Master's Programs

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts degree is designed to increase mathematical knowledge beyond the traditional Bachelor degree in order to prepare students for careers requiring sophisticated mathematical skills. Students may choose to specialize in core mathematics areas, applied mathematics, statistics or mathematics education. Please see admissions for requirements.

M.A. Degree Requirements

Students choose between a Thesis or No-Thesis option.

• Algebra: MAT 543 and MAT 544
• Real Analysis: MAT 570 and MAT 571
• Discrete Mathematics: MAT 512 and MAT 513
• Statistics & Probability: STP 501 and STP 502 (currently STP 598’s)
• Applied Mathematics: 2 of the following: APM 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506 (with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 on both courses)
• Mathematics Education: RUME I and II (currently MTE 598’s)

• Algebra: MAT 543 and MAT 544
• Real Analysis: MAT 570 and MAT 571
• Discrete Mathematics: MAT 512 and MAT 513
• Statistics & Probability: STP 501 and STP 502 (currently STP 598’s)
• Applied Mathematics: 2 of the following: APM 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506 (with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 on both courses)
• Mathematics Education: RUME I and II (currently MTE 598’s)

M.A. Admission Requirements

B.S/M.A. Joint Degree Program

Program Description

The joint bachelor’s and master’s degree program is designed to provide our highest quality ASU students with the opportunity to link advanced undergraduate coursework with graduate course work and degree completion. It allows accelerated students at ASU to obtain a bachelor’s and master’s degree within five years. This cuts the time to complete the M.A by at least one year.

Admission Standards

To be eligible, undergraduate students must be admitted to the B.S. in mathematics or the B.S. in computational mathematical sciences at Arizona State University, with at least four semesters of full-time enrollment, completed 60 credit hours of course work applicable to the B.S. in mathematics or the B.S. in computational mathematical sciences with a GPA of at least 3.25 for all courses and a GPA of at least 3.25 for mathematical courses, have obtained at least "B" (3.00) in MAT 342 (or 343) and MAT 371 are eligible for the program.

Applications are normally submitted with three semesters remaining in the B.S. in mathematics or the B.S. in computational mathematical sciences program of study. Students apply directly to the M.A. program, and e-mail Debbie Olson (debbie.olson@asu.edu) their intention to enter the B.S./M.A. program.

Applications must be accompanied by an official transcript and three letters of recommendation. At least two letters of recommendation are from departmental faculty members. These two letters shall attest to the applicant’s readiness and probable success in completing the graduate program. GRE scores are not required for this joint degree program. Applications are reviewed and processed by the graduate director of the School.

Requirements for Each Degree

The credit hour requirements are 120 for the B.S. and 30 for the M.A. Students must satisfy all existing requirements for B.S. and M.A. This joint degree program does not allow the sharing of credit hours between the B.S. and the M.A. degree.

The M.A. student who does not write a thesis must take 30 hours of graduate course work, with at least 18 hours at the 500 level. The M.A. student who writes a thesis must take 24 hours of graduate course work, at least 12 hours at the 500 level. In addition, six hours of thesis (599), or three hours of thesis and three hours of research (592) are taken. A final oral examination (which serves as the culminating experience) in defense of the thesis is required.

A master's degree student who writes a thesis is required to take only one written qualifying examination. An M.A. student who does not write a thesis, in addition to the qualifying examination, takes a second examination (which serves as the culminating experience) which is either another qualifying examination, a comprehensive exam or a special master's examination.

Samples of Program of Study (B.S./M.A. without thesis)

The B.S. degree in mathematics requires a minimum of 120 credit hours.  Included in this total are 42 credit hours of course work in mathematics and statistics, and an additional 13 credit hours of course work in related fields.  The M.A. requires 30 credit hours of graduate course work.

The B.S. in computational mathematical sciences requires a minimum of 32 credit hours of course work in mathematics and statistics, a minimum of 12-14 credit hours in science, nine hours in computer science and a three-hour advanced science course or internship/research credit for a minimum of 56-58 credit hours of advanced course work related to the major.

In the sample programs, we list only courses that are required specifically by the B.S. in mathematics or the B.S. in computational mathematical sciences, and M.A programs in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. All 200- and 300-level courses are credited toward to the B.S. in mathematics or the B.S. in computational mathematical sciences. All 500-level courses are credit toward M.A.

• A Generic Model Program of Study (PDF)
• A Sample Program of Study with General Emphasis (PDF)
• A Sample Program of Study Emphasis in Statistics (PDF)
• A Sample Program of Study for B.S. in General Math with M.A. in Mathematical Biology (PDF)
• A Sample Program of Study for Computational Mathematical Sciences (PDF)

Academic Progress Policy

M.A. Students

1. Non-thesis option
   Year 1: master's pass on both qualifier sequences by end of semester 2. M.N.S. students must pass one qualifier sequence by the end of semester 2.
   Year 2: finish all course work by semester 4.
    
2. Thesis option
   Year 1: master's pass on qualifier sequence or complete four courses in two qualifying sequences with at least a 3.25 GPA by the end of semester 2.
   Year 2: finish thesis and all course work by semester 4.

All students

• A program of study (POS) must be filed by the end of semester 3.
• All students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.00.
• Examinations must be attempted until satisfactorily passed.
• All international students must pass the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) test within their first two semesters at ASU to be considered for teaching assistant positions.
• The maximum financial support given to an ASU Masters student in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences is four semesters. This includes all funding from teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships Students may petition the graduate committee for additional support after four semesters. They may also receive a research assistantship or fellowship from an individual faculty member.
• Part-time students are expected to take on average two-thirds of the course load of full-time students. Their academic progress timeline will be scaled accordingly. Students interested in part-time enrollment should discuss the academic progress timeline with the graduate director upon admission.