New Mathematics Integrated Degree Program opens doors for motivated students
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (9/23/2025) – For many new graduates, the transition from college to career brings on big questions. Some job listings highlight advanced degrees as preferred qualifications, leaving students unsure about their path forward. In a world where the job market is constantly evolving, the School of Mathematics at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities has launched a new program that aims to give students a better chance and a better deal.
The new Mathematics Integrated Degree Programs (IDP) aim to provide Mathematics Bachelor of Science students with the opportunity to add a Master’s degree to their resume in just one year. Students can choose between a standard Master of Science (MS) in Mathematics or the Master of Financial Mathematics (MFM) degree. Whichever they choose, students will leave the University having saved time, money, and potential career headaches.
The IDP shortens the time to complete a Mathematics Master’s degree from two years down to one. As a senior in the undergraduate program, students begin taking graduate-level courses to get a headstart on their graduate degree and fill spare class slots. During this final year of undergraduate studies, students pay undergraduate tuition rates for graduate-level coursework – this course cost exchange rate can save some students more than $5,000.*
An MS in Mathematics, especially when students pursue studies in a specialized area, is sometimes a key requirement in emerging career fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and quantum and cloud computing. On their way to their graduate coursework, students can take on an undergraduate sub-plan to further specialize their skills. In addition to career-readiness, earning an MS can be an important step to gaining admission to a PhD program in the future. Michael Jones, a student currently enrolled in the program, says that the IDP is helping him achieve his dreams:
“I've forever dreamt of becoming a professor of mathematics. When I found out about the IDP, I was immediately interested. I came to the University with a lot of general requirement credits, so I mostly took mathematics classes. As a result, I finished many of the requirements for my Bachelor's degree quickly. With the prospect of starting my graduate career, I was left in a strange place. I knew I had to start applications, but I wanted to stay at the University. The program works excellently for this purpose; I can continue here and transition towards a doctoral program. Not only am I being taken care of incredibly well in an educational sense, but it’s great to know that the relationships I started building during my undergraduate studies can carry forward into my graduate career.”
Students who choose to complete a Master of Financial Mathematics engage with crucial coursework that lays the groundwork for a rewarding career in quantitative finance. The MFM program provides a deep understanding of a range of mathematical topics and their direct applications in financial modeling with hands-on experience guided by industry practitioners. Designed in partnership with the Minnesota Center for Financial and Actuarial Mathematics, UMN’s MFM program is the only one of its kind in the Upper Midwest.
All in all, the School of Mathematics’ new IDP options are economical, efficient, and sustainable opportunities for motivated undergraduate students to complete a graduate degree in just one year’s time. “We hope that the IDP will give more students the chance to achieve their goals of continuing their education,” Senior Academic Advisor Kate Lewis says. “We’re proud to play a part in supporting our students in following those dreams.”
*Coursework savings depends on how many graduate-level courses are taken in during the final year of undergraduate studies.