Mathematics, Thesis, MS

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College of Science and Engineering

Graduate Faculty

Amiran, Edoh Y., PhD, differential geometry, smooth dynamical systems.
Anderson, Amy D., PhD, statistical genetics.
Benyi, Arpad, PhD, harmonic analysis, partial differential equations.
Berget, Andrew S., PhD, algebraic and geometric combinatorics.
Chalice, Donald R., PhD, Banach algebras, complex dynamics.
Chan, Victor, PhD, reliability, applied statistics.
Curgus, Branko, PhD, differential equations, operator theory.
Gardner, Richard J., DSc, geometry, tomography.
Glimm, Tilmann, PhD, mathematical biology, geometric optics.
Hartenstine, David A., PhD, partial differential equations.
Johnson, Millie J., MEd, mathematics education.
McDowall, Stephen R., PhD, inverse problems.
Noguchi, Kimihiro, PhD, nonparametric statistics.
Nyman, Adam, PhD, algebraic geometry, ring theory.
Read, Thomas T., PhD, ordinary and partial differential equations.
Sarkar, Amites, PhD, combinatorics, probability theory, graph theory.
Shen, Yun-Qiu, PhD, nonlinear differential equations, numerical analysis.
Treneer, Stephanie, PhD, modular forms, number theory.
Ypma, Tjalling J., DPhil, numerical analysis.
Zhang, Jianying, PhD, numerical partial differential equations.

Program Advisor: Dr. Arpad Benyi, Bond Hall 218 360-650-3710

Program Description

The graduate program in mathematics is designed to meet the requirements of subsequent professional and academic work in advanced mathematics. Students are prepared to continue to further graduate studies or for professional employment in industry or in college teaching. The focus is on providing a strong and broad analytical foundation, together with sufficient flexibility to pursue particular interests and areas of application in greater depth.

Goals

The program prepares students for:

Continuing further graduate studies, or
Professional employment in industry, or
College teaching.

Prerequisites/Qualification Examination

To be eligible for admission to the MS program in mathematics, a student should have completed at least the following courses or the equivalent with grades of B or better: Math 224, 304, 312, 331, CS 141 or Math 307, and two math courses at the 400 level.

A student who has not completed all of these courses but who can demonstrate strong promise of the ability to succeed in the program may be admitted with special stipulations. In such cases, the graduate advisor will, in consultation with the student, specify the conditions to be satisfied by the student in order to fully qualify for the program.

Program Application/Admission Requirements

Deadline: Please see Graduate School deadlines.

TA Deadline: Preferred consideration will be given to applicants who have completed files by March 1.

Specific Test Requirements: Graduate Record Exam, General Test.

Contact the mathematics department, 360-650-3785, or see its website at www.wwu.edu/math/grad/prospective.shtml for specifics.

Graduate School Admission Link

Program Requirements

In most cases the student’s program must include at least 45 credits (thesis option). At most 10 credits at the 400 level can be included in this total.

Students who have taken a significant number of graduate math courses as undergraduates at WWU may complete the graduate program with only 36 additional 500-level credits (details of this program are available from the Department of Mathematics).

The following mathematics courses or their equivalents must be completed before graduation: Math 504, 521, 522, 691 and 690 (for thesis) and at least one course or its equivalent from each of the following four lists

❑ Algebra:
MATH 502 - Abstract Algebra Credits: 4
MATH 503 - Topics in Abstract Algebra Credits: 3
MATH 560 - Topics in Geometry Credits: 3
MATH 564 - Graph Theory Credits: 3
MATH 566 - Topics in Combinatorics Credits: 3
❑ Analysis:
MATH 523 - Advanced Calculus of Several Variables Credits: 4
MATH 524 - Topics in Analysis Credits: 4
MATH 525 - Topology Credits: 3
MATH 527 - Real Analysis Credits: 4
MATH 528 - Functional Analysis Credits: 4
MATH 539 - Topics in Complex Analysis Credits: 3
MATH 562 - Differential Geometry Credits: 4
❑ Decisions:
MATH 535 - Nonlinear Optimization Credits: 4
MATH 542 - Mathematical Statistics Credits: 4
MATH 543 - Linear Statistical Models Credits: 4
MATH 545
MATH 570 - Topics in Optimization Credits: 4
❑ Applied:
MATH 510 - Mathematical Modeling Credits: 4
MATH 511 - Advanced Modeling Credits: 4
MATH 573 - Numerical Linear Algebra Credits: 4
MATH 575 - Numerical Analysis Credits: 4
MATH 577 - Topics in Numerical Analysis Credits: 4
❑ The student’s program must also include at least four of the following courses: Math 503, 511, 523, 525, 527, 528, 533, 539, 545, 560, 562, 564, 566, 570, 573, 577.
A student who has not completed a senior-level course in each of the following areas will also be required to include the indicated course or courses as part of his or her program: abstract algebra (401), second course in ordinary differential equations (432), complex analysis (538), probability or statistics (541).

Graduate teaching assistants are required to take MATH 595 during their first year of study.

Other Requirements

Qualifying Examination for Candidacy

Each student must pass a qualifying exam before being advanced to candidacy.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy when they have completed at least 12 hours of approved course work with a B or better GPA, including at least one course numbered 500 or above, and have passed the qualifying exam.

Project

Every student is required to complete a project (MATH 691). The project will involve both an oral exam on the subject of the project and a colloquium presentation to the mathematical community. The project must be completed before a student may elect the thesis option. See the departmental graduate handbook for additional details.

Further Information and Advice

Each student is urged to prepare a program of courses in consultation with his or her advisor as soon as possible after beginning work toward a degree. Deviations from the requirements above may be approved by the department’s Graduate Committee upon request of the student’s advisor. For the student’s protection, such approval should be obtained before any deviations are made.

A student who wishes to include a course numbered 400, 499, 500 or 599 as part of his or her graduate degree program must obtain approval in advance from the Graduate Committee. The Graduate Committee will consider approval on the basis of a detailed written description submitted by the student not later than three weeks before the date of registration. If the course is approved for graduate credit, the description will be retained in the student’s file.