The Master of Arts (MA) in Mathematics program is designed to develop the student’s ability to work independently and to enable him or her to obtain basic knowledge in algebra, real and complex variables, and topology so that mathematics literature can be read with understanding and enjoyment. The successful completion of this program should prepare a student to enter the second-year of a doctoral program in mathematics, to begin a career as an industrial mathematician or as a faculty member at a junior or community college.

Requirements for Admission

General Graduate Admission Requirements  Additional Admission Requirements/Notations 

1. A baccalaureate degree granted by an accredited college or university with preparation substantially equivalent to that required of mathematics majors at this institution.
2. Three letters of recommendation, with cover sheets, two of which must be from members of the mathematics faculty with whom the applicant has taken courses.
3. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 (A=4.0) in the most recent 60 semester hours of undergraduate study.
4. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all undergraduate coursework in mathematics.

A student who does not satisfy one or more of the above may, in some cases, be conditionally admitted.

Mathematics Course Requirements

The master’s degree requires a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours of coursework; a minimum of 24 hours of coursework must be in mathematics, and the hours outside the core are to be selected with the approval of the student’s graduate committee. A maximum of six of the nine hours outside the core may be earned by writing a master’s thesis. Only students with superior achievement and keen interest in a topic will be encouraged to write a master’s thesis. A thesis is not required.

A minimum of 30 credit hours with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required for the granting of the Master of Arts in Mathematics. A language examination is not required. However, students wishing to pursue a doctoral program usually find it necessary to pass a proficiency examination in one or two foreign languages, namely French, German or Russian.

The 30 credit hours are divided as follows: