Mathematics, MA

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements of the Mathematics Department of the Ph.D. Program (with Professional-Option MA Track)

In addition to the Graduate School requirements, the minimum requirements for admission to this program are:

1. A bachelor’s degree with a major in mathematics, or the equivalent.
2. Evidence that the student is likely to succeed. This must include three letters of recommendation from mathematicians (usually from present or former teachers). The breadth and depth of mathematics courses taken, and performance, in these courses will also be carefully considered.
3. Non-native speakers of English must demonstrate an adequate command of the English language, as evidenced by an acceptable score on the TOEFL examination. A paper-based score of 550, computer-based score of 213, or an iBT-based score of 90 would be considered minimally satisfactory for this purpose. The TOEFL exam will be waived only for native speakers of English or, in rare cases, for students whose previous education was conducted almost entirely in English.
4. Acceptance by both the Department of Mathematics and the Graduate School.

Admission Requirements of the MA Program: Secondary Teaching Option

In addition to the Graduate School requirements, the minimum requirements for admission to this program are:

1. A bachelor’s degree.
2. Two years of college-level mathematics, including one year of single variable calculus, one semester of linear algebra, and one additional semester of mathematics beyond single variable calculus.
3. Provisional New York State Certification for Teaching Mathematics, Grades 7-12.
4. A grade point average of at least 3.0 in all calculus and post-calculus mathematics courses.
5. Evidence that the student is likely to succeed: this usually consists of three letters of recommendation from former teachers or supervisors.
6. Acceptance by both the Department of Mathematics and the Graduate School.

Degree Requirements

The M.A. degree in the Department of Mathematics requires the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 graduate credits in letter-graded (A,B, C, F) graduate courses. All credits in satisfaction of the degree must be at the graduate level. In addition, the cumulative grade point average for all courses taken must be 3.0 or higher. Students may select from the M.A. Professional option or the M.A. Secondary Teacher option. The M.A. Secondary Teacher option is designed for provisionally certified teachers of mathematics in grades 7-12. Students who are not currently certified teachers of mathematics should consult the M.A.T. program through the School of Professional Development.