TL;DR: BS Mathematics is a four-year, minimum 121-unit degree under CHED Memorandum Order No. 48, series of 2017, built on a 51-unit general education base and a 46-unit core of Calculus, Linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, and Complex Analysis, plus at least 15 units of math electives and an optional 3-unit thesis. Its sister program, BS Applied Mathematics, shares the same core but leans its electives toward computation, statistics, and modeling. Neither program has its own board exam; graduates who want to teach need a separate teaching qualification and the LET, while aspiring actuaries pursue exams through the Actuarial Society of the Philippines. PSA's 2024 wage survey recorded ₱99,154/month for mathematicians and actuaries in insurance, and ₱71,237/month in telecommunications, both well above the ₱21,544 national average.
BS Mathematics has one of the more precisely CHED-specified curricula of any Philippine college degree, down to the exact number of units in every component. This guide walks through what CHED Memorandum Order No. 48, series of 2017 actually prescribes for BS Math and BS Applied Math, the real subject list and unit breakdown, how the two tracks differ, and what careers the degree leads to, from actuarial science to data roles to teaching. For a related computing degree with its own CHED framework, see our BSIT guide.
What Exactly Is BS Mathematics?
BS Mathematics trains students in the core theoretical areas of mathematics, algebra, analysis, and geometry, developing skills in abstraction, pattern recognition, rigorous proof, and mathematical modeling. It is governed by CHED Memorandum Order No. 48, series of 2017, "Policies, Standards and Guidelines (PSGs) for the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (BS Math) and Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics (BS Applied Math) Programs," which revised the earlier 2007 curriculum order (CMO 19, s. 2007) to reflect the K-12 transition and CHED's outcomes-based education philosophy, implemented starting AY 2018-2019.
Per CMO 48's own program description, mathematicians "seek to discover, analyze and classify patterns in both abstract objects and natural phenomena," working across "quantity (arithmetic), structure (algebra), space (geometry) and change (analysis)." The CMO explicitly frames BS Math and BS Applied Math as two tracks of one shared discipline, with graduates commonly moving into education, statistics, actuarial science, operations research, risk management, business and economics, banking and finance, and computing.
How Many Units Does BS Mathematics Require, and What Do They Cover?
CMO 48's sample curriculum sets the total program at 121 units, identical for both BS Math and BS Applied Math, split across four components:
| Component | Units | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 51 | Language and Humanities (21), Mathematics/Natural Sciences/IT (15), Social Sciences including mandated Rizal course (15) |
| Core Courses | 46 | Advanced Calculus I, Calculus I-III (13 units), Differential Equations I, Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Abstract Algebra I, Complex Analysis, Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics, Modern Geometry, plus one advanced Analysis/Algebra course |
| Math Electives | 15 (18 without thesis) | Chosen from a CHED-listed set: Real Analysis, Topology, Number Theory, Set Theory, Numerical Analysis, Operations Research, Actuarial Mathematics I & II, Graph Theory, and more |
| Free Electives | 6 | Any course approved by the program adviser |
| Thesis/Special Problem | 3 (optional) | Independent research resulting in a written paper and oral defense |
Precalculus Mathematics I and II (6 units) are counted within the 51-unit General Education total rather than as a separate add-on, per CMO 48's own accounting. A program without a thesis requirement adds an extra 3-unit elective in its place, so the 121-unit total holds either way. Core courses for BS Applied Math swap in Operations Research, Discrete Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, and a second Fundamentals of Computing course in place of some of BS Math's more theory-heavy core electives.
Disclaimer: this reflects CHED's minimum sample curriculum. Individual schools may add units, adjust sequencing, or offer additional specialization tracks (actuarial science, computing, statistics) requiring at least 15 units of relevant coursework, per CMO 48's own provision for minors.
BS Math vs. BS Applied Math: What's the Real Difference?
Both programs share the identical 51-unit general education base and the same core-course unit count, but their elective lists point in different directions. BS Math's elective list leans toward pure theory: Abstract Algebra II, Real Analysis, Topology, Set Theory, Number Theory, Graph Theory. BS Applied Math's elective list leans toward computation and quantitative finance: Actuarial Mathematics I & II, Mathematical Finance, Risk Theory, Time Series Analysis, Data Structures and Algorithms, Computational Complexity, Simulation.
CMO 48 itself frames the distinction loosely: "there is no clear line separating pure and applied mathematics," and both tracks require the same core mastery of algebra, analysis, and geometry. The practical difference shows up mainly in which electives a student picks and, correspondingly, which career track they're building toward.
What Careers Does a BS Mathematics Degree Lead To?
CMO 48 itself lists the professions BS Math/Applied Math graduates commonly enter: education (teaching high school math or tertiary-level courses), statistics, actuarial science, operations research, risk management, business and economics, banking and finance, and computing and information technology. Unlike many licensed professions, there is no single PRC board exam for "mathematician," so graduates typically build a career either through direct employment (banks, insurers, tech companies, research institutions) or through a separate credentialing path specific to their target field.
Actuarial science is the most structured of these paths: aspiring actuaries pursue exams through the Actuarial Society of the Philippines (ASP), which follows the US-based Society of Actuaries' (SOA) preliminary exam framework. Reaching ASP Associate status requires passing five SOA preliminary exams, completing three Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) requirements, and attending the ASP's Associateship Admission Course; Fellow status requires two further ASP Integrated Exams. Insurance and preneed companies in the Philippines are legally required to engage an ASP Fellow (or someone meeting all Fellowship requirements) under the Insurance Code, which keeps steady demand for this pathway.
Teaching is the other well-defined path: a BS Math graduate who wants to teach high school math needs to separately complete an 18-unit Certificate of Education Units (or equivalent) and pass the LET, Secondary level, Mathematics specialization, the same board exam covered in our BSEd guide and LET guide, rather than being automatically qualified to teach on the strength of the math degree alone.
How Much Do BS Mathematics Graduates Earn?
There is no single official "BS Math graduate salary," since pay depends on the specific role rather than the degree name. The Philippine Statistics Authority's 2024 Occupational Wages Survey recorded average monthly wages of ₱99,154 for mathematicians and actuaries in the insurance, reinsurance, and pension funding industry, and ₱71,237 in telecommunications, both well above the ₱21,544 national average across all occupations that same year. Information and Communications was also the highest-paid broad industry sector in the same survey, at ₱43,676 average monthly wage, relevant for math graduates who move into data or computing roles.
Disclaimer: these are averages across surveyed companies in specific sub-industries, reflecting established roles, not guaranteed fresh-graduate starting pay. Actual offers vary by company, role, and experience.
How Much Does BS Mathematics Tuition Cost?
At SUCs, including the University of the Philippines, BS Mathematics is free or minimal for qualified Filipino students under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931); a UP student's per-semester cost under the regular scheme has been estimated around ₱37,000 including non-tuition fees, though most qualified students pay far less or nothing under the free-tuition provisions. At private universities, science-program tuition commonly runs from the mid-tens of thousands to over ₱100,000 per semester depending on the school's tier; see our cheapest vs. most expensive universities breakdown for the full price spectrum across Philippine schools. Always confirm the current published rate directly with your target school.
What Schools Offer BS Mathematics?
BS Mathematics is offered at major SUCs and private universities with established science and mathematics faculties, including University of the Philippines Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University Manila. CHED designates Centers of Excellence (COE) and Centers of Development (COD) for mathematics based on criteria that include having an active PhD program (for COE status) or an active MS program (for COD status), so program depth and research opportunities vary meaningfully between schools; check a specific program's COE/COD status and faculty credentials directly with CHED or the school if graduate-level research strength matters to your decision.
Is BS Mathematics Right for You?
Before committing to BS Math or BS Applied Math, weigh these questions:
- Do you enjoy proof and abstraction, or applied computation? If it's the former, lean toward BS Math's theory-heavy electives; if the latter, BS Applied Math's actuarial, statistics, and computing electives are the better fit.
- Are you aiming for a specific licensed or credentialed path? Actuarial science and teaching both require additional exams and requirements beyond the degree itself, so research the ASP exam pathway or LET requirements early if either is your goal.
- Does the school offer a specialization or minor you want? CMO 48 allows schools to offer minors (actuarial science, computing, operations research, statistics) requiring at least 15 units of relevant coursework; not every school offers every specialization.
- How research-active is the math department? If graduate study or research is a long-term goal, a school's COE/COD status and faculty research output matter more than for students headed straight into industry roles.
- Have you compared this against a computing degree? If your interest is more applied-computing than pure math, our BSIT guide covers a related but distinct path worth weighing.
Ready to find the right school? Browse schools or compare tuition and programs across hundreds of Philippine schools on SchoolFinderPH.
Sources
- CHED CMO No. 48, s. 2017 — Sample Outcomes-Based Curriculum for BS Mathematics/BS Applied Mathematics (official PDF)
- FEU Public Policy Center — CMO No. 48, s. 2017 Summary
- Philippine Statistics Authority — 2024 Occupational Wages Survey
- BusinessMirror — PSA Data: Industry Wages Show 3-Fold Gap in 2024
- Actuarial Society of the Philippines — ASP Membership Information
- SchoolFinderPH — BSIT Explained
- SchoolFinderPH — BSEd Guide
- SchoolFinderPH — Cheapest vs. Most Expensive Universities in the Philippines
