Mathematics

Admission Requirements Degree Requirements

Mailing Address:
Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science (MC 249)
851 South Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7045

Campus Location: 339 SEO
Program Codes: 20FS1901DA (DA); 20FS0439MA (MA); 20FS0439MS (MS); 20FS1439MS (MS in MISI); 20FS0290MST (MST); 20FS0439PHD (PhD)
Telephone: (312) 996-3041
E-mail: dgs@math.uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.math.uic.edu/
Head of the Department: David Marker
Director of Graduate Studies: David Radford

The Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science offers work leading to degrees in Mathematics at both the master’s and doctoral levels. Study and research is available in the general areas of pure mathematics, applied mathematics, probability and statistics, mathematical computer science, the teaching of mathematics, and an integrated interdisciplinary curriculum combining mathematics, computer science, project management, and communication skills. Additional information, guidelines, and requirements are published annually in the department’s Graduate Handbook. All teaching assistants are required to take MATH 589—Teaching and Presentation of Mathematics before or concurrently with their initial teaching assignments.

Admission Requirements

Transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Arts and Master of Science

  • Baccalaureate Field Mathematics or a related field. Applicants must have 20 semester hours of undergraduate work in mathematics beyond calculus. Additional requirements vary by area; contact the department for more information on the specific admission requirements of each area.
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study, and an average of 3.00 in all mathematics courses beyond calculus.
  • Tests Required GRE General and GRE Subject Test (in Mathematics or in Computer Science, depending on the area of interest).
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 600 (paper-based); 250 (computer-based); 100, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based TOEFL).
    • IELTS 7.0, with subscores of 7.0 for all four subscores.
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
  • Personal Statement Required.

Master of Science in Mathematics and Information Sciences for Industry

  • Baccalaureate Field Mathematics or related field. Applicants must have 20 semester hours of undergraduate work in mathematics beyond calculus. Contact the department for more information about specific admission requirements.
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study, and an average of 3.00 in all mathematics courses beyond calculus.
  • Tests Required GRE General and GRE Subject Test in Mathematics or Computer Science.
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 600 (paper-based); 250 (computer-based); 100, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based TOEFL).
    • IELTS 7.0, with subscores of 7.0 for all four subscores.
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
  • Personal Statement Required.

Master of Science in the Teaching of Mathematics

  • Baccalaureate Field Mathematics or a related field. Applicants for the Secondary Option must have 3 semesters of engineering calculus plus 2 courses from the following: Linear Algebra (MATH 320), Abstract Algebra (MATH 330 or MTHT 435), Advanced Calculus/Analysis (MATH 313 or MTHT 430), or a course on learning proofs (MATH 215).
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study, and an average of 3.00 in all mathematics courses beyond calculus.
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 600 (paper-based); 250 (computer-based); 100, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based TOEFL).
    • IELTS 7.0, with subscores of 7.0 for all four subscores.
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
  • Personal Statement Required.
  • Other Requirements Applicants for the Elementary School Option must hold a valid K–8 Illinois Teaching Certificate or the equivalent.

Doctor of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy

  • Prior Degrees MS students in the department who intend to continue on to the doctorate must satisfy the department’s master’s degree requirements and be recommended by the department for further work. Applicants to the DA Program who have an MST degree should complete the equivalent of the department’s MS program.
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study, and an average of 3.00 in all mathematics courses beyond calculus.
  • Tests Required GRE General and GRE Subject Test in Mathematics.
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 600 (paper-based); 250 (computer-based); 100, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based TOEFL).
    • IELTS 7.0, with subscores of 7.0 for all four subscores.
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
  • Personal Statement Required.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Arts and Master of Science

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 32.
  • Course Work At least 24 hours must be in mathematics courses, of which 12 hours must be at the 500-level. The student must complete a course of study in one of the following concentrations or, in exceptional cases approved by the Graduate Studies Committee, a general program of study without concentration can be followed.
  • Concentration in Pure Mathematics: Students must take the following courses: MATH 417, 516, 533, and 4 hours from MATH 446, 517, 534, 535, 536. Other courses may be substituted with the permission of the director of graduate studies. The remaining courses are selected in consultation with an advisor. Students must pass a written comprehensive examination in pure mathematics or write a thesis and pass an oral defense.
  • Concentration in Applied Mathematics: Students must take the following courses: MATH 417, 480, 481. The remaining courses are selected in consultation with an advisor. Students must pass a written comprehensive examination in applied mathematics or write a thesis and pass an oral defense.
  • Concentration in Mathematical Computer Science: Students must take the following courses: MCS 401, 421, 471. Students must select at least three courses, two 500-level MCS courses plus one course selected from the MCS graduate-level course list or STAT 471. Other courses may be substituted with the permission of the director of graduate studies. The remaining courses are selected in consultation with an advisor. Students must pass a written comprehensive examination in mathematical computer science or write a thesis and pass an oral defense.
  • Concentration in Probability and Statistics: Students must take the following courses: STAT 401, 411, and one course selected from STAT 431, 461, 471, 477, 481. Other courses may be substituted with the permission of the director of graduate studies. The remaining courses are selected in consultation with an advisor. Students must pass a written comprehensive examination in probability and statistics or write a thesis and pass an oral defense.
  • Comprehensive Examination Optional. Students who do not pass a written comprehensive examination must complete a thesis.
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or course work only (with written comprehensive examination). No other options are available.

Master of Science in Mathematics and Information Sciences for Industry

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 32.
  • Course Work Required Courses: MCS 401, 471, 504, 507, MATH 589.
  • Electives: 12 semester hours chosen from the department’s 500-level courses, excluding MTHT courses.
  • Comprehensive Examination None.
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or project required. No other options are available.

Master of Science in the Teaching of Mathematics

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required Two options (Secondary and Elementary) are available to MST students. Secondary Option—32 hours; Elementary Option—36 hours.
  • Course Work Required Courses: Varies by option. At least 12 hours of course work must be at the 500-level, excluding independent study.
    • Secondary Option—MTHT 411, 510, and 530; MTHT 435 or MATH 435; and 12 hours of electives in Mathematics Teaching (MTHT).
    • Elementary Option—MTHT 465, 550, 565, and 589; EPSY 446; and CI 484. Elementary option students must also take three additional mathematics courses. At least one course must be taken from one of the following areas: calculus, probability and statistics, computer science, or history of mathematics.
  • Electives: Electives in each option must be approved by the department; contact the Office of Mathematics Education for specific courses. Up to 8 hours in ancillary courses from education or psychology may be applied to the MST with approval of the Office of Mathematics Education.
  • Comprehensive Examination None.
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Course work only. No other options are available.
  • Note: The Secondary Option includes both certified secondary teachers and students who are seeking certification.
  • Additional Requirements for Secondary Teacher Certification: Students who wish to seek teacher certification must take additional courses in the College of Education and complete student teaching to be eligible for state certification. Such students are also more restricted in their choices of courses. Courses should be selected in consultation with an advisor. Contact the department for the current requirements. At the time of this writing, in addition to the MST requirements, students seeking certification must complete MTHT 400—Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics I (4), MTHT 401—Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics II (4), MTHT 438/439—Student Teaching (12). They must also complete the following education courses:
    • ED 402—Philosophy of Education (3) OR ED 403—Policy Issues in the History of American Education (3)
    • ED 445—Adolescence and the Schools (3) OR ED 421—Advanced Educational Psychology (3)
    • CI 504—Secondary Literacy (4)
    • SPED 410—Survey of Characteristics of Learners with Disabilities (3)
    • ED 432—Instruction and Evaluation in Secondary Education (5)

The teaching certificate is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of degree and certification requirements. For more information on application procedures for the teaching certificate contact the Council on Teacher Education in the College of Education.

Doctor of Arts

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate.
  • Course Work At least 40 hours must be in mathematics, including 24 semester hours of regular 500-level courses. Mathematics courses must be chosen so that the areas of computer science, differential equations, geometry, logic, and probability and statistics are all represented.
  • Required Courses: MATH 417, 445, 446, 516, 517, 533, and 534; 12 hours in education and math education, including MATH 591 and 592; and 8 hours of graduate-level courses in an area of mathematics or a related science, such as physics, philosophy, history of science, or another science approved by the department.
  • Electives: Restricted to math and/or science. Courses in economics and statistical methods in psychology and education may, under certain conditions, be selected as electives.
  • Examinations Students should pass the department’s master’s examination within one year of completion of 24 semester hours. Students who already have a master’s degree upon entering the program must pass the examination within one year of entrance.
  • Preliminary Examination: Required.
  • Dissertation Required. Students must earn at least 20 hours in MATH 599.

Doctor of Philosophy

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate.
  • Course Work At least 40 hours must be in 500-level mathematics courses, excluding thesis research (MATH 599, MCS 599, or STAT 599).
  • Preliminary Examination Required.
  • Dissertation Required. Students earn at least 32 hours in thesis research (MATH 599, MCS 599, or STAT 599).
  • Other Requirements The language requirement for each student is decided by the Graduate Studies Committee. The determination is based on the student’s area of interest. In no case will examination in more than one language be required. In those areas in which the primary sources are in English, a foreign language may not be required.

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