Master of Science in Mathematics

The Master of Science in Mathematics is a thirty hour program, and it is designed to be completed with or without a thesis. The MS in Mathematics graduate program prepares students for two-year college teaching, careers in industry or government, and preparation for doctoral study. 

Degree Plan

Graduate Courses

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The Department of Mathematics considers three factors in planning its program: (1) the mathematics activities in the academic mainstream of the United States; (2) the philosophy, aims and objectives of the University; and (3) the past experiences of the students enrolled. In its graduate program, the Department seeks to accomplish the following objectives:

1. Provide mathematical training for elementary and secondary teachers, particularly those in urban schools.
2. Provide mathematical training for personnel in industry, government, and institutions of higher learning where higher mathematics is needed.
3. Provide graduate students in mathematics an opportunity to engage in research on new teaching methodologies, the development of new teaching materials, preparation of expository papers, and the development of new fundamental results.

The ultimate aim of the faculty in the Department of Mathematics is to prepare graduate students who are competent practitioners of mathematics and capable of serving as researchers, teachers, or applied mathematicians in various programs of industrial business and government.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, students entering the graduate program are expected to have the following admission requirements:

• Students must complete twenty seven (27) semester hours of mathematics, including at least twelve (12) hours of Calculus and at least 15 hours from the following list of courses (or courses equivalent to these): MATH 250, 251, 331, 336, 439 and 473. 
• Students must have a minimum accumulated grade point average of 2.75/4,
• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in mathematics major courses

Applications cannot be evaluated until these requirements are met and the Graduate School receives the completed application. The entire admission process will be under the direction of the Graduate Faculty Committee in the Department of Mathematics and the Graduate Council in the Graduate School at the University.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The requirements for the master’s degree in mathematics are as follows:

1. Students must pass an oral proficiency examination on the fundamentals of mathematics during the third semester of the program.  This examination will be administered by the student’s graduate committee and this examination cannot be taken more than two times. 
2. A minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of graduate work. Some 400-level courses can be counted toward the master’s degree, but at most two such courses.
3. An acceptable thesis on the subject approved by both the Department of Mathematics and the Graduate School if the thesis option is selected.
4. Other general University requirements

A student pursuing a Master of Science degree in mathematics is required to enroll in the following courses:

Item	Requirement	Options	Hours Required
1	Specified  Courses	Math 631Math 633Math 634Math 636Math 733	15
2	Math Electives	Choose three from:Math 4xxMath 5xxMath 6xxMath 7xx	9
3	Math Electives or Thesis	Graduate level math courses or thesis	6
	Total Hours		30