The following highlights of a Master's program are described in more detail in later sections.
A Master's degree in mathematics has three main requirements.
A student beginning graduate study in mathematics is expected to have had, as an undergraduate, at least 18 semester hours in mathematics beyond elementary integral calculus including courses in differential equations, linear algebra, introductory analysis and modern algebra. The latter two courses should include elements of logic and practice in writing rigorous arguments. An applicant whose preparation is deficient may be admitted to the program, if otherwise qualified, but will be required to correct the deficiency, increasing somewhat the time required to complete work for the degree. Prospective graduate students are advised to take at least introductory courses in related fields such as physics, statistics, and computer science.
The graduate director works closely with new students to help them select their courses and to get them off to a good start. Beyond the required courses considerable variety is possible in elective courses. These may be taken in computer science and statistics as well as mathematics. For the applied option courses may be taken in a discipline outside of the mathematical sciences. Electives are chosen to meet each individual student's interests and career objectives.
Although the actual course sequences taken by students are dependent on their own individual situations, there are fairly ``standard'' plans for course work. A sample plan of study for each option is given in the next section. During the second semester of study each student, with the aid of the graduate director , sets up a Master's committee of three faculty members. The chairman and the other two members of this committee advise and oversee the student's progress toward a degree.
Each Master's student, working individually with a faculty member, must complete a creative component, report, or thesis. This project, which provides an excellent opportunity to investigate a topic in an area of special interest to the student, includes writing a paper and giving a public oral presentation. The differences among these options are in the length and the amount of originality required.
Each Master's student must pass a comprehensive examination covering some of the basic concepts in modern mathematics or complete three of the core doctoral sequences.