Oct 11, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Mathematical Sciences - Applied Mathematics Concentration, (MS)


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MS Degree Program


Program objectives are (1) development of thorough background in mathematical sciences, including retention and integration of core knowledge; (2) development of research skills in mathematics; and (3) development of interdisciplinary opportunities and good oral and written communication skills.

General Program Prerequisites


  1. An undergraduate degree with a major in mathematics or statistics is required. The minimum GPA is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Students whose major was not in mathematics or statistics will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  2. GRE General Test scores are required and are an important factor for admission. This requirement may be waived for applicants to the Teaching of Mathematics concentration who have a graduate degree (master’s degree or higher) already or who have obtained the Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Mathematics, who have a graduate GPA of 3.0 or above, and who have work experience in an education related field for 3 or more years.
  3. Two letters of recommendation are required.
  4. TOEFL scores are required for students whose native language is not English.

General Program Requirements


  1. Satisfactory completion of 33 credit hours of graduate course work in a program approved by the department is required. At least 24 credit hours of course work have to be at the 7000 level or higher. At least 21 credit hours of course work have to be earned from courses offered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
  2. Not more than three credit hours from graduate level seminars can be used to satisfy degree requirements.
  3. Courses designed for the “Teaching of Mathematics” concentration can only be used to satisfy degree requirements in this concentration.
  4. A passing grade on a comprehensive examination is required. Students may choose a thesis or non-thesis option.

Non-thesis Option


Each student must pass a final written four-hour comprehensive examination which may be broken into several parts at the department’s discretion. The written comprehensive examination covers topics from four courses, each consisting of at least three credit hours of course work.

Thesis Option


Each student must identify a thesis advisor, enroll in at least three credit hours of MATH 7996  and submit a written thesis acceptable to the student’s advisory committee. A student must present and defend the thesis before the advisory committee. The oral defense of the thesis will encompass material contained in the thesis and learned during course work and will count as the comprehensive examination. Up to six credit hours of MATH 7996  can be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Note:


Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.

Specific Degree Requirements


Applied Mathematics Concentration


The program must include at least 12 credit hours in the following broadly defined core categories:


Calculus of Variations and Optimization, Control Theory, Differential Equations, Financial Mathematics, Mathematical Physics, Modeling, Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computation. At least 6 of these 12 credit hours must be taken in the same core category. MATH 7996  does not count towards the required credit hours in the core categories.

The written comprehensive examination for students choosing the non-thesis option includes as topics:


  • six credit hours of course work in one of the core categories (see item c. above)
  • plus an additional course approved by the department

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