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Program Variants

Several options exist for studying mathematics as part of a B.Sc.

  • Standard track and Extended track in mathematics. These degrees are for students whose main focus of study is mathematics. The extended option differs from the standard one by requiring that a higher percentage of course credits come from math courses. In the standard option students must take a minor sequence ("Hativa") from another department.
  • Joint degree with another department. This option is for students who wish to combine a degree in mathematics with a degree from another department. Many departments offer such an option, among them physics, computer science, cognitive science, environmental studies, economics, and statistics.
  • Mathematics with teaching certification. This combines one of the degree options above with teacher_training. Upon graduation, students are eligible for a degree in mathematics and a teaching certificate from the ministry of education. This program includes additional course requirements, and offers special financial support.
  • Mathematics as a minor sequence ("Hativa BeMatematika"). Students studiying for a degree in another department may take this shorter course sequence, which gives a comprehensive introduction to university-level mathematics. Note that this option does not lead to a degree in mathematics, and does not provide a path to a graduate degree in mathematics.

Program structure

All degree tracks require a combination of mathematics and other courses, and differ primarily in the balance between these copmonents. The mathematics component is all tracks is roughly the same, differing in the number of elective courses students must take:

  • First year. Lays out the rigorous foundations of mathematics and consists mostly of required courses: infinitescimal calculus, linear algebra, and combinatorics. Strong sudents may take additional elective courses in this year, but many students prefer to focus on the required ones.
  • Second year. Introduces more advanced topics and in a more modern and abstract framework. Typically students take a combination of required and elective courses on advanced topics.
  • Third year. Usually devoted to electives on advanced topics and completion of other requirements. 

All B.Sc. tracks also require some credits from other departments, including at least a computer programming course and some courses from the Cornerstone interdisciplinary program. Students in the regular track must take a minor sequence from another department. The teacher training program and Joint degrees with other departments have their own requirements.

Program details

Credit requirements

One course credit is roughly equal to one classroom-hour per week over a period of one semester (for each credit, students should also budget at least one hour of work at home). The B.Sc. program in mathematics requires that students complete a total of

  • X course credits,

out of which

  • Y come from mathematics courses.

In most degree tracks X=134, though some joint tracks require more.

In the extended track Y=93, in the regular track Y=77, and the teacher training track has corresponding requirements. In most other degree variants, Y is between 62 and 70, please consult the specific program for details.

Mathematics courses

Courses of the following type count towards the required number Y of course credits from mathematics.

  • Required mathematics courses. The core curriculum which must be taken by all mathematics students, generally in years one and two. It is not advised to delayed them, since they commonly appear as pre-requisites of more advanced courses.
  • Semi-required mathematics courses. This is a list of eight core courses, out of which the students must take 6 (extended track) or 3 (regular track and most joint degrees). Note that all eight of them are required for M.Sc. studies, so students considering an advanced degree should take all of them.
  • Electives in mathematics. All other mathematics courses fall into this category, as do a small number of courses in other departments which are specially recognized for this purpose.

 

Required courses in other departments

All degree tracks require that some credits be taken in other departments. These credits do not count towards the total Y of credits from mathematics courses.

The requirements include:

  • An online introduction to the university library resources in the first year of study.
  • A computer programming course, in year one or two. For details check the specific program in the shnaton
  • 6-8 credits from this Cornerstones interdisciplinary program (requirements vary by program).
  • The regular track requires students to complete a minor ("Hativa") in another department.
  • Joint degrees with other departments have their own course and credit requirements which must be completed in addition to the ones above.

Additional courses

After reahing the required number Y of credits from math courses and completing requirements in other departments, students may need further credits to reach the total X needed for their degree. These can be fulfilled either from mathematics courses, or from courses in other departments.

A few restrictions apply: for example, you cannot get credit for two essentially equivalent courses given by different departments. If in doubt, please check the degree track regulations or consult the student affairs office.

Schedule and course details

The tables below describe a typical course schedule for students starting a B.Sc. in mathematics in the fall semester. Please note:

  • Required courses are marked with a *.
  • Semi-required courses are marked with ^. These courses may be taken in any order subject to the pre-requisites of each course, and can be divided between years 2 or 3. The division in the tables below is not binding.
  • Students in some joint programs may be exempt from the requirement of Discrete Mathematics in the first year. Please consult the specific program for details.
  • If you are doing a joint degree with another department, you will have additional requirements set by the other department.
  • Elementary number theory (80115) and first year physics courses give credit as mathematics courses only if taken in the first year of study.
Year 1
Semester A Semester B
* Infinitescimal calculus 1 (80131) * Infinitescimal calculus 2 (80132)
* Linear algebra 1 (80134) * Linear algebra 2 (80135)
* Discrete Mathematics (80181)  

* Introduction to library resources (76411)

* Computer programming course (see list) - may be postponed to year 2.

Strong students may take an additional elective course, e.g. Elementary number theory (80115) or Set theory (80200), or one of the first year physics courses. Note that, with the exception of set theory, these courses will give credit as mathematics courses only if taken in the first year of study.

 

Year 2
Semester A Semester B
* Advanced infinitescimal calculus 1 (80135) * Advanced infinitescimal calculus 2 (80136)
* Algebraic structures 1 (80445) ^ Algebraic structures 2 (80446)
^ Probability theory (80420) ^ Set theory (80200)
^ Introductio to logic (80423) ^ Introduction to topology (80516)

* Cornersone courses (may also be taken in 3rd year).

* (regular track only) Minor studies in another department (may be postponed to year 3, depending on the course sequence).

Elective courses in mathematics (please consult the current list).

 

Year 3
Semester A Semester B
^ Measure theory (80517) ^ Ordinary Differential Equations (80320)
^ Complex analysis (80519)  

* Cornersone courses.

* (regular track only) Minor studies in another department.

Elective courses in mathematics or other departments (please check the current offerings).

Undergraduate seminar and/or problem solving semianr

 

List of mathematics courses

Year 1 Required courses

  • Infinitescimal calculus 1 (80131)
  • Infinitescimal calculus 2 (80132)
  • Linear algebra 1 (80134)
  • Linear algebra  2 (80135)
  • Discrete mathematics (80135) - exempted in certian joint programs.
  • Computer programming course. Students may choose from the following options. The credits do not count as mathematics course.
    • Introduction to computer science (67101)
    • MATLAB - mathematical programming for earth science students (76628)
    • MATLAB for chemistry students (76629)
    • Basic PYTHON programming (76631)
    • Advanced PYTHON programming (76632)
    • PYTHON for earth science students (76634)
    • PYTHON for physics students (76639)
  • Introduction to library resources (76411)

Year 2 required courses 

  • Advances infinitescimal calculus 1 (80135)
  • Advances infinitescimal calculus 2 (80136)
  • Algebraic structures 1 (80445)

Semi-required (Students must take between 3 and 6 of them depending on degree track. All must be completed to pursue an M.Sc. in mathematics)

  • Algebraic structures 2 (80446)
  • Probability theory (80420)
  • Introductio to logic (80423)
  • Set theory (80200)
  • Introduction to topology (80516)
  • Ordinary Differential Equations (80320)
  • Measure theory (80517)
  • Complex analysis (80519)

Other math department courses 

These vary by year, please check this years offerings.

Courses whose credits can count as mathematics courses (please check with the specific program for details):

  • Algorithms (67504)
  • Computation models, computation and complexity (67521)
  • Equations of mathematical physics (77313)
  • In the extended track, students may receive up to 6 credits in mathematics for the following courses:
    • Applied mathematics 1 (80114) - only if taken in the first year of study.
    • Applied mathematics 2 (80115) - only if taken in year 1 or 2.
    • Mechanics and special relativity (77101)
    • Electricity and magnetism (77102)
    • Waves and optics (77305)
    • Analytic mechanics (77303)
    • Quantum mechanics 1 (77318)
    • Problem solving and algorithms (67573)

Courses with special conditions

  • Elementary number theory (80115): Credit is only given if taken in the first year of study.

 

Admission

Admissions to is based on a combination of high-school matriculation grades (Bagrut) and the psychometric exam grade. Exceptional cases may be admitted by other criteria. It is recommended, but not required, to have completed five units of mathematics in high-school. See below on options for those transferring from other institutions.

For more details of our admissions policy see here.
For more on the registration process, see here.

Transferring from other institutions

Students who have studied at other institutions of higher education (including the open university may apply through the usual application process. Once accepted, they may apply for credit for courses they have already taken. Approval of such requests is subject to conditions that the grades meet a certain threshold and that the courses are analogous to courses offered at HUJI. Requests for credit should be submitted to the faculty office of student affairs (and not to the math department).

For students who studied at the open university, a special arrangement for transfering to the Hebrew Univeristy is available.

Students who have completed a full year in another institution can apply directly to the second (or third) years of the B.Sc. program. Admission is considered on a case-by-case basis and requires that the courses already taken by the student fulfill the requirements of the first year of study at the Hebrew University, and that the student achieved sufficiently high grades in them. 

 

Transferring to other departments

Transferring to and from other departments after the first year of study is sometimes possible, subject to the specific requirements set by each department. These usually involve a minimal grade requirement and fulfilling certain course requirements. For the exact requirements please contact the departments you are interested in transferring to.

Preparing for B.Sc studies

The first encounter with university-level mathematics can be challenging, even for students who excelled in mathematics in high-school. In part this is because students arrive after a prolonged period away from academic study. But it is also because high-school mathematics is too often taught by rote and with a focus on calculation, while university mathematics is more rapid, more rigorous, and more conceptual (and, yes, plain harder). It requires an entirely different frame of mind, which takes time to acquire.
 
In order to make the transition easier, we strongly recommend ample preparation. The mathematics department provides several ways to prepare