Graduate mathematics courses: approved graduate mathematics courses include all classes numbered 500 and above with the exception of Math 500 and Math 502.

Temporary advisor: upon admission to the graduate program, the graduate coordinator will assign each student a temporary advisor until the student chooses a permanent one. Students should communicate with their advisors as soon as they are admitted for advice on course registration etc..

Requirements for Degree—Thesis Program

• Credit hours (30): Minimum 24 coursework hours in approved proposed graduate mathematics with a grade of C+ or better in each, and six thesis hours (Math 699R).  Three of the course hours must be from one of the three areas of Applied Mathematics, Analysis, or Algebra, and another three course hours must be from one of the remaining two areas.  With the approval of the graduate coordinator, graduate level courses in other departments can be used toward the coursework hours.
  
• Examinations: The examination requirement in the Thesis and Non-Thesis programs may be met by way of coursework or by way of written examination, as explained below, in two of three broadly defined areas of Applied Mathematics, Analysis, and Algebra. This requirement must be met by the end of year two. Failure by a Masters student to meet the examination requirement by the end of year two will result in the discontinuation of financial support of that Masters student at the end of year two.
  
• Thesis.  Each student in the program is required to write a thesis on a mathematical topic at a level well beyond what they encounter in the classroom.  The master's thesis usually includes an introductory chapter that is a comprehensive survey of the literature on the student's research topic.
  
• Oral defense of thesis.  Upon completion of the thesis and before graduation, the student is required to give an oral presentation of his work.

Requirements for Degree—Nonthesis Program

• Credit Hours (32):  Minimum 30 coursework hours in approved proposed graduate mathematics with a grade of C+ or better in each, and two hours for the project (Math 698R).  Three of the course hours must be from one of three areas of Applied Mathematics, Analysis, or Algebra, and another three course hours must be from one of the remaining two areas.  With the approval of the graduate coordinator, graduate level courses in other departments can be used toward credit hours
  
• Examinations: The Examination requirement in the Thesis and Non-Thesis requirements can be met by way of coursework or by way of written examination, as explained below, in two of three broadly defined areas of Applied Mathematics, Analysis, and Algebra, by the end of the year two.  Failure by a Masters student to meet the Examination requirement by the end of year two will result in the discontinuation of financial support for that Masters student at the end of year two.
  Continuing Masters students have the option of meeting the Examination requirement under the current or new system.
  
• Project, Paper and Presentation: Complete a project (Math 698R) focused on an area of advanced mathematics, write a paper about the project, and present a 45-minute talk based on the paper.

Coursework

To meet the Examination requirement by way of coursework, a Masters student will need to earn an A- or better in two courses, or their equivalents at another institution, with one course in one of the three areas and another course in one of the remaining two areas. Courses in the area of Applied Mathematics include but are not limited to Math 510, Math 511, Math 521, Math 522, Math 611, and Math 636. Courses in the area of Analysis include but are not limited to Math 532, Math 540, Math 541, Math 565, Math 641, and Math 655. Courses in the area of Algebra include but are not limited to Math 561, Math 571, Math 572, Math 586, Math 656, and Math 676. A graduate course, or its equivalent at another institution, can only be used to count towards one of the three areas. For example, Math 636 (Probability 1) can be counted for either Applied Mathematics or Analysis, but it can only be counted for one of these two areas. The Graduate Committee will maintain a list of associations of graduate courses with the three areas.

A Masters student may meet the Examination requirement by way of graduate coursework completed as an undergraduate.


Written Examinations.

To meet the Examination requirement by way of written examination, a Masters student will need to pass written examinations in two of the three areas. The written examinations will be based on published syllabi associated to the basic courses listed below. If a Masters student has earned an A- or better in one course associated to one of the three areas, but not in another course in another area, the Masters student need only pass one written examination in an area not met by coursework. Written examinations will be offered in August/September, January, and May.

1. Applied Mathematics:  Math 521 and Math 522
2. Analysis:  Math 540 and Math 541
3. Algebra:  Math 571 and Math 572

The Graduate Committee may change the basic courses associated to any of the three areas, but there will always be two basic courses associated to each of the three areas. No written examinations are available for other courses.