Graduate Catalog 2019-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Department of Mathematics
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Master of Science in Mathematics
Application Requirements
A person who seeks for an admission to the M.S. in Mathematics must have completed an undergraduate major in mathematics or equivalent from an accredited institution (or its internationally equivalent institution).
A complete application for admissions consists of
- $25 non-refundable graduate application fee
- A completed application form
- Resume
- One official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts
- Official scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test taken within the past five years
- Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores taken within the past 2 years (only for international applicants from countries in which the official language is not English)
- Three letters of recommendation on applicant’s potential for graduate study and research (enclosed in sealed envelopes). At least 2 of them should be from academic faculty.
- Personal statement of biography and purpose with focus on research interests (500 - 1000 words)
- A certificate of immunization
Note: Only complete applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the M.S. degrees in mathematics must have completed significant undergraduate coursework with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate courses and at least 3.0 in all undergraduate mathematics and statistics courses.
In addition to the minimum GPA requirements, applicants must have completed
- Sequential standard Calculus courses comparable to:
- MATH 2101 - Calculus I Credits: 4
- MATH 2111 - Calculus II Credits: 4
- MATH 2121 - Calculus III Credits: 4
- A standard undergraduate courses comparable to:
- MATH 2301 - Discrete Mathematics Credits: 3
- MATH 3101 - Linear Algebra Credits: 3
- MATH 3201 - Probability and Statistics I Credits: 3
- MATH 3301 - Differential Equations Credits: 4
- MATH 3211 - Foundation of Higher Math Credits: 3
- 3) Standard undergraduate courses in abstract mathematics comparable to:
- MATH 4101 - Abstract Algebra I Credits: 3
- MATH 4201 - Real Analysis I Credits: 3
The Admissions Committee evaluates all scores (GRE, GPA, letters of recommendation, and essay) and makes the admission decisions. Applicants who do not meet the requirements for regular admission may be considered for provisional admission with specific requirements. These requirements will imposed by the Admissions Committee prior to full admission.
Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Department of Mathematics at kims@savannahstate.edu for application forms or additional information and to communicate with the faculty regarding potential thesis research prior to application to the program.
Transfer Credits
A maximum of 6 credit hours among graduate courses with a B or better from other universities may be transferrable toward the degree if approved by the Admissions Committee (or Graduate Faculty Committee).
Qualifying Examination
All students in the M.S. Program in mathematics are expected to complete the four core courses (listed below) with an overall grade point average of B or better. Students must also take two qualifying exams on two core subjects: Abstract Algebra and Analysis before the beginning of the second year and are required to pass them prior to their thesis defense. In order to receive a ‘passing’ grade on each subject, students must achieve at least 70% on each exam.
Required Core subjects for all Students (12 Semester Hours)
- Credits:3
- Credits: 3
- Credits: 3
- Credits: 3
The scheduling of qualifying exams will be conducted by the Program Coordinator in conjunction with relevant faculty members and students. Qualifying exams will be offered once per semester in advance of the start of the semester. Each qualifying exam will be in written format with approximately three- hour time limit allotted per exam. A students who fails any qualifying exam is allowed to re-take the exam on the failed subject(s) from the next semester. Both exams, however, must be completed prior to his/her thesis defense. The opportunity to re-take the exam will be provided only one additional time per subject. A student who does not pass any second time qualifying exam will be recommended for academic termination from the degree program.
Thesis Proposal and Defense
The thesis should be approved by the end of second year to get the M.S. degree in mathematics within a reasonable timeline.
Thesis Advisor and Thesis Committee - Each candidate must select his/her thesis advisor for preparation of thesis. The thesis advisor must be a member of the graduate faculty at SSU. In the case of co-thesis advisors, one must be a full graduate faculty member. A Thesis Committee consists of the thesis advisor and at least two advisory members, of which at least one are graduate faculty members at Savannah State University.
Thesis Proposal - Before writing the thesis, a “proposal of research” presenting research outline or direction must be submitted in the form of a formal written document by the student and approved/signed by the Thesis Committee. The proposal should clearly describe the problem to be addressed by the research, a preliminary literature review, the (possible) assumptions, (suggested) methodology to be used, and a timeline for completion. This document will be used to provide a clear initial guideline for the committee’s input and approval. The proposal must be submitted by the start of the 3rd semester of study for full-time students so that the student can enroll in Thesis I course and start writing his/her thesis. The timeline for part-time students is at the discretion of the advisor and committee.
Application for the Thesis Defense Proposal - The Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Master of Science in Mathematics Degree form must be submitted by the advisor for processing prior to scheduling of thesis defense.
Thesis Defense - The thesis defense shall consist of two parts: 1) an oral presentation open to the public in seminar-series format; followed by 2) a first thesis evaluation attended only by the committee members and the student. A penultimate draft of the thesis must be submitted to thesis committee members no later than 3 weeks prior to the scheduled thesis defense date. In addition, the oral presentation must be advertised two weeks in advance. The purpose of the oral presentation is mainly to address any outstanding concerns of the public, to review substantive changes to the penultimate draft submitted before the defense, and to ask questions that will help determine the readiness of the student to graduate. If necessary, the committee can set future writing deadline(s) to assist student in graduating on time.
A final version of the thesis must be submitted to the Thesis Committee for the final decision and all committee members must sign the thesis cover page attesting that they approve the final written version. A thesis committee meeting must be scheduled no later than 6 weeks prior to the grade report due date in the academic calendar. The final version is the thesis containing the signed thesis signature page will be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.
For information on thesis processing and questions concerning the Thesis Guide contact the Director, Office of Graduate Studies.
Enrollment and Readmission
Unless an admitted graduate student does not plan to be on campus for services of any kind (including meetings with their thesis advisor) the student must enroll in at least 1 unit of credit (typically Directed Research if all other coursework is completed) each semester excluding summer.
A graduate student who does not register in the semester for which they were accepted or who has not been enrolled for a period of two consecutive semesters, will be classified as “inactive.” To resume graduate study, the student must reapply for admission using a special form (not the original process) available from the Graduate Studies Office. A graduate student does not need to be enrolled in the semester in which they apply for candidacy or the semester in which the degree is conferred.
Academic Probation/Termination
A regularly admitted graduate student whose GPA falls below 3.0 in a given semester will receive a letter of scholastic warning from the University placing the student on Academic Probation.
If a student who is on Academic Probation fails to achieve a 3.0 GPA after nine additional semester hours of course work, he/she will be recommended for academic termination from the degree program.
NOTE: With the exception of core courses and students who have provisional status, the number of C’s a student earns is irrelevant as long as a cumulative 3.0 GPA is maintained.
Financial Assistance
All applicants for the M.S. program in mathematics may apply for teaching assistantships. Based on the budget more outstanding students will be selected through the discussion of the Admission committee (or the Graduate Faculty committee). Applicant or students in the M.S. program in mathematics may contact mathematics faculty members to inquire further possibility of funding opportunities.
For Further Advisement Contact:
Dr. Sujin Kim
Graduate Coordinator of M.S. Degree in Mathematics Department of Mathematics
Savannah State University 3219 College St.
Savannah, GA 31404
(912) 358-4302
E-mail: kims@savannahstate.edu
Departmental Website: http://www.savannahstate.edu/cost/math/index.shtml
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