The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers specializations in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, computational mathematics, and mathematics education within the M.S. degree. Applicants are expected to have completed the equivalent of the requirements for the appropriate emphasis for the B.S. in mathematical sciences at NIU. This requirement may be modified for applicants with promising undergraduate records.
Requirements
The student must complete at least 30 semester hours of graduate work, not more than 50 percent of which may be in courses numbered 500-599. At least 24 of these hours must be in mathematical sciences. All courses outside the Department of Mathematical Sciences must have departmental approval in advance.
The student must follow a program of study approved by the department. The program will be designed by the student and his or her adviser and will be built on the requirements listed under one of the specializations. Students with inadequate backgrounds may be required to remove specific deficiencies.
The student must pass a comprehensive examination in mathematics. Normally, students pursuing full-time graduate study will be required to take the comprehensive examination within two academic years of admission to the graduate school. A student who fails the examination may, with the permission of the department, repeat it once.
With the consent of the department, a student specializing in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, or mathematics education may include MATH 699, Master’s Thesis, for 3 semester hours of credit in the 30 semester hours required for a master’s degree. Students specializing in computational mathematics are usually required to complete a thesis.
At the time of admission, each student must have completed courses equivalent to CSCI 230 and MATH 444. Students are strongly advised to take MATH 523, MATH 530, and MATH 531 during their first year, if they have not previously taken these or equivalent courses.
The thesis option is usually recommended by the department. Each student pursuing this option must enroll in MATH 699, Master’s Thesis, and submit a written thesis. Three semester hours credit in MATH 699 may be applied toward the degree. The student’s thesis adviser serves as chair of the graduate committee that administers a defense of the thesis.
The non-thesis option is primarily for students who intend to pursue doctoral work in the mathematical sciences at NIU, or who wish to acquire breadth in the mathematical sciences by taking additional courses. With departmental consent, the student must complete a 30-semester hour program of courses approved by the department and pass a written comprehensive examination.
Specialization in Mathematics Education
Four courses in the Department of Mathematical Sciences numbered 521-687 (except MATH 602-MATH 617), including at least one course numbered above 600 (12)
One additional course approved by the department in mathematics, mathematics education, statistics, or supporting work from other departments (3)
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