Degree Requirements

To be awarded a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics, students in the Thesis Option must:

• Complete five courses
  
• Achieve a grade of at least B− in each of the five courses
• Regularly attend and participate the Graduate Seminar (AM 8000)
• Complete a thesis
• Present a graduate seminar on the thesis
• Successfully defend the thesis

The Major Research Paper option is intended for students who are not interested in writing an in depth thesis in mathematics. It is a terminal degree that does not lead to doctoral studies. 

To be awarded a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics, students in the Major Research Paper Option must:

• Complete seven courses
• Achieve a grade of at least B− in each of the seven courses
• Regularly attend and participate the Graduate Seminar (AM 8000)
• Complete a major research paper
• Present a graduate seminar based on the major research paper

Candidacy Examination

All PhD students must take the candidacy exam within 20 months of the first date of registration in the PhD program. In order to attempt the exam, the candidate must first meet the following minimum criteria:

• Complete at least one research progress meeting with their Supervisory Committee, and achieve a status of “satisfactory” as assessed at the last meeting before applying for the Candidacy Exam.
• Successfully complete at least two graduate elective courses and two semesters of the seminar course.

The examination consists of two parts:

1. Written examination: Duration: 3 hours, with questions to be set by the student’s Supervisory Committee
2. Oral defense of the written examination and dissertation proposal

Additional Courses (if required)
Students who enter the program from a broader disciplinary background may need to take one or more additional courses leading up to the candidacy examination. This is determined at the recommendation of the candidate’s thesis supervisor and with the approval of the Program Director. The thesis supervisor and the candidate’s supervisory committee must approve the course selections or exemptions for each PhD candidate.