The University of Arizona

B.A./B.S. in Mathematics or Statistics & Data Science 2024

On this page: Comparing the B.A. and the B.S. | The B.A. in Mathematics or SDS | The B.S. in Mathematics or SDS | Double Degrees | Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA)

The information and requirements given here apply to the 2024–2025 catalog. For other catalog years, please consult the archive.

Upon declaring a major in mathematics or statistics & data science, students must select a degree in which the major will appear.  We offer your choice of a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.).  

These degrees have many common requirements, including minimum units, English composition, and many of the general education courses.  There are some differences, however.

Below, you can find the requirements specific to the two degrees. For requirements specific to each major, regardless of degree, see:

Our major checklists also provide a good overview of the requirements for the degree/major of your choice.

Comparing the B.A. and the B.S.

As far as the mathematics or statistics coursework is concerned, the B.A. and B.S. are identical. 

The requirements for the two degrees differ only in the following ways:

The B.A. in Mathematics or SDS

**Note: These requirements changed significantly in Spring 2022 to coincide with a new General Education program. If you entered the university in 2021 or earlier, see here for your B.A. degree requirements.**

The B.S. in Mathematics or SDS

**Note: These requirements changed significantly in Spring 2022 to coincide with a new General Education program. If you entered the university in 2021 or earlier, see here for your B.S. degree requirements.**

(*) Lecture and lab must both be taken to constitute one lab science course.

Note: B.S. students may satisfy both the Application Course Requirement and one of the Laboratory Science Courses by completing one of the Physics courses. 

Choose from the following:

Agric & Biosystems Eng BE 201BE 284BE 428BE 481A;

Agric & Resource Economics AREC 304,

AREC 464

AREC 479;

Astronomy ASTR 250;
Atmospheric Sciences ATMO 430ATMO 436AATMO 469AATMO 469B;

Biochemistry BIOC 462ABIOC 462B,  BIOC 466
Biomedical Engineering BME 214BME 481B;
Civil Engineering CE 214;
Chemical & Environmental Engr CHEE 201,  CHEE 202

CHEE 270CHEE 297CHEE 481ACHEE 481B;

Chemistry CHEM 161CHEM 162CHEM 325CHEM 404ACHEM 480ACHEM 480BCHEM 481;
Computer Science CSC 345CSC 355CSC 422CSC 433CSC 436CSC 437

CSC 444CSC 445CSC 453CSC 460CSC 477, CSC 483

Computer Science UA South CSCV 345;
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology ECOL 302ECOL 447ECOL 496N (ECOL 496N not offered recently);
Economics ECON 332,ECON 361;
Engineering ENGR 211CENGR 211EENGR 211P;
Environmental Science ENVS 420ENVS 470, ENVS 479;
Geography & Development GEOG 463;
Geosciences GEOS 322GEOS 356GEOS 419GEOS 432GEOS 434AGEOS 440GEOS 469GEOS 479;
Hydrology and Water Resources HWRS 349A

HWRS 350HWRS 421(HWRS 421 not offered recently), HWRS 431HWRS 460A;

Information Sci, Tech & Arts ISTA 320ISTA 421, ISTA 450;
Molecular & Cellular Biology MCB 480;
Materials Science & Engr MSE 222MSE 345MSE 404MSE 415;
Mathematics MATH 493;
Optical Sciences OPTI 201R, OPTI 303, OPTI 495B;
Physics PHYS 140PHYS 141PHYS 142PHYS 143*, PHYS 161HPHYS 162HPHYS 240PHYS 241,PHYS 261H; *Note: PHYS 143 is only 2 units; 6 units are required.
Physiology PSIO 303PSIO 305PSIO 472;
Planetary Sciences PTYS 407;
Retailing & Consumer Science RCSC 216;
Systems & Industrial Engr SIE 250SIE 265;
Wildlife & Fisheries Science WFSC 444WFSC 445;
Watershed Management WSM 460A;
 or courses approved by your academic advisor.

 
Double Degrees

Students pursuing a second major that has a degree title different from that of the first major are technically double degree students. Additional requirements may apply to double degree students that do not pertain to double major students (students with two majors that have exactly the same degree title). See an advisor for details. 

Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA)

Every undergraduate degree program at the University of Arizona requires satisfaction of the MCWA. a grade of A or B in ENGL 102, ENGL 108 (for ESL students), or ENGL 109H (for qualified students) will satisfy the requirement. If you earn less than a B in your second-semester composition course, you have several options for completing the MCWA. You may: