Part III: The Master's Degree in Mathematics
The Department of Mathematics offers graduate work leading to the degrees of Master of Science, Master of Science in Applied Mathematics, Master of Science in Industrial Mathematics, and Master of Arts for Teachers. An incoming student with a bachelor's degree or its equivalent is usually admitted into a master's program first. The requirements for the various master's degrees are as follows.
Master of Science Degree
The Master of Science degree is awarded to the student who successfully completes a program of course work subject to the requirements listed below
1. Thirty total credits (ten semester courses) in approved courses are required for the degree
2. Twenty-four of these credits must be in Mathematics courses; credits outside the department must be approved by the graduate director to count toward the degree.
3. At most twelve credits at the 400 level can count toward the degree.
4. At least six credits from the following sequences must be taken: MTH 818-819 (Algebra), MTH 828-829 (Analysis), MTH 848-849 (Differential Equations), MTH 868-869 (Geometry/Topology).
5. A grade point average of at least 3.0 for the thirty credits must be attained with no more than three grades of 2.5 or below.
6. Pass the master's certifying examination which is given each spring semester.
Master of Science Degree with Concentration in Applied Mathematics
This degree is awarded to masters students who, as part of their thirty credit requirement, take at least twelve credits in 800-level Applied Mathematics courses, including at least one complete sequence from the following: MTH 841-842 (Boundary Value Problems), MTH 848-849 (ODE-PDE)*, MTH 850-851 (Numerical Analysis), MTH 880-881 (Combinatorics and Graph Theory).
*MTH 848-849 cannot be used for both the "sequence requirement" and item 4 above.
Master of Science Degree in Industrial Mathematics
The goal of this professional program is to produce generalized problem solvers of great versatility with business savvy. The degree requires 36 hours of coursework, the successful completion of the Certificate in Business and Communications, and the successful completion of an oral masters certifying examination on the student’s portfolio of completed projects. The certifying examination is given during the last term of study.
Requirements :
Both of the following courses (normally taken during the first year):
MTH 843 - Survey of Industrial Mathematics , Fall, 3 credits, standard lecture course.
Visit http://www.math.msu.edu/Academic_Programs/graduate/msim/ for course description.
MTH 844 – Projects in Industrial mathematics, DSpring, 3 credits, tutorial, term project. D
Visit http://www.math.msu.edu/Academic_Programs/graduate/msim/ for course descriptions.
As well as participate in:
Business/Communication Certificate : a series of 10 intensive weekend short courses. See http://www.math.msu.edu/Academic_Programs/graduate/msim/ for the description of the ten modules. There is an additional cost to the student for enrollment in the certificate program beyond tuition and fees.
Additional course work:
Mathematics (at least 4 courses)
MTH 841, 842 Boundary Value Problems I and II
MTH 848, 849 ODE, PDE
MTH 850, 851 Numerical Analysis I and II
MTH 852 Numerical Methods for ODE
MTH 810, 880, 881 Error-correcting Codes, Combinatorics, Graph Theory
Statistics and Probability (at least 2 courses)
STT 461 Computations in Probability and Statistics
STT 471 Quality and Productivity
STT 801 Design of Experiments
STT 852 Operations Research
STT 861, 862 Theory of Probability and Statistics I and II
STT 844 Time Series Analysis
STT 887 Stochastic Models in Finance
and at least 4 cognate courses chosen from:
Civil and Environmental Engineering
CE 810 Reliability-Based Design in Civil Engineering
CE 841 Traffic Flow Theory
Computer Science
CSE 802 Pattern Recognition
CSE 803 Computer Vision
CSE 808 Modeling and Discrete Simulation
CSE 830 Design and Theory of Algorithms
CSE 835 Algorithmic Graph Theory
Economics
EC 805 Microeconomic Analysis
EC 807 Applied Microeconomic Analysis
EC 811 Structure of Economic Analysis
EC 812A, 812B Microeconomics I and II
EC 813A, 813B Macroeconomics I and II
EC 820 Econometrics I
EC 827 Economics Forecasting
Electrical and Computer Engineering
ECE 466 Digital Signal Processing
ECE 809 Algorithms
ECE 826 Linear Control Systems
ECE 827 Nonlinear System Analysis
ECE 829 Optimal Multivariable Control
Environmental Engineering
ENE 801 Dynamics of Environmental Systems
Materials Science and Mechanics
MSM 401 Intermediate Mechanics of Deformable Solids
MSM 402 Computational Mechanics
MSM 444 Introduction to Composite Materials
MSM 809 Finite Element Method
MSM 810 Continuum Mechanics
MSM 813 Linear Elasticity
MSM 865 Advanced Theory of Solids
Mechanical Engineering
ME 451 Control Systems
ME 852 Intermediate Control Systems
ME 855 Digital Data Acquisition and Control
ME 857 Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems
ME 860 Theory of Vibrations
ME 863 Nonlinear Vibrations
The choice of courses can be modified to fit the student’s interests, but no 400 level mathematics course will count toward fulfilling the mathematics course requirement. No more than 12 hours of 400 level courses can be used to satisfy the requirements for the degree.
Master of Arts for Teachers Degree
The Master of Arts for Teachers degree is designed for experienced secondary teachers of mathematics or persons with degrees who want to become certified to teach secondary school. The entrance requirements are a Bachelor's degree in mathematics or the approval of the Department. Each program must be approved by the student's advisor.
The Master of Arts for Teachers degree is awarded to the student who successfully completes a program of course work subject to the requirements listed below and completes all requirements for a secondary provisional teaching certificate. The teaching certificate may have been completed wholly or in part prior to the beginning of graduate study.
1. At least thirty credits in approved courses at the 400 level and above.
2. At least nine of these credits must be in Mathematics Education courses (Math 801, 802A, 802B).
3. At least fifteen of these credits must be approved courses in mathematics and statistics, including at least one complete sequence from an approved list (see below).
4. Up to six credits can be taken from outside the Department of Mathematics. These can be in education as a part of certification requirements or in courses which use mathematics in interesting ways. These courses must be approved by the student's advisor.
5. Students must have completed course work in the following five areas by the time they finish the Master of Arts for Teachers degree: (1) geometry, (2) algebra, (3), analysis, (4) discrete mathematics, (5) probability and statistics. Part of this work could have been completed in the student's undergraduate program and is approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.
6. Pass the master's certifying examination which is given each spring semester.
Approved list of sequences:
MTH 481-482
MTH 411-414
MTH 421-425
MTH 421-461
MTH 432-434
STT 861-862
Sequences at the 800 level may also be used to satisfy the sequence requirement, for examples MTH 880-881, MTH 818-819, etc.Residency Requirements and Time Limits for all Master's Degrees
A minimum of six (6) credits of mathematics must be earned in residence on campus.
The time limit for completion of the requirements for the degree is six (6) calendar
years. The time starts with the date of the first course that the student is using
to apply to the degree. For example, if a student is admitted in Fall Semester 2007
and wants to count a course taken previous to that date toward the degree, the time
starts with the earlier course.