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Mathematics Thesis

Why Take Thesis?

Diagram showing the three stages of folding a tesseract.
Folding a tesseract. (Fletcher Nickerson, HMC Math 2022)

A full year of either Senior Thesis (Math 197) or Mathematics Clinic (Math 193) is required for the mathematics major.

Senior thesis offers the student, guided by the faculty advisor, a chance to experience a taste of the life of a professional research mathematician. The work is largely independent with guidance from the research advisor. In contrast, the聽Mathematics Clinic Program聽is designed to offer students the opportunity to develop the modeling and analysis tools necessary to solve applied problems in groups under conditions closely approximated to an industrial setting, with faculty and industry liaisons.

Art pattern based on fractional method.
Basins of Attraction and Julia sets of Fractional Newton鈥檚 Method for 螙7 鈥� 1 as 伪 ranges from 1 to 0.25. (Ellie Byrnes, HMC Math 2021)

Junior math majors are encouraged to talk to later-year students and their faculty advisors to determine which program will best suit their needs. Students should also look through some past senior theses and Clinic projects; these are聽archived聽on the math department鈥檚 website. Be sure to also check out the聽list of current thesis students聽and links to their websites.

Projects and Advisors

You鈥檒l need to choose a topic area and advisor for a thesis project. The聽mathematics faculty page summarizes faculty research areas, which may be helpful in brainstorming possible聽thesis projects or advisors. While completing original mathematical research is highly desirable, doing so is not a requirement of a senior thesis project.聽聽may also be a good source of ideas or other inspiration.

You鈥檒l get a copy of the Capstone Research Experience preference/application form from the faculty in February鈥攆ill it in and submit it to the department for review.

Each thesis student has an advisor and a second reader, at least one of whom should be Mudd math faculty. If you wish to do research with an advisor who is not in the HMC mathematics department,

  1. Your thesis must have sufficient mathematical content
  2. You will need a second reader who is a Mudd math professor

To get an outside advisor approved, submit a petition to the department via the department chair describing your planned research project and the level of its mathematical content. You will need to include the name and contact information of your project鈥檚 external faculty advisor, as well as the name of the Mudd professor who has agreed to serve as your second reader.

The Chavin Prize

Students who write a senior thesis (or another mathematical paper) are eligible to receive the聽Chavin Prize.

Information about other awards and prizes awarded by the department can be found on the Departmental Awards and Prizes page.