DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

MATHEMATICS PROGRAM

Graduate degree plans in Mathematics can be designed to prepare students for careers in industry, business, or education, or for further study in mathematics. Both the Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees in Mathematics are available. Students pursuing the Master of Education degree may specialize in Mathematics as a teaching field.

Included in each degree program is a core of courses selected to provide the background necessary for further study in an area of specialization. Before nine semester hours of graduate Mathematics have been completed, each student meets with the appropriate graduate advisor to review his/her academic progress and career plans, and to receive counseling concerning the direction of the remaining course work. Based on this meeting, a Graduate Study Plan is filed on the student’s behalf with the department and college offices.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Mathematics must submit the Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the one-time application fee to the Office of Graduate Studies, official transcripts of all college-level work (including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred), and official GRE scores. Two letters of recommendation from the Mathematics or Statistics faculty at the student’s undergraduate degree-granting institution are required with the application for admission. A 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA is recommended for admission into the Mathematics program. For a final admissions decision, GRE scores do not constitute the sole criterion for consideration of the applicant, nor do GRE scores and undergraduate GPA constitute the primary criteria to end consideration of an applicant. Based on review of a student’s undergraduate transcript, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics may require completion of undergraduate stem courses as a condition for admission.

A permanent faculty advisory committee is assigned to each student after admission to candidacy. Committee appointments are made by the graduate advisor in consultation with the department chair. Committee appointments may be changed if a revision of the Graduate Study Plan indicates that such a modification is needed. In programs that include the writing of a thesis, the advisory committee also serves as the thesis committee.

Other Scholarly Requirements

An oral examination is administered by the advisory committee for each Master of Arts and Master of Science degree candidate. [NOTE: The oral examination must be scheduled with the Graduate Advisor at least three weeks in advance. Request forms are available in the department office.] Comprehensive examinations for the Master of Education are administered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, but they include questions prepared and evaluated by members of the Mathematics faculty. Students must be enrolled the semester in which they take comprehensive examinations.

Requirements specified in the degree programs that follow are subject to minor modification by the department. Also, to ensure a balanced program, all electives must be approved by the department chair or an authorized representative of the graduate Mathematics faculty.

Degree Plans

These programs are designed for persons who will specialize in Mathematics teaching at the pre-university or two-year college level.

Common Requirements:

1. Core courses: MTH 586, 587, 588, and 589.
2. An oral examination over core courses.
3. 9 semester hours elective work in approved courses offered for graduate credit in Mathematics.
4. A 3-semester-hour directed reading and research course in Mathematics. This course must include a written report on the research.

Additional Requirements:

The degree program includes a 12 semester hour minor in a discipline that could serve as a second teaching field, or 12 additional semester hours of approved graduate coursework, either all in Mathematics or Statistics or 6 hours in each of two fields from the following list: Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, and Secondary Education.

Common Requirements:

1. Core courses: MTH 561, 668, 673, and 694.
2. One of the following:

A. A thesis of 6 semester hours and 6 additional hours of approved courses offered for graduate credit in Mathematics.
B. 9 semester hours of approved courses offered for graduate credit in Mathematics and a 3-semester-hour directed reading and research course. This course must include an oral presentation of the research results to the department, and a written report on the research.

3. An oral examination over core courses (and the thesis, where applicable).

Additional Requirements:

The degree program includes a 12-semester-hour minor in an approved field, or 12 semester hours of additional study in approved courses offered for graduate credit
in Mathematics.

Master of Education in Elementary Education. This program is designed to provide additional study in a teaching field for the professional elementary school teacher and is initiated by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education. Students with elementary school certification with a 24-semester hour undergraduate specialization in Mathematics may elect 12-18 graduate semester hours in Mathematics in this 36-semester hour program. Mathematics 583, 584, and 585 or approved substitutes are required.

Master of Education in Secondary Education. This program is designed to provide additional study in a teaching field for the professional secondary school teacher and is initiated by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education. Students may elect from 12-24 semester hours in Mathematics on this 36-semester hour program. Course requirements are adjusted to meet individual student needs. A core of three courses chosen from Mathematics 586, 587, 588, and 589 is required, and Mathematics electives must be approved by the department chair or his/her designated representative. The Mathematics component of the (written) comprehensive examination is based upon the content of the required Mathematics core.

SENIOR COURSES OPEN TO GRADUATE STUDENTS