Opportunities for Undergraduates
Journal of Undergraduate Research
There are three levels of
honors,
cum laude (honors), magna
cum laude (high honors), and summa cum laude (highest honors.)
Cum laude is awarded to a UF student with a 3.5 GPA earned as an
upper-division student. This is standard across UF. The awards of magna
cum laude and summa cum laude is determined by the department.
For each of these latter two distinctions the Mathematics
Department requires an undergraduate thesis. Students interested in pursuing
high honors should consult
Guidelines for Graduation with Honors in Mathematics.
Before considering an undergraduate thesis:
- No honors are given unless your GPA is at least 3.5. Do not start down this path without meeting this requirement.
- You will need an advisor. Talk to a professor you know and have taken a course with. They will have a good idea of your ability and background knowledge.
- Plan two semesters in advance. You will need one semester to learn the background on your topic and do your research. It is nearly impossible to complete a thesis in a single semester. This is not just another term paper.
- You will need a second semester to write up your results, to get your advisor's approval, and to submit the thesis. Properly writing results is part of the research process.
Follow the procedures for submitting the thesis to the Undergraduate Coordinator and to the CLAS Advising Office. You will use the Thesis Submission Form.
The University Scholars Program is an opportunity for a UF undergraduate to get a taste of research while being mentored by a UF faculty member.
Pi Mu Epsilon is the undergraduate mathematics club. They meet monthly typically with a speaker who addresses either a topic in mathematics or career opportunities in mathematics. Meeting announcements are sent out on the math majors email list.
The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition is given once each year - usually the first Saturday in December at universities across the U.S. and Canada to undergraduates. The examination is constructed to test originality as well as technical competence. It is expected that the contestant will be familiar with the formal theories embodied in undergraduate mathematics. Questions are included that cut across various disciplines, and self-contained questions that do not fit into any of the usual categories may be included. The Mathematics Department sponsors a Putnam team. each year in this competition. Copies of recent exams in various formats with solutions are available. Previous UF Putnam teams are here.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
(REU)
The National Science Foundation has sponsored Summer research activities for undergraduate mathematics majors at several universities around the country.
The Robert Long Prize is awarded to the winner of a written essay competition. Professor Robert Long had a keen interest in the history of mathematics. The essay addresses a topic in the history of mathematics. The competition is organized each Spring and is open to all undergraduate majors.
Professor Kermit Sigmon gave selflessly to the undergraduate program and to the service of the department. The Kermit Sigmon Award is given annually to the undergraduate mathematics student who best exemplifies this combination of scholarship and service as represented in the life of Professor Sigmon.
UF Journal of Undergraduate Research
The Journal of Undergraduate Research publishes the outstanding scholarship of undergraduates at the University of Florida and showcases the work of the University Scholars.