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Master's Coursework

Thesis track option

The thesis option requires twenty-four semester hours of course work and the preparation of a thesis (for which six hours credit is given). A minimum of twelve semester hours in mathematics courses above the 400(G)-level is required. There is a special course, MATH 599, for MS students who are conducting research towards preparation of an MS thesis.

Non-thesis track option

The non-thesis option requires thirty-six semester hours of graduate course work, of which a minimum of eighteen hours must be above the 400(G)-level.

As a student in the non-thesis track option you may also choose one of the three concentrations listed below.

Optional concentrations

  • Applied Mathematics Concentration. Complete at least four courses at the 500-level in Applied Mathematics, as follows:
    • At least one course in Numerical Analysis (MATH 555 or MATH 556)
    • At least one course in Ordinary Differential Equations (MATH 583 or MATH 584)
    • At least one course in Partial Differential Equations (MATH 595 or MATH 596)
    • Complete at least one of the two-semester sequences in Applied Mathematics (MATH 555-556, MATH 583-584, or MATH 595-596)
  • Pure Mathematics Concentration. Complete at least four courses at the 500-level in Pure Mathematics, as follows:
    • At least one course in Algebra (MATH 561, MATH 562, MATH 565, or MATH 566)
    • At least one course in Analysis (MATH 573, MATH 574, MATH 575, or MATH 576)
    • At least one course in Topology (MATH 535, MATH 536, MATH 537, or MATH 538)
    • Complete at least one of the two-semester sequences in Pure Mathematics (MATH 535-536, MATH 537-538, MATH 561-562, MATH 565-566, MATH 573574, or MATH 575-576)
  • Statistics Concentration. Complete at least four courses at the 500-level in Statistics, as follows:
    • At least three courses from the main statistics sequences (STAT 521, STAT 522, STAT 523, STAT 524, STAT 530, or STAT 535)
    • One additional course from either the main statistics sequences, or from the stand-alone statistics courses (STAT 502, STAT 520, STAT 521, STAT 522, STAT 523, STAT 524, STAT 525, STAT 528, STAT 530, STAT 535, STAT 540, STAT 545, STAT 550, STAT 568, STAT 580, or STAT 581)
    • Complete at least one of the two-semester sequences in statistics (STAT 521-522, STAT 523-524, or STAT 530-535)

Course loads

In order to qualify as a full-time student, the Graduate School requires a graduate student to carry a minimum of 9 semester credit hours that count towards his or her degree program during a regular semester, and a minimum of 6 credit hours that count towards his or her degree program during a summer semester. The maximum course load a graduate student may enroll in is 16 credit hours during a regular semester, and 9 during a summer semester. There is no specific minimum for part-time students. The Graduate School also requires that a graduate fellow or assistant be a full-time student during any semester in which the fellowship or assistantship is held. More detailed information can be found in the Graduate Course and Credit Regulations subsection of the Graduate School section of the  Academic Catalog.

Graduate credit

A graduate student who is receiving financial support from the Department or University can only enroll in courses offered by the Mathematics Department (MATH and STAT courses). In special circumstances a student may ask for permission to enroll in courses offered by other departments, but only if they are directly relevant to the his or her research. The student must file a formal request with the Graduate Coordinator, indicating the rationale for enrolling in the course. The request must be accompanied by a written statement from the student's Major Professor supporting the request. Graduate students may receive credit for courses at the 400-level that are marked in the catalog with a G, indicating they provide graduate credit. They also receive graduate credit for courses at the 500- and 600-level. Specific requirements regarding credit hours above the 400-level are discussed below.

500-level graduate sequences

All MS students must complete at least one of the sequences listed on the 500-level graduate sequences page.

An MS student using a particular sequence to fulfill the sequence requirement for an MS must receive grades of A or B in both semesters of that sequence, or pass the written comprehensive exam for that sequence at the MS level. Transfer credit for these sequences will be awarded only to students who pass the written comprehensive exam for that sequence.