Undergraduate Honors: Pre Spring 2021

Every level of Distinction Award requires at minimum the following: 

1. At least 3.65 GPA over all upper level mathematics (L24) courses, and
2. Completion with grades of B or better (not B-) of
   1. one of the course sequences  4111-4121, 429-430, 493-494, 449-450, and
   2. three additional 400-500 level mathematics department courses (not an independent study or cross-listed from other departments)

Note: courses transferred to WashU or courses taken abroad in a mathematics or statistics department as part of a WashU-approved overseas study program will count toward the mathematics courses required, provided they are transferred as 400-level mathematics courses and the transcript indicates a level of performance comparable to a "B" or better at Washington University. However, the grades for such courses will not be included in calculations for the GPA requirements.

Awarded for Coursework Core, plus:

1. Completion of one additional regularly scheduled mathematics course at the 400-500 level with grade at least B (not B-), or
2. Passing the first actuarial exam (P) from Society of Actuaries. The exam must be taken early enough so that we can get official notification of a passing score in time to certify award recipients. For May graduates, the certification happens at the end of March.

Awarded for Coursework Core plus satisfactory completion of an honors thesis. 

Awarded to students who earn High Distinction and whose

1. Coursework includes completion of at least one of the graduate level sequences 5021-5022, 5031-5032, 5041-5042 (or 5043), 5051-5052, 5061-5062 and passing the graduate qualifying exam for that course sequence, or
2. Coursework includes all the requirements for the Honors Program in Statistics with grades of B or better (not B-) in all required 400-level courses

An honors thesis can take three forms: 

1. A thesis that presents significant work by the student on one or more nontrivial mathematics problems.
2. A project in mathematical or applied statistics that involves an in-depth analysis of a large data set. To do an honors thesis involving data analysis, it is usually necessary to have completed 3200-493-494 by the end of the junior year, and to have an ability to work with statistical software such as SAS (as taught in Math 475) or R.
3. A substantial expository paper that follows independent study on an advanced topic under the guidance of a department faculty member. Such a report would involve careful presentation of ideas and synthesis of materials from several sources.

Junior Year, Spring Semester:

1. Talk with a faculty advisor about possible projects.
2. Complete the Proposal for Admission to Candidacy for Honors and submit it to Blake Thornton.

Senior Year: 

1. By the end of January, give your advisor a draft abstract and outline of the paper.
2. A rough draft, including an abstract, should be given to the advisor by the end of February.
3. You and your advisor should agree on when you will complete your writing, and on a date/time for the oral presentation in mid-March. (Deadline is March 31.)

Proposal for Admission to Candidacy for Honors

The Ross Middlemiss Prize is awarded to a graduating math major with an outstanding record. The award was established by former Professor Ross Middlemiss, who taught at Washington University for forty years. From 1936 through the 1960s, Middlemiss authored several books, including a widely popular calculus text that was used in University College courses until the late 1970s.

The Putnam Exam Prize is awarded to a graduating senior who has participated regularly in the Putnam Exam Competitionand done exceptionally well throughout his/her time at Washington University.

The Martin Silverstein Award was established in memory of Professor Martin Silverstein who, until his death in 2004, was a pioneer in work at the interface of probability theory and harmonic analysis. Each year the department considers for this award students in any major track, but especially those with strengths in probability or statistics.

The Brian Blank Award was established in memory of Professor Brian Blank who passed away in 2018. Each year the Mathematics Department will select distinguished junior(s), majoring in mathematics and statistics.

The department can assist students in the program with finding an opportunity for a practicum, which consists of hands-on field work under the supervision of a professional mentor - either a faculty mentor or a mathematical scientist in industry or at a government research facility. For example, students can undertake a practicum with Washington University faculty in the mathematics department, at the medical school, or in other Arts & Sciences departments such as biology, economics or psychology. The practicum can be a major asset in job hunting or graduate school applications.

To complete the Honors in Statistics Program, a student must complete a math major, including the following:

• Math 3200
• Math 309
• Math 322
• Math 318
• Math 310
• Math 493
• Math 494
• Math 429
• Math 4111
• Math 4121
• Math 475
• Three additional upper level electives, two of which are in probability/statistics.
• An honors thesis

Small modifications in the above program may be approved in consultation with the student's advisor and with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Mathematics.