The Master of Science in Mathematics degree includes the advanced study of mathematical concepts and is appropriate for those who wish to teach mathematics at the college level, including university or college instructors or high school teachers who want to become qualified to teach in a dual-credit or College Credit Plus program. The program is also appropriate for students seeking a master’s in mathematics that will prepare them for a doctoral program or work in government or industry.
Degree-seeking students will complete 36 hours across the 5000- and 6000-levels. In addition to completing 15 credit hours from the core curriculum, students also complete 12 credit hours of electives and 9 credit hours in the research component. Students with a prior master’s degree may seek the Graduate Certificate in Mathematics by completing only 18 credit hours. The Graduate Certificate in Mathematics is appropriate for high school teachers who have earned a prior master’s in a content other than mathematics who need 18-credit hours in content to become qualified to teach College Credit Plus courses. The master’s in mathematics degree can be completed in 27 months or less and the graduate certificate in mathematics can be completed in less than one year.
Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the year, giving students six entry points into the program. A complete application packet, which is submitted to the Graduate Center, must include:
- Completed application
- Appropriate application fee
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal statement/professional goals
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in mathematical sciences or related field and have B’s or higher in the calculus sequence and three proof-based mathematics courses. Examples of proof-based mathematics courses includes, but is not limited to, Mathematical Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Number Theory, and Linear Algebra. Students who have not taken the appropriate mathematics courses or have not met the minimum grade requirement may be conditionally accepted and required to take undergraduate mathematics courses to strengthen their background and be prepared for the rigor and challenges of graduate level mathematics courses.
The program is presented fully online. Lectures are delivered via instructional videos that are recorded and uploaded to Blackboard or YouTube. Testing is also online. An ideal applicant must be able to work independently and have access to reliable internet access. Applicants should also be proficient in web-based communication. Applicants must have a scanner, shredder, and a computer with a webcam and microphone to meet any requirements for testing online.
The learning outcomes (SLOs) for the Mathematics Master of Science (M.S.) or the Certificate in Graduate Mathematics program are:
- (LO 1) Graduates will produce solutions to mathematical problems in analysis, abstract algebra, and regression.
- (LO 2) Graduates will write a clear, precise, and logically rigorous multi-step proofs.
- (LO 3) Graduates will demonstrate mastery of subject material, as evidenced by quality of performance in coursework, and on written and/or oral summative examinations in mathematics and statistics.
- (LO 4) Graduates will communicate mathematical ides, results, and context in written form.
- (LO 5) Graduates will develop an action research project that will address a primary research question using quantitative methods. (M.S. only)
- (LO 6) Graduate will be able to formulate research questions. (M.S. only)
- (LO 7) Graduates will communicate research results orally and in writing. (M.S. only)
- (LO 8) Graduates will gain an understanding of an existing research problem by conducting a thorough literature review to identify gaps, conflicts, and open questions in the field. (M.S. only)
