Master’s in Mathematics

Research Requirement

All candidates for the Master of Arts, the Master of Science for Teachers, or the Master of Science in Applied Mathematics, must complete either a thesis or independent project and must be examined by an examining committee of three faculty members that are appointed by the director of graduate studies in consultation with the student’s adviser.

Types of Master’s Degrees

Master of Arts

The degree requirements include the satisfactory completion of 30 hours of approved course work, of which at least 18 hours must be at the 8000 level. Math 8250, 8420, 8425, and 8410 are required.

Students are expected to make up any required deficiencies in their undergraduate training in advanced calculus and abstract algebra. Students may list no more than two of the courses 7110, 7700, 7900, 7140, 7720 and 7920 on their graduate program. Furthermore, neither 7100 nor 7510 may be listed.

Master of Science for Teachers

This degree is designed primarily for those who want to teach mathematics at the secondary school level. A candidate for the degree must have a valid teaching certificate before entering the program and must satisfactorily complete 30 hours of approved course work.

At least 12 of the 30 hours besides 8090 Master’s Project must be at the 8000 level and must include six credit hours from the Mathematics Department. At least two courses are required in the fields of algebra, analysis and geometry/topology.

The Master of Science in Applied Mathematics

Designed to give students training in those areas of mathematics used frequently in applications.

A candidate must satisfactorily complete 30 hours of approved course work, at least 15 hours of which must be in 8000-level courses. Math 8420, 8445, 8425 and 8440 are required. At least three hours of the 30 hours must be taken outside the department.

Additional requirements (some of which may be satisfied by work done as an undergraduate) include the completion of one year of advanced calculus and at least one approved course in each of the areas of linear algebra, numerical analysis and mathematical statistics or probability. Students may list no more than two of the courses 7110, 7700, 7900, 7140, 7720 and 7920 on their graduate program. Furthermore, neither 7100 nor 7510 may be listed.

Dual Master Degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics

The Departments of Mathematics and Economics offer selected students the option of obtaining a dual MS degree in applied mathematics and an MA degree in economics within an integrated program.

Students enrolled in the dual master’s degree program may obtain degrees based on 48 credit hours of course work. In each degree field a minimum of 18 hours of graduate courses is required.

Required Courses

The students are required to take from the Department of Mathematics: Math 8420; choose one of the following two courses: 8480 or 8445; and choose 4 more elective courses from the following list: 7300, 7310, 7500, 7700, 7900, 7320, 7520, 7140, 8445, 8425, 8440, 8480, 8680.

The students are required to take from the Department of Economics: Econ 8451, 8453, 8472; one course from the following: Econ 9473, 9475, 9476; and 2 elective courses, one of which must be a 9000-level course, selected from the following list: Econ 7311, 7312, 7315, 7316, 7322, 7325, 7326, 7329, 7340, 7355, 7360, 7361, 7362, 7368, 7370, 7371, 9452, 9411, 9412, 9415, 9416, 9425, 9426, 9430, 9431, 9454, 9455, 9460, 8470, 9471, 9473, 9475, 9476, 9477.

In addition, students are required to take 12 credit hours of the following shared 8000/9000-level graduate courses: Math 9787, Math 8090 Master’s Project, Econ 8413, Econ 8085 Problems or Econ 8090 Research, Econ 8XXX (exclusive of other 8000-level elective courses already taken), and to complete an MA paper in economics (normally undertaken in Economics 8413) and a master’s project in mathematics (Math 8090). Students are encouraged to undertake a single project that will satisfy both requirements. It is expected that the project will contain substantial work done in each field.

Dual Master Degree in Applied Mathematics and Electrical Engineering

The Departments of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering offer selected students the option of obtaining a dual MS degree in applied mathematics and an MS degree in Electrical Engineering within an integrated program.

Students enrolled in the dual master’s degree program may obtain degrees based on 48 credit hours of course work. In each degree field a minimum of 18 hours of graduate course work is required.

Required Courses

The following two courses from the Department of Mathematics are required: Math 8420 and 8440. In addition, four of the following elective courses are required: Math 7940, 7300, 7310, 7500, 7700, 7900, 7560, 7320, 7520, 7140, 8445, 8425, 8470, 8441, 8648, 8703.

The students are required to take the following courses from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: 18 credit hours of courses numbered 7XXX or 8XXX exclusive of ECE4085, ECE4970, ECE4980, ECE400, ECE8085, and ECE8990. None of the Math courses taken in the MS-Math degree can be included in this group of courses. Courses must be taken in at least two of the areas of specialization of the ECE graduate curriculum. At least nine hours of credit must be taken in the ECE department. At least one of these courses must be at the 8000-level.

The courses must form a cohesive plan of study chosen with the approval of an adviser. In addition, students are required to take the following shared 8000-level graduate courses: Math 8XXX Elective, Math 8090 Master’s Project, ECE 8XXX Elective, ECE8990.

Students are required to undertake a single master’s project that will satisfy the requirements for Math 8090 and ECE 8990.