Does Major GPA include math courses?

[matonski]

My school doesn't do a separate Major GPA calculation and many schools ask for it. I don't know which math courses I should include.

[blackcat007]

My school doesn't do a separate Major GPA calculation and many schools ask for it. I don't know which math courses I should include.

Even mine.. but major GPA field is optional. you can explain that in your SOP..

[Mataka]

Don't waste space explaining that in your SOP ... just do the calculation yourself or right the same thing as overall GPA, they don't care that much unless there is a huge difference between the two.

[nathan12343]

Major GPA does not include math courses, unless you are a math major.

[matonski]

Okay thanks. I was curious mainly because some math courses are required for the major (Calc 1-3, Linear Algebra). So I first included those, but then I started wondering about classes that are obviously also useful for physics (ODEs PDEs etc). Also, I received an A in all those classes.

[ezhiskaz]

Will law schools differentiate between a cumulative GPA and a major GPA?
I took a lot of physical science and math courses my first two years as a lost and confused biochemistry major only to realize that it wasn't my calling. I then switched to political science at the end of my 2nd year in undergrad. My GPA in the political science department is 3.8 but with all the science courses I've taken, my GPA is a low 3.3.

[asdfuogh]

Oh, crap. Does the major GPA include the first year courses? The applications never really say, so I just calculate the scores of all my classes that were "Physics###" but do they actually mean upper division major GPA?

[midwestphysics]

Oh, crap. Does the major GPA include the first year courses? The applications never really say, so I just calculate the scores of all my classes that were "Physics###" but do they actually mean upper division major GPA?

If they ask for major GPA it means any classes required to fulfill your major requirements. If they say the last 60 credits they mean the last 60, and if the physics department asks you for upper division GPA, which they usually recalculate themselves to make sure, then they are asking for all the physics classes that are on the Junior-Senior level.
I had asked this a long time ago to one of my professors and he told me this, I even had to include all my chemistry credits because they are technically required by my major. The last 60 though which was asked by some includes anything you took over that span. Give them exactly what they ask for, don't assume anything.

[asdfuogh]

Oh, so I include the lower division pre-reqs like math, and chem too?

[midwestphysics]

Oh, so I include the lower division pre-reqs like math, and chem too?

If it's listed as required to complete your major, not complete your degree, then yes. It all depends on what your school requires to complete the degree, they're just looking to cut through the fluff of all the distribution gen eds. They couldn't care less about how you did in a film studies class, but if chem is required to fulfill your major they do, and they definitely care about your math classes.