Master of Arts in Mathematics
Why study mathematics?
Because mathematics is a framework upon which humanity builds an understanding of the world.
Mission of the Graduate Program:
The mission of the Graduate Program of the Department of Mathematics is to prepare students for leadership roles in meeting the mathematical needs of our society and to produce professional mathematicians for positions in universities, colleges, industry, governmental agencies, and research centers.
Master of Arts in Mathematics:
The Mathematics Department offers the degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) in Mathematics. The M.A. is a coursework only degree with the option of culminating in a thesis demonstrating expertise in a particular area of mathematics. This degree is intended for students who plan to pursue a Ph.D. subsequently, as well as those who intend to work outside academia. A broad range of specialties are possible; research interests of department faculty include algebra, analysis, combinatorics, control theory, dynamical systems, geometry, numerical analysis, partial differential equations, probability, and statistics. College-wide requirements for graduate students may be found in the Graduate School Catalog.
Admission to Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Admission to the M.A. in Mathematics
The minimum prerequisites for admission are:
- an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a program of study in mathematics;
- a record of achievement that shows strong promise of success in graduate school, including a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average in undergraduate studies and a 3.0 grade-point average in mathematics (department requirement);
- course work in abstract algebra, linear algebra, and advanced calculus or introduction to analysis (comparable to KU courses MATH 500, MATH 558, and MATH 590).
It is beneficial to have preparation in probability/statistics (comparable to MATH 627/MATH 628) and/or numerical analysis (comparable to MATH 581). Although not required, it is also helpful to have taken introductory courses in complex analysis (comparable to MATH 646), partial differential equations (comparable to MATH 647), geometry (comparable to MATH 660/MATH 661), and/or topology.
The Mathematics Department currently does not require the general or subject Graduate Record Examination (GRE). International students whose native language is not English must fulfill English language requirements specified by university policies.
Applicants must submit a graduate application online, including the following required materials:
- Transcript from each college or university the applicant has attended (an official transcript must be sent upon acceptance and completion of degree).
- Applicant’s résumé/curriculum vitae.
- A list of the textbooks used in mathematics courses beyond calculus.
- A statement of purpose indicating the applicant’s mathematical preferences and interests.
- 3 letters of reference.
- International applicants must fulfill the University's requirements for English proficiency.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. The Department of Mathematics evaluates candidates and makes recommendations to the Office of Graduate Studies regarding admission. The number of students admitted to the program changes from year to year, and admissions are competitive based on all application materials. The Department does not guarantee GTA or other financial support for students accepted to the M.A. program. Further information about applications and admissions is available from the Department of Mathematics.
Contact the department:
Michelle Morrison
Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Mathematics
433 Snow Hall
michmor@ku.edu
Degree Requirements
The M.A. in Mathematics requires 30 hours and allows for the following two degree completion options:
- Course Work-Only
- Master's Thesis Final Defense
The program is designed to be flexible and accommodate students with differing interests and backgrounds, with a variety of intended careers including academia and industry. The requirements for an M.A. are as follows:
Course Work Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take at least one of the sequences below | 6 | |
| Probability Theory and Statistical Theory | ||
| Mathematical Analysis I and Mathematical Analysis II | ||
| Numerical Analysis I and Numerical Analysis II | ||
| Linear Algebra II and Modern Algebra | ||
| Electives or Thesis Hours | 24 | |
| Students choosing the course work only option should complete the following: | ||
Minimum of 12 hours of MATH courses at the 700+ level 1 | ||
Minimum of 12 hours of MATH courses at the 500+ level (excluding MATH 526) | ||
| Students choosing the thesis option should complete the following: | ||
Minimum of 12 hours of MATH courses at the 700+ level; 1-6 hours must be MATH 899. 1 | ||
Minimum of 12 hours of MATH courses at the 500+ level (excluding MATH 526) | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
1 A student may count up to 6 credit hours of courses outside Mathematics toward this requirement. These outside courses must be approved in advance by the Graduate Committee.
Electives
Below is a list of available electives:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| MATH 500 | Intermediate Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 510 | Introduction to the Theory of Computing | 3 |
| MATH 540 | Elementary Number Theory | 3 |
| MATH 558 | Introductory Modern Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 559 | Modern Geometries | 3 |
| MATH 581 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| MATH 582 | Computational Data Science | 3 |
| MATH 590 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 591 | Applied Numerical Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 596 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-3 |
| MATH 601 | Algebraic Topics in Computing: _____ | 3 |
| MATH 605 | Applied Regression Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 608 | Statistical Data Science | 3 |
| MATH 611 | Time Series Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 624 | Discrete Probability | 3 |
| MATH 627 | Probability | 3 |
| MATH 628 | Mathematical Theory of Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 630 | Actuarial Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 646 | Complex Variable and Applications | 3 |
| MATH 647 | Applied Partial Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 648 | Calculus of Variations and Integral Equations | 3 |
| MATH 650 | Nonlinear Dynamical Systems | 3 |
| MATH 660 | Geometry I | 3 |
| MATH 661 | Geometry II | 3 |
| MATH 696 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-3 |
| MATH 717 | Nonparametric Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 724 | Combinatorial Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 725 | Graph Theory | 3 |
| MATH 727 | Probability Theory | 3 |
| MATH 728 | Statistical Theory | 3 |
| MATH 750 | Stochastic Adaptive Control | 3 |
| MATH 765 | Mathematical Analysis I | 3 |
| MATH 766 | Mathematical Analysis II | 3 |
| MATH 781 | Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| MATH 782 | Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| MATH 783 | Applied Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 790 | Linear Algebra II | 3 |
| MATH 791 | Modern Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 796 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-3 |
| MATH 800 | Complex Analysis I | 3 |
| MATH 802 | Set Theory | 3 |
| MATH 810 | Real Analysis and Measure Theory I | 3 |
| MATH 820 | Introduction to Topology | 3 |
| MATH 821 | Algebraic Topology I | 3 |
| MATH 824 | Algebraic Combinatorics | 3 |
| MATH 830 | Abstract Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 831 | Abstract Algebra II | 3 |
| MATH 840 | Differentiable Manifolds | 3 |
| MATH 850 | Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems | 3 |
| MATH 851 | Topics in Dynamical Systems: _____ | 3 |
| MATH 865 | Stochastic Processes I | 3 |
| MATH 866 | Stochastic Processes II | 3 |
| MATH 874 | Statistical Decision Theory | 3 |
| MATH 881 | Topics in Advanced Numerical Linear Algebra: _____ | 3 |
| MATH 882 | Topics in Advanced Numerical Differential Equations: _____ | 3 |
| MATH 890 | Fourier Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 910 | Algebraic Curves | 3 |
| MATH 920 | Lie Groups and Lie Algebras | 3 |
| MATH 940 | Advanced Probability | 3 |
| MATH 950 | Partial Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 951 | Topics in Advanced Partial Differential Equations II: _____ | 3 |
| MATH 960 | Functional Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 961 | Topics in Functional Analysis: _____ | 3 |
| MATH 996 | Special Topics: _____ | 3 |
Master's Thesis & Final Defense
Those choosing to complete the M.A. degree with a written thesis must do an oral presentation and defense of the thesis to a faculty committee in accordance with the Graduate Studies Policy on Master’s Final Exams. The thesis generally contains an original exposition of a topic in mathematics rather than an original contribution to knowledge. The oral examination will not be scheduled until the thesis is complete. The student must submit the thesis to the supervisor and the faculty committee at least two weeks before the oral examination.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate broad understanding of core areas of pure and applied mathematics, and familiarity with current research in a chosen area of specialization.
- Communicate mathematics effectively both orally and in writing.
- Prepare for a professional career in the mathematical sciences in industry or for further advanced study in the mathematical sciences.