Purpose:
    The MS in Mathematics, offered in the Department of Mathematics and Physics, is designed to enhance and enrich training in the field of mathematics for persons who teach at the secondary level or in community colleges, and for people who plan to work as applied mathematicians in industry or government agencies.  The department offers the Master of Science degree with thesis and non-thesis tracks.

Admission Requirements:
    Students should have an undergraduate major in mathematics or related field.  Those lacking the appropriate background will be required to complete leveling work.  The departmental graduate advisor in consultation with the mathematics faculty will review the student's transcript and determine if leveling work is needed.  The departmental graduate advisor will assist the student in selecting a graduate committee.  The committee should consist of a minimum of three members, two of whom are from the graduate faculty of the Department of Mathematics and Physics.  The third can be from the graduate faculty of a department in which the student takes support work.

Degree Requirements:
    The MS in Mathematics requires 36 hours of approved work in Mathematics and supporting areas.  At least 24 hours need to be in graduate level mathematics courses excluding a thesis.  A student may elect to do a master's thesis.  The chair of the student's graduate committee will direct the master's thesis.

Comprehensive Examination:
    The department requires an oral comprehensive examination for the MS degree.  The comprehensive examination will be administered by the student's graduate committee during the last semester of the program.  The Dean of the College of Graduate Studies or a representative from the graduate office will be invited to participate in the oral examination.  If the result of the oral comprehensive examination is less than satisfactory, additional course work in the areas of weakness may be recommended before rescheduling the examination.
 
 

Official Tarleton State University Online Catalog Listing: Be warned this link is to the page that lists all Master Degrees offered by the College of Science and Technology. To get to Mathematics, you must scroll to the bottom of the page. The actual course listing and descriptions are offered below.

Graduate Mathematics Course Offerings:

5003. History of Mathematics. (3-0) A historical and philosophical development of mathematics from earliest times down to the present.
Mathematical topics are presented in a historical and philosophical setting not only to provide a unifying theme, but also to illustrate how the
evolution of mathematical ideas finally led to modern concepts in the field. Prerequisite: approval of department head.

5023. Topics in Modem Algebra. (3-0) The topics treated are chosen from those felt to be most fundamental and at the same time most closely related to topics appearing in the present public school texts. The course consists of the study of sets, groups, rings, integral domains, and fields.  Special emphasis is placed on helping the student relate this material to his or her teaching situation. Prerequisite: approval of department head.

5053. Nonparametric Statistics. (3-0) Introduction to nonparametric statistics. Using nonparametric approaches to explore general statistical ideas. Related topics selected from stochastic models, time series, etc. Prerequisite: 3 semester hours of undergraduate statistics or approval of department head.

5063. Dynamical Systems. (3-0) Advanced study of dynamical systems. Topic will be selected from discrete and continuous dynamical
systems, sensitivity analysis, models of the physical, life, and social sciences, bifurcation analysis. Prerequisite: MATH 4063 or approval of
department head.

5073. Topics in Secondary Mathematics. (3-0) This course applies the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics to the curriculum of secondary mathematics. It explores techniques to implement the Standards through the use of manipulatives, graphing calculators, and computer technology. Prerequisite: 12 semester hours of mathematics or approval of department head.

5093. Complex Variables. (3-0) An introduction to complex analysis. Topics will be selected from elementary operations and analytic functions, curves and integrals, power series, Cauchy's theorem, zeros and singularities of analytic functions, Laurent series, maximum principle, analytic continuation, harmonic functions, conformal mapping and transformations. Prerequisite: MATH 2094 or approval of department head.

5103. Mathematical Analysis. (3-0) This course covers the following topics: sequences and series, differentiation and integration, and functions of several variables. Prerequisite: MATH 4093 or approval of department head.

5113. Operations Research. (3-0) This course examines the theoretical support and applications of the simplex algorithm for linear
programming and for dynamic programming. Transportation and scheduling problems are among the applications to be emphasized. Prerequisite: MATH 2113.

5303. Mathematical Modeling. (3-0) An advanced course in mathematical modeling. Topics will be selected from scaling, dimensional analysis, regular and singular perturbation theory, stability theory, and asymptotic analysis. Prerequisite: MATH 4063 or approval of department head.

5503. Applied Linear Algebra. (3-0) An advanced course in linear algebra. Topics to be selected from linear spaces and operators, canonical forms, quadratic forms and optimizations, computation and condition, and compatible systems. Prerequisite: MATH 2113.

5603. Numerical Methods of Differential Equations. (3-0) Numerical techniques for solving systems of ordinary and partial differential
equations. Methods include explicit and implicit Runge-Kutta methods, stiff problem solvers and variable step methods, finite-difference and finite-element methods, multi-step methods, Fourier methods, and integral equations. Prerequisite: MATH 3603 or approval of department head.

5803. Selected Topics in Mathematical Theory. (3-0) An examination of topics in mathematical theory appropriate for secondary
mathematics educators. Topics will be selected from geometry and topology, number theory, and modern algebra. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

5843. Instructional Technology. (3-0) The technological resources available to mathematics educators and the implementation of these
resources will be studied. The technological resources to be discussed may include graphing calculators, data collection devices, computer
software packages, and Internet resources. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

5863. Advanced Special Problems in Mathematics. (Credit variable) Special problems in mathematics. Work may be either theory or
laboratory. May be repeated with approval of the department head for additional credit when fewer than four credits have been earned.
Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

5903. Selected Topics in Applied Mathematics. (3-0) An examination of topics in applied mathematics. Topics for study will be selected from advanced mathematical modeling, advanced numerical techniques, practical optimizations, calculus of variations, dynamic programming, integral equations, optimal control, and perturbation methods. This course may be repeated for credit as the topic changes. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.