How to Apply to Mathematics at Emory University: Apply to Emory College or Oxford College, with a BA in Mathematics, a BS in Mathematics, a BS in Applied Mathematics and Joint Majors, and Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At Emory University, mathematics is taught by the Department of Mathematics, which is part of Emory College of Arts and Sciences. First-year applicants can use one Common App to apply to Emory College, Oxford College or both. Computer science has its own article on this site, and economics, political science and other majors are not covered except for a mention of the joint majors. Below is what Emory’s website says, for domestic students, international students (with a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students.

1. The degrees and programs

• BA in Mathematics: the department says it provides a broad introduction to the subject, with flexible requirements that allow depth in one or more areas or co-majoring in other disciplines. Required: Calculus I and II (Math 111, 112), Multivariable Calculus (211), Linear Algebra (221), Foundations of Mathematics (250), any six math courses at the 200 level or above (3 credits or more), and either CS 170 (Introduction to Computer Science I) or Math 170 (Introduction to Scientific Computing).
• BS in Mathematics: described as more rigorous, preparing students for graduate study in mathematics, with year-long sequences in algebra and analysis. Required: Calculus I and II, Multivariable Calculus, Foundations of Mathematics (to be completed by the end of sophomore year), Complex Variables (318), Vector Spaces (321), Real Analysis I and II (411, 412), Abstract Algebra I and II (421, 422), CS 170 or Math 170, one more math course at the 200 level or above, two at the 300 level or above, and General Physics I and II (Physics 151, 152).
• BS in Applied Mathematics: combines the rigor of a BS with an emphasis on applied topics, prepares students for graduate study in applied mathematics, and suits interdisciplinary graduate training in the sciences and engineering. The required courses include Calculus I and II, Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations (212), Linear Algebra or Vector Spaces, Foundations of Mathematics (not required by the end of sophomore year), Numerical Analysis (315), Partial Differential Equations (351), three listed electives, two math or CS courses, Physics I and II, and one more course from a list that includes physics, chemistry, econometrics and mathematical economics.
• Joint majors: BA in Economics/Mathematics and BA in Political Science/Mathematics; under “other joint programs” the site also lists Applied Math and Statistics and Math and Computer Science (requirements were not read here).
• Minors and 4+1: the department has minors (requirements not read here). It also supports a 4+1 Mathematics MS for Emory undergraduates, who earn the master’s in a fifth year, with tracks in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics; students apply in the spring of junior year and need a GPA of 3.25 or higher, a B or better in each prerequisite and three faculty recommendations.
• Enrollment figures: the department pages give no student numbers; not published.

2. How admission works: one admission, major declared by the end of sophomore year

• One application: the application pages read describe applying to Emory College, Oxford College or both, and the math department pages do not describe a separate math admission. Whether the application asks for an intended major is not on the pages read; this is not published, so check the Emory questions in the Common App or ask admissions.
• When to declare: the department says Emory College requires a major to be declared before the end of the sophomore year. You complete the Declaration of Major/Minor Form, receive an email with instructions to contact the department, and the major is changed only after the department authorizes it. Students considering a math or computing major or minor are urged to meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• Conditions and caps: the department pages state no grade threshold or cap for declaring math; this is not published, so ask the DUS. They do state that all courses counting toward majors and minors must be taken for a letter grade (no S/U), that a major or minor GPA of at least 2.0 is required to graduate, and that a D in a prerequisite indicates insufficient preparation and retaking is recommended (the best grade is used for the GPA).
• Only one math declaration: do not declare more than one math major, joint major or minor; only one is honored.
• Outcomes: the department page says: “A 2023 poll reported that 97% of students were employed full-time or pursuing further education within six months of graduation.” It gives no sample size or other figures.

3. Preparation

• High school courses: the first-year pages read list no required subjects or number of math courses, saying only that courses and grades matter and that review is adjusted to each high school’s standards; this is not published, so ask admissions.
• Math Placement Exam: the department offers an optional exam whose recommendation for your first calculus class is non-binding; students are strongly encouraged to take it and follow it. It is a Canvas quiz with a background survey, a Pre-Calculus section (2 hours) and a Calculus section (90 minutes), no calculators; students with no calculus exposure should skip the last part, and then the recommendation will not exceed Math 111. The grading dates printed on the page are for 2026 entry (exams taken by July 31, 2026, graded by August 6; by August 21, graded by August 27); check the page for 2027 dates. The department also links two placement guide PDFs (Calculus Options, and Advanced Math for students with 6 hours of AP credit), which were not read here.
• AP/IB credit (admissions page): AP scores of 4 or 5 typically earn three semester hours each; AP and IB together are capped at 12 hours, A-Levels and other international exams at 12 hours, and entering first-years can receive at most 18 hours in total. Credit is reviewed after you deposit. AP/IB scores may be used for general credit, prerequisites, certain requirements and the major or minor subject to departmental rules. To request AP/IB credit or placement in a higher math course, email the department’s AP-scores address with a screenshot of your scores. How specific AP/IB scores map to required math courses such as Calculus I and II is in the AP/IB credit chart and placement guides, which were not read.
• Honors entry: the department’s honors program is by invitation in the spring of junior year: majors with a 3.5 GPA are considered and the Undergraduate Committee chooses based on faculty advice. Requirements: the BS requirements, an approved departmental graduate course, a thesis and defense, and an overall 3.5 GPA. The department strongly urges taking Real Analysis I and II or Abstract Algebra I and II by junior year. How math competitions are viewed in admissions is not on the pages read; the department does give a Putnam Prize Participation Honor to the Emory undergraduates with the best scores on the Putnam competition.

4. Plans and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Early Decision I: due November 1, financial aid December 2, decisions by December 15. Binding: if Emory makes it affordable you must enroll.
• Early Decision II: due January 1, financial aid January 6, decisions by February 15; also binding.
• Regular Decision: due January 1, financial aid February 10, decisions by April 1; non-binding. The Emory University Scholar Programs deadline is November 15, with notification by March 1.
• The page prints no year, so confirm it applies to fall 2027 entry. ED can be to Emory College or Oxford College only, with the other under Regular Decision.
• Application fee: USD 75, with fee waivers for eligible applicants. Apply through the Common App.
• Essays: the Common App personal statement and two short-answer questions specific to Emory.
• Recommendations: two evaluations from core academic teachers (for example English, math, science, social studies or foreign language); the pages do not say one must be a math teacher. School reports and transcripts must be submitted by a school official.
• Testing: SAT/ACT are optional for first-years starting in fall 2027; the writing portion is not required. Emory superscores both tests (best section scores for the SAT; the four best subject scores for the ACT). Applicants are encouraged to self-report AP scores of 3 or higher.
• Interview: optional; see the China section.

5. Domestic students

• Tuition: Emory is private, and the cost worksheet does not split in-state and out-of-state. The 2026-2027 estimate: tuition USD 70,300; fees 1,148; average housing 13,222; food 9,184; travel 1,100; personal 1,620; books 1,286; direct loan fees 88; total USD 97,948 (not including the required health insurance).
• Aid: new students complete the FAFSA; first-degree students in Emory College, Oxford College, Goizueta or Nursing also complete the CSS Profile and submit tax records. Aid deadlines are in section 4 (ED I December 2, ED II January 6, RD February 10).
• Scholarships: the site describes the Emory University Scholar Programs as partial to full merit-based scholarships (deadline November 15). Department awards are in section 8.
• Resident preference or guarantee: not on the pages read; not published.

6. International students

• Requirements: international students apply as first-years with the same requirements, plus English proficiency and financial certification.
• English: applicants whose primary language is not English must show they can succeed in a rigorous English-language classroom. Any one of these demonstrates it: SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 700+; ACT English of 30+; or the last four years in a school where English is the language of instruction for all subjects (excluding world languages). Otherwise one test is required: TOEFL iBT, expected 100 on the old 0-120 scale (not a strict cutoff), and 5.5 or higher on the new 1-6 scale in use since January 21, 2026; TOEFL ITP at CEFR C1; TOEFL ITP Plus (Mainland China only) at CEFR C1, typically 63 to 68 per section; IELTS, expected overall 7.5 (not a strict cutoff); or the Duolingo English Test, where the most competitive applicants typically score above 130 of 160.
• Financial certification: required, through the Documentation of Finances or a bank statement, showing sufficient funds for all expenses at Emory. For those applying for aid, the documentation need not show you can fully cover the first year.
• Aid: need-based aid goes to a select group of international students each year; the aid page says to apply under Regular Decision, answer “yes” to the aid question in the Common App, and submit the CSS Profile and tax returns (translated to English and converted to USD) before February 5. Only students who apply for and receive aid in their first year are eligible for aid in the future.
• Merit scholarships: the Emory University Scholar Programs consider all citizens of foreign countries who are not US permanent residents; selection is highly competitive and funding is limited, and applicants should apply before December.
• Curricula: the site calls the IB Diploma, AP and British A-Levels widely recognized and lists national systems it recognizes by country (list not read); contact your regional admission officer with questions.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not say how Gaokao results are used; this is not published, so ask your regional admission officer.
• Interview: for applicants from Mainland China, Emory strongly recommends the InitialView interview and considers it the preferred option when available. It is not required and does not replace the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo.
• English: the TOEFL ITP Plus is accepted for Mainland China only (see above); otherwise the same as other international applicants.
• Transcripts and verification: school reports and transcripts must be submitted by a school official, not the applicant. No China-specific credential evaluation or exam-certificate requirement is on the pages read.
• Any other China-specific guidance is not published on the pages read; ask your regional admission officer.

8. Department awards and research

• The department’s awards page lists the Trevor Evans Award (for outstanding performance by math majors, also meant to help defray educational expenses, selected by the Undergraduate Committee), the Chair’s Award for Achievement, the Deborah Jackson Award (marked 2007-2015), the Putnam Prize Participation Honor, and the Wilson Family STEM Education Award, given to an outstanding third-year math undergraduate with research funding to advance an independent project.
• Independent research: Math 497R, 498R and 499R are directed research or reading courses that require documentation of a faculty mentor’s permission.
• Whether these awards are open to international students is not on the pages read; not published.

9. Transfer students

• Eligibility: a high school graduate who has completed one year as a full-time student (or is in the second semester of the first full year); at least 28 credit hours completed or in progress before applying (not counting AP, IB or dual enrollment); a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in all college work (most admitted students have 3.5 or better); and the ability to complete two years (four semesters) at Emory. At most 62 semester hours can transfer. Emory enrolls 100 to 120 transfer students a year.
• Fall entry only. Oxford College does not accept transfer applicants.
• Courses: no required courses to apply, but a broad curriculum is expected; credit is evaluated after admission, not before. The department’s major pages list the required math courses, so plan your calculus and linear algebra against them.
• Deadline: fall transfer applications are due March 15, financial aid March 17, with notification by early May (no year is printed; confirm it is for fall 2027).
• Materials: the Common App, official transcripts from every college attended and a full high school transcript, one faculty recommendation or academic evaluation, the USD 75 fee; TOEFL or IELTS recommended if English is not your first language; SAT/ACT optional.
• Aid: apply for aid at the same time as you apply for admission; merit-based aid is not available for transfer students, and need-based aid is not available for international transfer students.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Apply through the Common App to Emory College, Oxford College or both: ED I November 1, ED II or RD January 1
• Two core academic teacher evaluations; testing optional; ask admissions about high school course expectations
• After enrolling, take the optional math placement exam and declare your major before the end of sophomore year

International students (including those from China):

• English: SAT EBRW 700+, ACT English 30+, four years of English-medium schooling, or TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo
• Documentation of Finances; apply for aid under Regular Decision and submit the CSS Profile by February 5
• From Mainland China: InitialView is strongly recommended; ask your regional officer how Gaokao results are used

Transfer students:

• 28+ credit hours and a 3.0 GPA; apply by March 15 for fall entry; fall only, and not Oxford College
• Plan your calculus and linear algebra courses against the department’s required courses

Sources: Emory University, Mathematics undergraduate program; Mathematics majors and requirements; Joint majors; Mathematics 4+1 MS program; Declare a major or minor; Honors program; Placement guide; Department awards; Plans and deadlines; First-year applicants; Requirements; Standardized exam and English policies; AP, IB and college credit; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Aid for international students; Apply for financial aid; 2026-27 cost of attendance worksheet (PDF). Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check Emory for the latest details.