Upper Level Writing Requirement : Undergraduate Program : Department of Mathematics : University of Rochester

Upper Level Writing Requirement

The upper-level writing requirement for the BA, BS mathematics majors, as well as the Applied Math BS major is as follows (updated 9/29/2025):

Students earning undergraduate degrees in mathematics, whatever their intended career path, must be able to write precisely and coherently on mathematical topics in a manner that is acceptable to the general mathematical community. Examples of such writing can be found in published mathematical papers, manuals, textbooks, and expository articles aimed at non-expert audiences. These skills are also expected of mathematics majors by graduate programs in mathematics, graduate and professional programs in other fields and perspective employers.

The UPPER LEVEL WRITING requirement consists in passing two courses. Students may choose two courses from "Type A" or one from "Type A" and one from "Type B" as described below:

Type A

Any of the following 0.5 credit writing-module* courses: MATH 200WM, MATH 235WM, MATH 236WM, MATH 236HWM, MATH 240WM, MATH 240HWM, MATH 265WM, or MATH 265HWM.
Any 4-credit mathematics courses at the 200 level or above, with a W attached to it, such as MATH 300W.
An independent study MATH 391W, usually one credit and taken in conjunction with a 200-level Mathematics course other than MATH 300W.
MATH 395W, a senior essay course (usually two credits) under the supervision of a faculty member. The faculty member will supervise both the mathematical content and the writing of this paper. The paper should be on the general level of what is found in undergraduate mathematical journals.

Type B

WRTG 275- Mathematics: Communicating Your Professional Identity. Students in this course develop a professional communication portfolio of materials such as resumes, cover letters, statements of purpose, electronic communications, elevator pitches, project descriptions and abstracts, and online profiles. Students revise and refine their written and spoken work across the semester based on feedback from peers, instructors, and alumni. Other versions of the Communicating Your Professional Identity course, such as WRTG 273 or WRTG 277, are also acceptable.
A course satisfying part of the upper level writing requirement in another department.

Each of the courses in type A should involve the writing of at least 20 pages. Writing will be subject to a review process, either in the classroom or in an individual setting, and subsequent re-writing and re-submission is expected. It is expected that all mathematics majors graduate with a working knowledge of LaTeX.

*Writing Modules: Up to five students per semester (on a first-come, first-served basis) will be allowed to opt to take the 0.5 credit writing-module in conjunction with several 200-level math courses. Students must be in the regular version of the course with the same instructor to be eligible for the corresponding writing module. For example, you must be in MATH 235 with "Professor X" to register for the MATH 235WM section with "Professor X". The writing module will entail an additional intensive drafting and feedback process of specifically chosen prompts during the semester. These prompts will have significant overlap with the existing assignments for the course, but a typical student in the course will not be asked to submit multiple drafts. By contrast, a student in the writing module may submit several versions of a given assignment. For example, a writing-module student might submit first a rough draft, which would get professor feedback (perhaps both written and oral); a first version, which would be sent out for peer review (in person and in email); a second version, which would get TA feedback; and then a final version, which would get professor feedback. The letter grade assigned for the writing module is based on the writing work only and assigned separately from the regular course.

A course can simultaneously satisfy both the Advanced Course Requirement and the Upper Level Writing Requirement. For example, MATH 300W can count as both an advanced mathematics course and a writing requirement course at the same time. Likewise, ECON 231W can count simultaneously as a significant math content course and a writing requirement course. To continue the example, a student who takes both MATH 300W and ECON 231W as part of their Advanced Course Requirements will have satisfied their Upper Level Writing Requirement completely without having to take any additional courses. Of course, these are just examples; the point is that the Upper Level Writing Requirement does not necessarily require additional courses beyond the advanced course requirements (though in some cases it might).