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Programs

Mathematics (MA)

Catalog Year 2025-2026

This program is intended for students pursuing a Ph.D. program in Mathematics, students intending to teach mathematics at a community college, and students intending to use mathematics in a company which requires sophisticated analytical and reasoning skills.

Students select from one of three tracks.  The broad selection track is intended for students pursuing a career heavily focused in mathematics or continuing to a PhD institution.  The computer science track is a mixture of mathematics and computer science and is appropriate for students pursuing a career in technological industries or working in applied mathematics.  The community college track is a mixture of education and mathematics and intended for students wishing to teach at a community college.

Program Requirements

Common Core

(0-15) credits

The topology of Euclidean spaces, norms, classical inequalities, local and global properties of continuous functions, preservation of compactness and connectedness, sequences in Euclidean space and sequences of functions.

Prerequisites:
MATH 223 and MATH 290 with "C" (2.0) or better or consent.

An in-depth study of linear operators and their related spaces, dimension, rank, matrix representation of linear operators, special matrices, determinants, eigenvectors, and eigenvalues.

Prerequisites:
MATH 345 with "C" (2.0) or better or consent.

A mathematical approach to statistics with derivation of theoretical results and of basic techniques used in applications. Includes probability, continuous probability distributions, multivariate distributions, functions of random variables, central limit theorem, and statistical inference. Same as STAT 555

Prerequisites:
MATH 223 with "C" (2.0) or better or consent.

This course provides an introduction to techniques and analysis involved with solving mathematical problems using technology. Topics included are errors in computation, solutions of linear and nonlinear equations, numerical differentiation and integration, and interpolation.

Prerequisites:
MATH 122 and MATH 247 with "C" (2.0) or better or consent.

A Common Core course requirement is waived if credit has been received for an equivalent course with grade of C (2.0) or better at the undergraduate or graduate levels. All Common Core courses, or their equivalents, must be completed before graduation. College of Graduate Study and Research Transfer policy applies.

Restricted Electives

Select one of the three tracks to complete.

Track 1: Broad Selection - Choose 15 Credit(s).

Prerequisites:
none

Track 2: Information Technology - Choose 15 Credit(s). A minimum of 6 credits of 600 level courses from mathematics, and a minimum of 9 credits 500/600 level courses from Information Technology (IT). Advisor approval is required.

Track 3: Community College Teaching - Choose 15 Credit(s). A minimum of 9 credits of 600 level mathematics. Advisor approval required.

Students will analyze major theories and research related to adult development and learning as they apply to adult students in post-secondary and career settings. Students will evaluate adult learning needs and apply strategies for creating positive learning environments (face to face and online). Students will experience, analyze, and develop lessons that use effective adult learning strategies.

Prerequisites:
none

This course will require learners to evaluate, analyze, and use pedagogical frameworks and practices to design online learning environments with a lens of equity and diversity. Learners will establish online environments and create course materials using research-based pedagogy in educational technology.

Prerequisites:
none

Capstone Course

Choose 1 - 4 Credit(s). Comprehensive Exam: The Exam covers courses in the Common Core.

Research under the supervision of the student's advisor leading to an alternate plan paper.

Prerequisites:
none

Research under the supervision of the student's advisor leading to a thesis.

Prerequisites:
Consent

Policies

Admission: Preference will be given to applicants with minimum grade point average of 3.0 and a demonstrated ability to consistently perform at a B or better level in upper division mathematics and/or statistics courses. An applicant must also meet the general admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and Research.

Financial Assistance: Approximately 30 graduate assistantships are available in the department each year. Graduate assistant duties include teaching or research.

General Program Requirements: All programs require an alternate plan paper or thesis, a comprehensive exam, and an oral defense of the alternate plan paper or thesis. At least 50% of the course work of each program must be at the 600 level. Alternate plan paper and thesis credit are not counted as course work. After completing 16 credits, the student must select an examining committee composed of a minimum of three graduate faculty members. The comprehensive exam may be attempted twice. Under certain circumstances, the third attempt may be granted by appealing to the Graduate Faculty.

Course Application Policy: No course can be used to satisfy more than one program requirement.

Degree
Master of Arts

Major Credits
34

Total Credits
34

Locations
Mankato

Career Cluster
Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics

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View the Full 2025-2026 Catalog