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Mathematics MS Degree

The master of science is designed to prepare students for positions in business and industry. It also provides preparation for further graduate study leading to a doctoral degree.

 

We encourage all interested applicants to read the Guide for Applying to Graduate Study, a booklet published by the BYU Office of Graduate Studies containing the latest information.

 

→ Admission and Entry

→ Information for Degree

→ Requirements for Degree--Thesis

→ Requirements for Degree--Nonthesis

Admission and Entry

  1. Application requirements

     

    • Deadlines: March 1 (Fall, Summer), February 15 (Spring) September 15 (Winter). Apply online. Late applications will be considered.

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    • $50 non-refundable application fee.

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    • Ecclesiastical endorsement: All applicants, including international, must receive an ecclesiastical endorsement before being officially admitted to the university. Any applicant having a difficult time obtaining an ecclesiastical endorsement in their home country should email the graduate program international staff at INTLatbyu [dot] edu to arrange an interview with the university chaplain.

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    • Entrance examinations: GRE (General and Math Subject tests). Every applicant whose native language is not English is required to submit TOEFL scores. Applicants must exceed the university's minimum score on the TOEFL exam.
       
    • Three letters of recommendation.

    2.  

  2. Prerequisites:

     

    • Credit at least equivalent to BYU requirements for a baccalaureate degree in mathematics.

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    • A year's sequence in abstract algebra.

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    • A year's sequence in advanced calculus.

 

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Thesis and Nonthesis Program Information

  1. Graduate mathematics courses: Approved graduate mathematics courses include all classes numbered 500 and above with the exceptions of 501, 502, and 590.

    2.  

  2. Faculty sponsor: The graduate coordinator will assign each student a faculty sponsor upon admission to the graduate program. Students should communicate with their advisor as soon as they arrive on campus.

 

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Requirements for Degree--Thesis Program

  1. Credit hours (30): Minimum 24 course work hours in approved graduate mathematics including 12 hours in courses numbered 600 or above and 6 thesis hours (Math 699R). Graduate courses must be passed with a grade of C+ or better in each. No credit is given for prerequisite courses such as Math 342 or Math 372.

    2.  

  2. Examination: Each student must pass a written master's examination consisting of two 4-hour tests, namely an algebra exam and an analysis exam, essentially covering material from Math 313; Math 371; Math 372 and Math 341; Math 342; and Math 352, respectively.

     

    The exams will be administered 3 times per year. Both exams must be passed within the first year of matriculation. This means that students will have 3 attempts as graduate students. With permission, however, undergraduates and other prospective graduate students can take and pass the exam early, prior to matriculation.

     

    Exams will typically be scheduled for the week prior to the start of classes for Fall and Winter terms, usually the last week of August and first week of January. It will also be administered in mid to late February, usually during the President's day weekend. It is expected that exams will be graded and returned to the students within a week. Students will be encouraged to discuss the results of the exam with their advisors to decide which classes to take.

     

    If students do not pass both exams by the end of their first academic year, they will not be able to continue in the MS program, and financial support will be discontinued at the end of that semester. For example, if a student fails his third attempt in February, his last semester in the program will be that winter semester, and he will not be financially supported in the following spring and summer terms.

    3.  

  3. Thesis.

    4.  

  4. Oral defense of thesis.

 

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Requirements for Degree -- Nonthesis Program

  1. Credit hours (32): Minimum 30 course work hours in approved graduate mathematics including 18 hours in courses numbered 600 or above and 2 project hours (Math 698R). Graduate courses must be passed with a grade of C+ or better in each. No credit is given for prerequisite courses such as Math 342 or Math 372.

    2.  

  2. Examination: Each student must pass a written master's examination consisting of two 4-hour tests, namely an algebra exam and an analysis exam, essentially covering material from Math 313; Math 371; Math 372 and Math 341; Math 342; and Math 352, respectively.

     

    The exams will be administered 3 times per year. Both exams must be passed within the first year of matriculation. This means that students will have 3 attempts as graduate students. With permission, however, undergraduates and other prospective graduate students can take and pass the exam early, prior to matriculation.

     

    Exams will typically be scheduled for the week prior to the start of classes for Fall and Winter terms, usually the last week of August and first week of January. It will also be administered in mid to late February, usually during the President's day weekend. It is expected that exams will be graded and returned to the students within a week. Students will be encouraged to discuss the results of the exam with their advisors to decide which classes to take.

     

    If students do not pass both exams by the end of their first academic year, they will not be able to continue in the MS program, and financial support will be discontinued at the end of that semester. For example, if a student fails his third attempt in February, his last semester in the program will be that winter semester, and he will not be financially supported in the following spring and summer terms.

    3.  

  3. Project and presentation: Write a paper about the project (Math 698R) which should focus on an area of advanced mathematics and present a 45-minute talk based on the paper.

 

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Mathematics PhD Degree

The doctoral program prepares students for a career in research and teaching at the university level or in basic research in a non-academic setting.

 

We encourage all interested applicants to read the Guide for Applying to Graduate Study, a booklet published by the BYU Office of Graduate Studies containing the latest information.

 

→ Admission and Entry

→ Requirements for Degree

Admission and Entry

  1. Application requirements:

     

    • Deadlines: March 1 (Fall, Summer), February 15 (Spring) September 15 (Winter). Apply online. Late applications will be considered.
       
    • $50 non-refundable application fee.
       
    • Ecclesiastical endorsement: All applicants, including international, must receive an ecclesiastical endorsement before being officially admitted to the university. Any applicant having a difficult time obtaining an ecclesiastical endorsement in their home country should email the graduate program international staff at INTLatbyu [dot] edu to arrange an interview with the university chaplain.
       
    • Entrance examinations: General and Math Subject GRE. Every applicant whose native language is not English is required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants must exceed the university's minimum score on the TOEFL exam.
       
    • Three letters of recommendation.
       
  2. Prerequisites:

     

    • Undergraduate degree in mathematics or its equivalent.
       
    • One year of mathematical analysis (or advanced calculus).
       
    • One year of abstract algebra, including linear algebra.

 

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Requirements for Degree

  1. Credit Hours (54): Minimum 36 coursework hours in mathematics courses numbered 600 or above with a grade of B or better in each plus 18 dissertation hours (Math 799R). No credit is given for mathematics courses with numbers lower than 510.

    2.  

  2. Required Courses: Complete at least 3 hours each in algebra, analysis, applied mathematics, and geometry/topology.

    3.  

  3. Examinations:

     

    1. Written Examinations: At the beginning of the second year after admission to the PhD program, the student is required to pass examinations in three of the four areas of algebra, analysis, applied mathematics, and geometry/topology. Four hours are allotted to each examination. A failed examination may be repeated once at the beginning of the winter semester of the student's second year, after which permission must be obtained from the department graduate committee to retake the examination. Passed examinations need not be repeated. Syllabi are available for each examination.

      2.  

    2. Oral Examination: A student must pass an oral qualifying examination covering the background necessary for research in a specific area. The student, having chosen a research area andhaving a dissertation advisor approved, will, with the advisor, outline suitable examination topics. These topics must be approved by an examination committee of three (including advisor) appointed by the department graduate committee, which conducts the examination.

      3.  

    3. Defense of Dissertation: A final oral defense of the dissertation is conducted by a faculty committee consisting of the student's research advisor, two other readers of the dissertation (one of whom may be an outside examiner), and two other members of the faculty.

     

  4. Dissertation

 

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