Master of Science Degrees

An entering Master’s candidate should normally have completed at least 18 semester credit hours in undergraduate mathematics and statistics beyond calculus. A one-year course in linear and (except for Statistics applicants) modern algebra and a one-year course in advanced calculus would be highly desirable.

Coursework

To earn a Master’s degree a student must complete 30 credit hours, at least 18 of which must be in courses in the department numbered 600 or above. There are distribution requirements which allow students to obtain a broad knowledge of mathematics and/or statistics and its applications. These requirements are different for each of the options—Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics—and students should consult the Graduate Program Director for details. Students are often encouraged to take appropriate courses from other departments.

Exams and Projects

To obtain an M.S. in Statistics, students must either complete at least one credit of a Statistical Consulting course, or else pass two of the basic Statistics exams given to Ph.D. students (Probability, Basic Statistics, and Applied Statistics), although with a lower passing level than for Ph.D students.Statistics M.S. students must also complete a project in statistics under the guidance of a faculty member.  The project can be an expository report on a particular area, an  examination of methods through simulations or a detailed statistical analysis of real data. A final report is required. This requirement is typically satisfied by the successful completion of the project seminar course Stat 691P.

There is no exam requirement for the M.S. program in Applied Mathematics; instead students must take and pass at least one course with a group project component.  Each year at least one course will be designated as fulfilling this requirement.

There is neither a thesis requirement nor a foreign language requirement for a Master’s degree.