Pure Mathematics - M.S.

Program Overview

Pure Mathematics - M.S.

Overview

The Pure Mathematics M.S. program offers a comprehensive curriculum and research opportunities to prepare students for a successful career in mathematics.

Admissions

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or vita
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 50 PTE score
  • Minimum 100 DET score

Coursework

• Major Requirements:
  • Mathematics Electives: 8 credit hours
  • Mathematics Sequence Electives, choose from the following: 18 credit hours
    • MATH 61051 & MATH 61052: ABSTRACT ALGEBRA I and ABSTRACT ALGEBRA II
    • MATH 62051 & MATH 62052: FUNCTIONS OF A REAL VARIABLE I and FUNCTIONS OF A REAL VARIABLE II
    • MATH 62151 & MATH 62152: FUNCTIONS OF A COMPLEX VARIABLE I and FUNCTIONS OF A COMPLEX VARIABLE II
  • Culminating Requirement:
    • MATH 67199: THESIS I: 6 credit hours
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 32

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Major GPA: 3.000
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.000
• Candidates for the Master of Science degree must write and defend a thesis in an area agreed upon with the faculty advisor.
• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Reason in mathematical arguments at a level appropriate to the discipline, including using precise definitions, articulating assumptions and reasoning logically to conclusions.
2. Engage effectively in problem solving, including exploring examples, devising and testing conjectures and assessing the correctness of solutions.
3. Approach mathematical problems creatively, including trying multiple approaches and modifying problems when necessary to make them more tractable.
4. Communicate mathematics clearly both orally and in writing.
5. Teach university-level mathematics effectively.
6. Obtain a deeper understanding of some subdiscipline of mathematics.

Full Description

The Master of Science degree in Pure Mathematics is primarily a terminal, pre-professional degree comprising coursework beyond the bachelor's degree that emphasizes theoretical areas of the discipline, including algebra, analysis, geometry, number theory and topology. Students are required to write and defend a thesis in an area agreed upon with a faculty advisor.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master of Science degree in Pure Mathematics is primarily a terminal, pre-professional degree comprising coursework beyond the bachelor's degree that emphasizes theoretical areas of the discipline, including algebra, analysis, geometry, number theory and topology. Students are required to write and defend a thesis in an area agreed upon with a faculty advisor.

Outline:

• Major Requirements:
• Mathematics Electives:
8 credit hours
• Mathematics Sequence Electives:
118 credit hours, choose from the following:
• MATH 61051 & MATH 61052 ABSTRACT ALGEBRA I and ABSTRACT ALGEBRA II
• MATH 62051 & MATH 62052 FUNCTIONS OF A REAL VARIABLE I and FUNCTIONS OF A REAL VARIABLE II
• MATH 62151 & MATH 62152 FUNCTIONS OF A COMPLEX VARIABLE I and FUNCTIONS OF A COMPLEX VARIABLE II
• Culminating Requirement:
MATH 67199 THESIS I (6 credit hours)
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 32
• Note: Students must complete, at minimum, two of the sequences and one semester of one of the remaining sequences.
With prior permission from the Graduate Studies Committee, maximum 6 credit hours of mathematically-related coursework from other departments can be applied to meet the Mathematics Sequence Electives.
• Graduation Requirements:
• Minimum Major GPA:
3.000
• Minimum Overall GPA:
3.000
• Thesis:
Candidates for the Master of Science degree must write and defend a thesis in an area agreed upon with the faculty advisor.
• Course Level: No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades: Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
• Plan of Study: Each student should submit a detailed plan of study for approval by the advisor by the time the first 16 credit hours of graduate credit have been completed.

Careers:

• Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries:
• Data scientists and mathematical science occupations, all other (30.9% much faster than the average, 33,200 number of jobs, $98,230 potential earnings)
• Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary (1.3% slower than the average, 60,100 number of jobs, $73,650 potential earnings)
• Mathematicians (3.0% about as fast as the average, 2,900 number of jobs, $110,860 potential earnings)
• Natural sciences managers (4.8% about as fast as the average, 71,400 number of jobs, $137,940 potential earnings)
• Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education (3.8% about as fast as the average, 1,050,800 number of jobs, $62,870 potential earnings)
• Statisticians (34.6% much faster than the average, 42,700 number of jobs, $92,270 potential earnings)

Other:

• Program Learning Outcomes:
• Graduates of this program will be able to:
• Reason in mathematical arguments at a level appropriate to the discipline, including using precise definitions, articulating assumptions and reasoning logically to conclusions.
• Engage effectively in problem solving, including exploring examples, devising and testing conjectures and assessing the correctness of solutions.
• Approach mathematical problems creatively, including trying multiple approaches and modifying problems when necessary to make them more tractable.
• Communicate mathematics clearly both orally and in writing.
• Teach university-level mathematics effectively.
• Obtain a deeper understanding of some subdiscipline of mathematics.
• Contact Information:
• Program Delivery: In person
• Location: Kent Campus
• Source of Occupation Titles and Labor Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.