MS Degree Program
Program objectives are (1) development of thorough background in mathematical sciences, including retention and integration of core knowledge; (2) development of research skills in mathematics; and (3) development of interdisciplinary opportunities and good oral and written communication skills.
General Program Requirements
Satisfactory completion of 33 credit hours of graduate course work in a program approved by the department is required. Not more than 9 hours of course work at the 6000 level can be applied to the degree. At least 24 credit hours of course work have to be at the 7000 level or higher. At least 21 credit hours of course work have to be earned from courses offered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
Not more than three credit hours from graduate level seminars can be used to satisfy degree requirements.
The courses MATH 6050, MATH 6051, MATH 7281, MATH 7282, MATH 7383, MATH 7384, MATH 7385, MATH 7391, and MATH 7601 can only be used to satisfy degree requirements in the Teaching of Mathematics concentration.
A passing grade on a comprehensive examination is required. Students may choose a thesis or non-thesis option.
Non-thesis Option
Under this option the comprehensive examination consists of the student preparing and giving a master’s presentation with a short, written summary on the topic of an independent study project, carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. The topic of the project must be approved in advance by a designated committee of graduate faculty. The master’s presentation includes the opportunity for questions and is given before the committee of graduate faculty charged with assessing the satisfactory completion of the comprehensive examination requirement.
An acceptable alternative to the master’s presentation requirement is the satisfactory performance on the Ph.D. qualifying exams. A performance on these exams deemed satisfactory at the master’s level will be counted as passing the comprehensive examination.
Thesis Option
Each student must identify a thesis advisor, enroll in at least three credit hours of MATH 7996 and submit a written thesis acceptable to the student’s advisory committee. A student must present and defend the thesis before the advisory committee. The oral defense of the thesis will encompass material contained in the thesis and learned during course work and will count as the comprehensive examination. Up to six credit hours of MATH 7996 can be used to satisfy degree requirements.
Note: Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.
Specific Degree Requirements
Teaching of Mathematics Concentration
The following courses are required:
MATH 6050 - Transformational Geometry Credit Hours: (3)
MATH 6051 - Postsecondary Proof Methods Credit Hours: (3)
MATH 6614 - Probability/Statistics Credit Hours: (3)
MATH 7281 - Foundations of Linear Algebra Credit Hours: (3)
MATH 7282 - Foundations of Algebra Credit Hours: (3)
MATH 7383 - Concepts of Calculus 1 Credit Hours: (4)
MATH 7384 - Concepts of Calculus 2 Credit Hours: (4)
MATH 7385 - Concepts of Multivariable Calculus Credit Hours: (4)
MATH 7391 - Foundations of Differential Equations Credit Hours: (3)
MATH 7601 - Postsecondary Statistics Credit Hours: (3)
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
September 2025
College of Arts and Sciences
107 Scates Hall,
MEMPHIS,
Tennessee,
38152, United States
Baccalaureate Degree: The applicant must provide an official transcript showing that a bachelor’s degree was awarded by an accredited college or university. If you are a UofM undergraduate student applying to Graduate School at UofM, you do not need to request that an official transcript be sent to Graduate Admissions. This office has access to your transcript. In addition, transcripts from any other college or university attended may be requested. Only transcripts received directly from an issuing institution are considered official. Personal copies are not acceptable as official documents.
GPA: The applicant must have earned an acceptable grade point average, typically a minimum of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0, but departments may make exceptions for students whose overall GPA does not adequately reflect their ability to succeed in their chosen field.
English proficiency test scores accepted by the University:
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
A degree from the University of Memphis is much more than a qualification. It is a community and an experience which prepares students for success.