Master of Science in Mathematics
"Although a notable accomplishment of its own, graduate work at Â鶹´«Ã½ State strengthened me in many aspects of a Ph.D. program, including research. Further, some of the coursework completed during my M.S. counted toward my doctorate. After I left Â鶹´«Ã½ State, I earned a Ph.D. in Computational Mathematics from NC State University."
The Master of Science and Master of Arts degrees are designed to provide students with the opportunity to study graduate level mathematics so that they may
- obtain preferred employment in mathematics with government or industry,
- teach at the junior college level or be better prepared to teach at the secondary school level, or
- continue working toward a doctor of philosophy degree.
The Master of Science program consists of a core of applied mathematics together with a core (at most nine hours) in an allied field such as business, computer science, physics, economics or finance. (See an example of allied courses for economics and finance.) The program is flexible and is particularly suited to meet the needs of students preparing for careers in business, industry, or government.
Degree Requirements:
All coursework must be approved by the departmental graduate committee. The student must complete two two-course sequences. If the student has not completed two semesters of advanced calculus then one of the sequences must be MAT 625-626. At most one of these sequences may be a completion of a sequence that was started as an undergraduate.
Thesis Requirements
Total Course Requirements: 33 hours
- MAT or STA courses, 700-level (3 hrs)
- MAT or STA courses, 600 or 700-level (15-24 hrs)
- Allied field, 600 or 700-level (0-9 hrs)
- MAT 798-799 Research and Thesis (6 hrs)
Other Degree Requirements
- Oral defense and examination of thesis
Non-Thesis Requirements
Total Course Requirements: 30 hours
- MAT or STA courses, 700-level (6 hrs)
- MAT or STA courses, 600 or 700-level (15-24 hrs)
- Allied field, 600 or 700-level (0-9 hrs)
Other Degree Requirements
- Comprehensive examinations over coursework
Requirements for Admission:
Applicants must meet the Â鶹´«Ã½ State University requirements (see Graduate Admissions). Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission to M.S. or M.A. programs are as follows:
Unconditional
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college with a major (or equivalent) in mathematics or a related field
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or above
- Minimal GPA of 3.0 in all mathematics courses beginning with the first calculus course
- Minimal GPA of 3.0 in all major courses
- If the major is in a related field (not mathematics), the student must have credit for three calculus courses (including a multivariable calculus course), a proof-based course, a matrix/linear algebra course, and a differential equations course.
Conditional
- Recommendation of the department graduate committee or a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college with a major in a related field and at least a 3.0 GPA in their major courses
- Credit for three calculus courses (including a multivariable calculus course), a proof based course, and a matrix/linear algebra course with a 3.0 GPA in all mathematics courses beginning with the last elementary calculus course
- GPA of 3.0 or above in all mathematics courses beginning with the last elementary calculus course
- two letters of recommendation from college teachers addressing the candidate’s ability to do mathematics graduate work