Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics)

Summary

A growing demand for your skills

Advance your analysis and problem-solving abilities within the flexible and critical framework of the Bachelor of Arts degree.

A Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics) opens up a world of opportunities. From ranges from securing sensitive communications using cryptography, to calculating the geostationary orbit of a satellite. Maths is a product of human ingenuity that allows our modern world to exist. With a BA (Mathematics) you’ll learn appropriate analytic and numerical methods for problem-solving that can be applied in a range of contexts and industries.

Get the skills you’ll need

Your mathematics major will help you develop a wide variety of skills and techniques, especially in calculus and algebra. You’ll learn to formulate, solve, restate and resolve problems, and interpret results. You’ll also build your knowledge of computational and simulation techniques on computers. You’ll learn to communicate and explain concepts effectively with non-mathematical colleagues. This is a crucial skill, as many careers will take you into a team environment.

Learn from the leaders

Studying the BA (Mathematics) at Massey will give you access to some of the world’s top mathematical minds. Massey lecturers and postgraduate students are researching areas such as:

• modelling of geothermal processes
• molecular dynamics
• epidemiology
• cell growth
• celestial mechanics
• neuroscience
• phylogenetics and evolutionary trees
• optimal decompositions of information systems.

These projects show the generality, versatility and variety of problems offered to mathematically skilled scientists. Your BA (Mathematics) will help you build up the skills and techniques you’ll need to be part of projects like these.

Careers

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics) you’ll have the analytical and problem-solving skills that employers are looking for. This could lead to a number of career options in areas including:

• Finance and banking
• Market research and big data
• Public and private consultancies
• Government departments
• Research and development agencies
• Manufacturing
• Teaching

Requirements

All 100-level Mathematics courses presume that you have some experience in mathematics.

To enrol in Algebra (160.102) you are expected to either:

• have passed one of Methods of Mathematics (160.105), Introductory University Mathematics (160.103) or Concepts in Mathematics (160.132), or
• have obtained at least 16 credits in NCEA Level 3 Mathematics with Calculus or its equivalent.

If you enrol in Calculus (160.101) you should have at least 16 externally assessed credits in Mathematics.

A major in Mathematics consists of 135 credits.