Statistics would serve you well in the working world. And, as has been said previously, strong programming skills will always help you. Otherwise, it really just depends on what kind of industry you would like to go in. If you want to go into physics load up on physics classes. If you want to go into finance, take econ and accounting classes.
 
is it possible to take prob and stats classes during grad school instead of undergrad?
 
It will likely be a lot harder to do it in grad school than in undergrad...
 
proton said:
is it possible to take prob and stats classes during grad school instead of undergrad?

Not likely, since most schools require a course on statistics or probablility as one of their common core courses for a Mathematics undergraduate degree.
 
how many such classes would suffce? I've only taken 1 semester of probability
 
proton said:
how many such classes would suffce? I've only taken 1 semester of probability

The best answers would be described in the universities' and colleges' undergraduate Mathematics program information. MOST of them will list a Calculus-based Probability course. It would be considered one of their common core courses for earning an undergraduate Math degree.
 

Similar threads

Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
13
Views
3K
Replies
8
Views
2K
Back
Top