What Can USD Math Do for You?
We see math both as a playground that anyone can access and as a skeleton key that unlocks all kinds of opportunities. We invite you to the USD Mathematics playground so that you can discover the limitless versatility that a math major offers.
Ready to declare a math major? Scroll down for step-by-step instructions.
How to Declare a Major
Declaring a College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) major and staying on track is easy. Just follow the steps below.
Important note: Students can declare a major after April 15 of their first year and should use the Core Curriculum and campus resources to identify the best fit for their major and career.
Fill out the Declaration of Major form
Fill out the Declaration of Major form. Be aware that you will need to log into your Mysandiego portal when you follow the link.
Reminder: Students can declare a major after April 15 of their first year and up to the end of their second year.
Meet your with your new Faculty Advisor
After completing your Declaration of Major form, you will be assigned a Faculty Advisor in your major with whom you should schedule an appointment.
Your major Faculty Advisor can share information about major course curriculum, connect you with resources and provide guidance on exploring academic and career options.
Connect with the Career Development Center
As a College of Arts and Sciences major, you are required to complete a career readiness program through the Career Development Center.
Immediate Action Item:
Attend a COMPASS (also known as the Career Readiness Program) orientation within two weeks of declaring a CAS major
Questions?
Contact the CAS Academic Advising Team at casadvising@sandiego.edu for logistical or clarifying questions.
Tips for Math Success
We are deeply invested in your success in math. Below are some tips to help you be your most successful as a math major.
The more you do the easier the work will be. It can be easy to think you understand when you watch someone else solve a problem, but you may be misleading yourself.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Sometimes it can feel like everyone except you understands. But that is almost never true. If you are confused, most likely others are too and will be very grateful if you have the courage to ask a question. Your professor will also be grateful!
As soon as possible after class, read over your notes. You may find typos. You may find you have questions. Take those questions to office hours.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. That is how progress is made. Just because an idea turns out to be wrong or not to work does not mean it's a bad idea. In fact, most good ideas are WRONG.
Practice writing your own problems. Take a problem from the homework or that was done in class. Write a similar problem, and try to solve it. If you don't know if your solution is correct, go to office hours.
Form a study group, go to the Math Learning Center, go to office hours. If your professor has office hours that are not compatible with your schedule, email to make an appointment.
Meet with your Faculty Advisor regularly for guidance, resources and help exploring academic and career options. Additionally, you can reach out to the CAS Academic Advising Team for logistical questions.
Whether it's joining one of our math clubs or taking part in research opportunities, the Department of Mathematics offers a variety of ways to get involved and start making connections with peers and faculty.
Use DegreeWorks to track and plan your courses and ensure you meet graduation requirements.
All CAS majors are required to complete the COMPASS Career Readiness Program in order to graduate. Also, make sure to take advantage of the Career Development Center's events and career resources.