Mathematics Degree
Description
The Associate in Arts in Mathematics Program provides students with the foundation classes to support ongoing interest in the field of mathematics. The core consists of the calculus sequence required for transfer, in which students acquire a conceptual understanding of the principles of differential and integral calculus for functions in one and several variables, as well as the ability to apply calculus techniques in a variety of applications.
To transfer to a four-year school, see the Associate in Science in Mathematics degree for Transfer, which is designed to prepare students to transfer to a California State University as a junior with a degree in Mathematics, with additional required General Education courses. Our Transfer Admission Guarantees also include other four-year schools for many transfer degrees. Consult with your Counselor about the transfer degree. See related links, below.
Earnings Potential
An associate degree in mathematics offers you the salary potential of $24,209 two years after graduation from Taft College, with expected increases to $60,163 at five years, based on five-year studies of graduates by California Community Colleges. These do not reflect salaries with a four-year degree.1
Career options are varied, and some require additional education. Options for those with an associate degree include bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, with a median annual wage of $46,560. For those typically requiring a minimum of a four-year degree, the median annual wage is $77,250 for accountants and actuaries; $91,580 for financial analysts; $105,900 for actuaries; and $131,710 for financial planners, according to the U.S, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The range in career options is illustrated by financial planners: they work independently and with organizations; they may provide their clients with professional advice regarding investments, insurance, tax, wealth management, and retirement planning; and they may serve as chief financial officers. The BLS projects 17% job growth for financial managers from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.2
1 California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Salary Surfer. 2021. https://salarysurfer.cccco.edu. Accessed 19 April 2023.
2 “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 8 Sept. 2022. www.bls.gov/ooh. Accessed 19 April 2023.
Program
To earn an Associate in Arts in Mathematics, students must complete: (1) all course requirements with a minimum grade of “C” in each course; and (2) complete General Education Graduation Requirements with an overall GPA of 2.0 or better.
See the degree requirements in the Taft College Catalog. Please note: This links to an external website.
Program Learning Outcomes
After completing a degree in mathematics, a student should be able to:
- Compare and contrast various mathematical models and then apply the appropriate model to real world problems.
- Describe, compare, and contrast various mathematical functions used in everyday language.
- Identify and utilize appropriate mathematical operations in the simplification of expressions and solutions of equations.