Apr 19, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Master of Science - Mathematical Sciences


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Plan Description


The degree is a well-established MS program with concentrations in Applied Math, Pure Math, Applied Statistics, and Math Education to serve students in many different areas of Mathematical Sciences.

The concentrations in Pure Math, Applied Math and Applied Statistics each include a core requirement corresponding to the given area. Additional credits are required so that students can develop knowledge in a field of interest. All three require the student to either defend a thesis or pass a written comprehensive exam corresponding to the core requirements.

The teaching mathematics concentration requires a variety of content courses, as well as, education courses. The degree options for the teaching math concentration include the opportunity to write a professional paper.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements


Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

  1. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
  2. Have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 for all undergraduate work or a minimum GPA of 3.00 for the last two years of undergraduate work, and completed at least 18 credits of upper-division mathematics or statistics courses beyond calculus.
  3. Submit application materials to both the Graduate College and the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
    1. Firstly, applicants must submit to the Graduate College the following materials:
      1. A completed online application
      2. Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
    2. Secondly, applicants must submit to the Department of Mathematical Sciences the following materials:
      1. Copies of all transcripts sent to the Graduate College
      2. At least two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic record and potential for advanced study in mathematical sciences
      3. A statement of purpose describing the aim in applying for graduate study, the particular area of specialization within the mathematical sciences (if known), and any additional information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating the applicant’s preparation and aptitude for graduate study
      4. A completed online Graduate Assistantship application, if interested

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Subplan 1 Requirements: Pure Mathematics - Thesis Track


Total Credits Required: 33

Course Requirements


Area of Emphasis Courses – Credits: 6


Complete an additional 6 credits of 700-level MAT courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712) in a field of special interest.

Elective Courses – Credits: 12


Complete 12 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT or STA courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), or other advisor-approved courses.

Thesis – Credits: 6


Degree Requirements


  1. Students must complete a minimum of 33 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Of the 33 required credits, 27 must be coursework. Of those 27 coursework credits, at least 18 must be 700-level.
  3. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee. Students who fail to meet the conditions of their probation will be separated.
  4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Graduation Requirements


  1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
  2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
  3. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here

Subplan 2 Requirements: Pure Mathematics - Comprehensive Exam Track


Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements


Area of Emphasis Courses – Credits: 6


Complete an additional 6 credits of 700-level MAT courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712) in a field of special interest.

Elective Courses – Credits: 15


Complete 15 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT or STA courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), or other advisor-approved courses.

Degree Requirements


  1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Of the 30 required credits, at least 18 must be 700-level.
  3. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
  4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Graduation Requirements


  1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
  2. The student must pass a final comprehensive examination.

Subplan 3 Requirements: Applied Mathematics - Thesis Track


Total Credits Required: 33

Course Requirements


Applied and Computational Courses – Credits: 6


Complete 6 credits of 700-level advisor-approved MAT coursework in applied and computational mathematics.

Elective Courses – Credits: 12


Complete 12 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT or STA courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), or other advisor-approved courses.

Thesis – Credits: 6


Degree Requirements


  1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Of the 33 required credits, 27 must be coursework. Of those 27 coursework credits, at least 18 must be 700-level.
  3. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
  4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Graduation Requirements


  1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
  2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
  3. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here

Subplan 4 Requirements: Applied Mathematics - Comprehensive Exam Track


Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements


Applied and Computational Courses – Credits: 6


Complete 6 credits of 700-level advisor-approved MAT coursework in applied and computational mathematics.

Elective Courses – Credits: 15


Complete 15 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT or STA courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), or other advisor-approved courses.

Degree Requirements


  1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Of the 30 required credits, at least 18 must be 700-level.
  3. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
  4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Graduation Requirements


  1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
  2. The student must successfully complete a final comprehensive examination.

Subplan 5 Requirements: Applied Statistics - Thesis Track


Total Credits Required: 33

Course Requirements


Statistics Courses – Credits: 6


Complete an additional 6 credits of 700-level STA coursework in a field of special interest to the student.

Elective Courses – Credits: 3


Complete 3 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT or STA courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), or other advisor-approved courses.

Thesis – Credits: 6


Degree Requirements


  1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Of the 33 required credits, 27 must be coursework. Of those 27 coursework credits, at least 18 must be 700-level.
  3. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
  4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Graduation Requirements


  1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
  2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
  3. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here

Subplan 6 Requirements: Applied Statistics - Comprehensive Exam Track


Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements


Statistics Courses – Credits: 6


Complete an additional 6 credits of 700-level STA coursework in a field of special interest to the student.

Elective Courses – Credits: 6


Complete 6 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT or STA courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), or other advisor-approved courses.

Degree Requirements


  1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Of the 30 required credits, 27 must be coursework. Of those 27 coursework credits, at least 18 must be 700-level.
  3. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
  4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Graduation Requirements


  1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
  2. The student must pass a final comprehensive examination.

Subplan 7 Requirements: Teaching Mathematics - Professional Paper Track


Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements


Elective Courses – Credits: 3


Complete 3 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT or STA courses, or other advisor-approved courses.

Degree Requirements


  1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Of the 30 required credits, 27 must be coursework. Of those 27 coursework credits, at least 15 must be 700-level.
  3. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
  4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Graduation Requirements


  1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
  2. The student must successfully complete and defend a professional paper.

Subplan 8 Requirements: Teaching Mathematics - Comprehensive Exam Track


Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements


Degree Requirements


  1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Of the 30 required credits, 27 must be coursework. Of those 27 coursework credits, at least 15 must be 700-level.
  3. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
  4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Graduation Requirements


  1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
  2. The student must pass a final comprehensive examination.

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