M.S. in Mathematics - Program Guidelines
The
Master of Science degree in mathematics at Montana State University is
designed to prepare students for further graduate work or for
employment in academic, industrial, business, or government forums.
Upon entrance, each
student meets with the department's Graduate Program Committee to
discuss
career objectives and first year course work. During the second
semester
in the program each student forms a Graduate Committee and together,
they
outline the student's degree program. The prerequisites for the
master's degree program in mathematics consist of the following courses
or their equivalent: Linear Algebra (MATH 333) and Advanced Calculus (MATH 381-82). Students who have not completed these courses
or their equivalent may still
enter the master's program but it is suggested that these courses then
be
taken.
Both non-thesis and
thesis plans are offered for the M.S. degree:
Non-thesis Plan
Requires both course
work and passing the written comprehensive exam. At least 30 credits of
course work are required. Of these, at least 18 credits must be
numbered 500 or higher. Regardless, all of the following core courses
must be completed:
-
MATH 503 Advanced Linear Algebra (every Spring)
-
MATH 504 Abstract Algebra (every Spring)
-
MATH 505 Mathematical Analysis (every Fall)
-
MATH 511 General Topology (every Fall)
Additionally students
must fullfill a breadth requirement by completing at least two of the
following courses:
-
MATH 441 Numerical Linear Algebra & Optimization
(every Fall)
-
MATH 450 Applied Math I (Fall odd numbered years)
-
MATH 454 Dynamical Systems I (Fall even numbered years)
-
STAT 421 Probability (every Fall)
-
STAT 422 Mathematical Statistics (every Spring)
Either or both
of these two required courses may be replaced by the corresponding
semester of the appropriate 500 level course: MATH 581 (numerical
analysis), MATH 560 (applied mathematics), MATH 595 (dynamical
systems), STAT 501 (probability) or STAT 502 (mathematical statistics),
respectively. Any other exceptions to the course requirements must be
approved by the student's graduate committee and adhere to the
minimum policy requirements set forth in the Graduate
Catalog (Plan B). Requirements for the written comprehensive exam
are listed separately below.
Thesis
Plan
Requires course work,
passing the written comprehensive exam, writing a thesis and an oral
defense of the thesis. At least 30 credits must be completed of which
10 must be thesis credits. Students must also complete both the core
and breadth course requirements described in the Non-Thesis Plan above.
Any exceptions to the course requirements must be approved by the
student's graduate committee and adhere to the minimum policy requirements set forth in the Graduate
Catalog (Plan A). Thesis and oral defense requirements must be
arranged with and approved by the student's graduate committee.
Requirements for the
written comprehensive exam are listed separately below.
M.S. Comprehensive Exam
The M.S. comprehensive
exam is a written
exam administered in disjoint 3
hour components. Though you have 3 hours to do each exam the exams are
written in such a way that if you know the material well you only need
two hours. This is done so you are under no time pressure to complete
the topic and demonstrate what you know rather than what you do not
know.
Each component is graded as pass or fail. To pass the
comprehensive exam a student must pass four different components within
two examination periods. At least two of these components must be from
the following list:
The other two required
components may be from the list above or from the following list:
The first examination
period occurs in January with the specific dates and times for each
component determined by the department.
Students must attempt at least four
components the first examination period after 3 semesters of study.
Typically, these four 3 hour
components
will be administered in a morning and afternoon of two different days.
If
the student fails one or more components in the first examination
period,
a failure will be reported to the Division of Graduate Education. The
student
must then pass the remaining required components in a second
examination
period administered either during spring semester (at least two months
after
the first examination) or the following January. No more than four
components may be taken in the second examination period. If the
student has not passed the remaining required components after the
second examination period a
second failure of the comprehensive exam will be reported to the
Division
of Graduate Education.
M.S. Comprehensive Exam
Outlines and Online Library
