Minor / Specialization

Use this page for minor and specialization course concerns.

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Mathematics Minor Programmes

Important: There are now two Mathematics minors for students of the 2025 batch onwards.

Minor in Mathematics
Minor in Foundational Mathematics

The details below for these two minors apply only to the 2025 batch onwards. The old minor programme remains unchanged for earlier batches.

Minor in Mathematics document Minor in Foundational Mathematics document Old minor programme / earlier-batch handbook

For students admitted in 2025 onwards

Minor	Who should look here	Official details
Minor in Mathematics 2025 onwards	Students following the new Mathematics minor structure from the 2025 batch onwards.	See the official minor document linked above for the course structure, credit rules, and eligibility details.
Minor in Foundational Mathematics 2025 onwards	Students following the new foundational minor structure from the 2025 batch onwards.	See the official minor document linked above for the course structure, credit rules, and eligibility details.

For students admitted in 2024 and earlier

The old minor programme continues as it is for students from the 2024 batch and earlier. Please continue to follow the earlier handbook / prospectus applicable to your batch.

Common advising note

No double counting: a course cannot count toward both a student’s Major requirements and a Mathematics Minor.
Course availability: some courses may not be offered every semester.
Clarification: if you are unsure which policy applies to you, please submit your batch year and course plan through the query form.

Advising note: Department and school policies, course availability, and permitted combinations may vary by semester. Please use the query form for case-specific clarification.

Specializations (B.Sc. (Research) Mathematics)

New & earlier batches

A specialization is typically awarded on graduation if you complete the required course basket (using your elective slots). If you are unsure which policy applies to you, share your batch year and your planned/credited courses via the query form.

Students admitted in 2025 and Older

Four specializations are available. Each specialization is earned by completing the stated requirement:

Mathematical Finance: MAT 4212 (Introduction to Mathematical Finance) and any three from the approved basket (e.g., Discrete Time Finance / Econometrics / Advanced Statistics / Machine Learning through R / Deep Learning / Optimization / Stochastic Processes / Computational Finance, subject to offering and finalized course codes).
Data Science: MAT 4100 (Statistical Simulation and Computation) and any three from the approved basket (e.g., Introduction to Machine Learning / Data Mining and its Applications / Deep Learning / Introduction to Large Language Models / Advanced Deep Learning / Introduction to Reinforcement Learning).
Applied Algebra: any four from the approved basket (e.g., Combinatorics / Commutative Algebra / Graph Theory / Game Theory / Cryptography / Error Correcting Codes / Combinatorial Design Theory).
Advanced Analysis: MAT 4219 (Metric Spaces) and any three from the approved basket (e.g., Frame Theory / Introductory Matrix Analysis / Measure Theory and Integration / Topology / Functional Analysis).

Note: Some approved SWAYAM courses may also be counted toward a specialization, subject to approval from the UG Advisor.

About Elective A and Elective B

VERY IMPORTANT: We removed the above (the older) Elective A / Elective B buckets for current students. Now we only have Math Electives.

Elective A / Elective B rules (important for older batches)

Elective A: you must credit four courses from the department’s defined “Elective A basket” (a fixed basket of 8 courses in the Prospectus).
Elective B: credits can be earned from any major electives offered by Mathematics (and may include courses from the Elective A basket as well).
Under Elective B, students may also (with departmental permission) use graduate Mathematics courses, and in some cases mathematically oriented courses from other departments.

VERY IMPORTANT: We removed the above (the older) Elective A / Elective B buckets for current students. Now we only have Math Electives.

Important update for current (older-batch) students: The department has proposed that the new specializations (e.g., Data Science and Advanced Analysis) be made available to current students as well, since the courses are already on offer (or will be as soon as the revised curriculum is approved). The proposal also requests removing the older Elective A / Elective B buckets for current students, as those buckets can impede specialization planning.

Why does “Statistical Simulation and Computation” appear in the Data Science specialization?

In the curriculum discussion, the course “Simulation and Computation” is being renamed as “Statistical Simulation and Computation.” If you see either name in different documents/portals, treat them as the same course title update (final course code/title will follow the approved curriculum).

What we handle here

Queries related to minor programmes and specializations
Student concerns arising after course registration that need faculty-level discussion
Non-exam / non-grade academic matters within the department

What we do not handle here

Missed examinations, grade disputes, or exam/timetable office workflows (use the Exams tab)
UG thesis/project matters (use the UG Thesis tab)
Documentation/course catalogue queries (use the Documentation tab)

Tip: When submitting the form, include your SNU ID (if applicable), your programme/year, the course codes (if relevant), and any deadlines.

FAQ

Common questions

Do I need to “register” for a Mathematics minor?

In general, students are not “registered” for a minor in advance. You complete the required courses first. Once you have completed the minor requirements, you should inform the Dean’s Office and the Registrar Office as per the university workflow.

What are the minimum credit requirements for a Mathematics minor?

Typically, a Mathematics minor requires a minimum number of credits taken as University Wide Electives (UWE) from Mathematics courses, with distribution across foundational (lower-level) and advanced (200-level or above) courses. Your exact requirements depend on your batch/programme policy.

Can a course count towards both my major and my minor?

No. A course cannot count towards both major and minor requirements. If a Mathematics course is a core/required course for your major, it will not be counted towards the Mathematics minor.

I have already taken a course that overlaps with a Mathematics course. Can I still count the Mathematics course for my minor?

Sometimes no. If you have already credited a course with significant overlap with a Mathematics course, or a more advanced course than that Mathematics course, then that Mathematics course may not earn credit towards your minor. Such “restricted/banned combinations” are typically communicated around course registration time.

Can BTech students take Mathematics courses (e.g., MAT1002) as UWE? Does it count towards a Mathematics minor?

BTech students may be allowed to take certain Mathematics courses as UWE. However, even if a course is allowed as UWE, the credits may not necessarily be counted towards a Mathematics minor for that programme. Use the query form to confirm your specific case (programme + batch + course code).

I want to pursue a minor in another department. Whom should I contact?

Please contact the Undergraduate Advisor of the relevant department (the department offering the minor), since that department will guide the correct procedure and applicable policy for that minor.

My batch has an updated/revised minor policy due to new courses. What applies to me?

Minor policies can differ by batch, especially when new course structures are introduced. If you are unsure whether the currently posted policy applies to your graduating batch, submit a query with your batch year and a screenshot/link of the policy you are referring to, and we will clarify what applies.

Is a certain course open as UWE?

UWE availability can vary by semester and by course capacity. If you want to know whether a specific course will open as UWE, submit a query with the course code and your programme/batch so we can confirm the offering and eligibility.

Some course offerings are seasonal. How should I plan my minor?

Some courses are offered only in specific semesters (e.g., certain electives may run only in Monsoon or only in Spring). A good plan is to start with appropriate foundational prerequisites (often including Probability/Statistics when relevant), then schedule advanced electives across the remaining semesters. If you share your completed courses and a tentative plan, we can suggest a feasible sequence.

A course I wanted is discontinued or not offered “until further notice.” What should I do?

If a course is discontinued or temporarily not offered, you should plan alternatives (often the replacement/updated course in the new structure). Submit your intended pathway (minor goal + courses you planned) and we will recommend suitable substitutes.

I have completed all minor requirements. What is the final step?

After completing all requirements, you should notify the Dean’s Office and the Registrar Office as per the university process. If you want, submit a query with your completed course list (course codes + semesters) and we can confirm that your plan satisfies the requirements before you proceed.

How should I write a minor-related query so it gets resolved quickly?

Please include: (i) your programme and batch/year, (ii) the exact course codes involved, (iii) whether the course is core or UWE for you, (iv) your current course plan/credits, and (v) any deadline (registration add/drop, graduation audit, etc.).