Master’s Degree Requirements
A Master’s in Mathematics consists of 30 credits with completion expected in two years. The minimum GPA of the Master’s program is 3.0. Coursework used to fulfill the degree requirements must be taken on a grade basis when offered.
Students entering the Master’s program are required to have completed an undergraduate degree prior to matriculation into the program.
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Master’s Plan A
Master’s Plan A
Complete 20 credits of coursework and 10 thesis credits.
20 credits of coursework
- Core coursework: 6–8 credits. Complete two courses of foundational work for advanced coursework in Mathematics.
- Elective Mathematic coursework: 8–9 credits. Complete two or three courses in Mathematics at the 5xxx or 8xxx level in Mathematics, which can include additional core courses. You are expected to complete one 8xxx Mathematics course from the general area in which your thesis will be written.
- Outside coursework: 6–8 credits. Complete two courses that support the program and are outside your primary area of study. This may be a formal minor in another program, outside coursework that supports your goals, or additional Mathematics coursework.
10 thesis credits (MATH 8777)
- Credits may be taken at any point while enrolled as a Master’s student.
- In semesters when you are registered for 6 or more credits, we recommend that you register for up to 14 credits total (the other credits being Master’s thesis credits).
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Master’s Plan B
Master’s Plan B
30 credits of coursework
- Core coursework: 6–8 credits. Complete two courses of foundational work for advanced coursework in Mathematics.
- Elective Mathematics coursework: 9–12 credits. Complete at least three courses in Mathematics at the 5xxx or 8xxx level in Mathematics, which can include additional core courses. We expect you to complete one 8xxx Mathematics course from the general area in which you will complete your final exam.
- Outside coursework: Up to 15 credits. Complete five courses that support the program outside of your primary area of study. This may be a formal minor in another program, outside coursework that supports your goals, or additional Mathematics coursework. We expect you to take at least two courses outside your primary area of study.
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Master’s Plan C
Master’s Plan C
30 credits of coursework
- Core coursework: 12–16 credits. Complete four courses of foundational work for advanced coursework in Mathematics. We expect you to complete one core course sequence as a part of this requirement.
- Elective Mathematic coursework: 12–16 credits. Complete at least four courses in Mathematics at the 5xxx or 8xxx level in Mathematics, which can include additional core courses.
- Outside coursework: 6–8 credits. Complete two courses that support the program and are outside your primary area of study, such as a formal minor in another program.
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Emphasis in Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Emphasis in Industrial and Applied Mathematics
- Participate in the Industrial Problems Seminar hosted by the Minnesota Center for Industrial Mathematics and the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications.
- Take at least two courses outside of Mathematics. Typically, these are courses or minors in the following areas:
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Emphasis in Mathematics Education
Emphasis in Mathematics Education
- Students completing this program typically complete a Plan B Master’s.
- Complete the Mathematics requirements in your first two semesters in the program.
- Complete Minnesota’s teaching licensure requirements in the remaining three semesters. This will meet the licensure-specific pedagogy requirements, which are also used to meet the outside coursework requirement of the MS in Mathematics.