Overview

Switching Between Options I and II

Students may request in writing to switch between Option I and II. Such requests will be considered by the Graduate Committee.

Program Requirements

A. For Admission to Graduate Status

Admission as a Classified Graduate Student requires: (1) Academic preparation essentially equivalent to a B.A. or B.S. Degree in mathematics at CSUN with a GPA of at least 3.0 in all undergraduate work; and (2) A grade of “B” or better in each of the common five Upper Division Core courses in the Mathematics major. Students with less than a “B” average may be eligible for Conditionally Classified status. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in fields outside the mathematical sciences also may be considered for Conditionally Classified status, provided that they have successfully taken a significant number of both Lower and Upper Division Mathematics courses. Their eligibility and admission status will be determined by the Graduate Committee on an individual basis. Conditionally Classified students are required to attain Classified status by passing the Mathematics Screening Exam and satisfying all University requirements within two semesters of being admitted as a Conditionally Classified graduate student.

B. The Mathematics Screening Examination

This exam will be given three times every year, in the week just before the start of each semester and in the week just after the end of the spring semester. It will cover topics from the Core Undergraduate Upper Division Mathematics curriculum, with emphasis on analysis and linear algebra.

C. Residency Requirement

To maintain good standing, graduate students must complete at least one approved course during each semester. Students who fail to do so will be placed on probation. Students who fail to fulfill this requirement twice will be disqualified.

D. Comprehensive Exam or Master’s Thesis

Students must successfully complete one of the following:

a) Comprehensive Examination: This two-part examination will be based on the students’ required courses. Students in Option I must take Algebra and either Analysis I or Analysis II. Students in Option II must take Analysis I and one other exam excluding algebra.

Comprehensive exams are given in the following areas:

Algebra (material from MATH 462, 460 and 560)

Analysis I (material from MATH 501 and 552)

Analysis II (material from MATH 550 and 655)

Numerical Analysis (material from MATH 581 and 582)

Applied Functional Analysis (material from MATH 680 A/B)

Probability/Statistics (material from MATH 540 and 542)

b) Master’s Thesis: In order to write a Master’s Thesis, students must maintain a GPA of 3.4 in their required courses. Each student also must defend his or her Thesis in an oral examination by his or her Thesis Committee.

The University requires that students take at least 1 unit of MATH 697 (if they take a Comprehensive Exam) or 1 unit of MATH 698 (if they write a Thesis). Units for MATH 697 or 698 do not count toward the 31 units required for the Degree.

Option I. Mathematics

1. Required Courses (16 units)

Basic coursework

MATH 501 Topology (3)
MATH 550 Calculus on Manifolds (3)
MATH 552 Real Analysis (3)
MATH 560 Abstract Algebra III (3)
MATH 655 Complex Analysis (3)

Participating Seminar

MATH 589 Seminar in Mathematics (1)

2. Electives (15 units)

Select approved courses. At least 6 of these 15 units must be at 500- or 600-level. Up to 6 units may be taken in Departments outside of Mathematics with prior approval of the Graduate Committee.

This Option is primarily designed to prepare students for community college teaching, entry-level positions in industry or future graduate work in Mathematics. The Core of this Program consists of an in-depth study of the mainstream of modern mathematics—algebra, analysis and topology.

Option II. Applied Mathematics

1. Required Courses (16 units)

Basic preparation

MATH 501 Topology (3)
MATH 552 Real Analysis (3)

Participating Seminar

MATH 589 Seminar in Mathematics (1)
MATH 542A-D Topics in Probability/Statistics (3)
or MATH 581 Numerical Methods for Linear Systems (3)

Choose two courses from the following:

MATH 540 Regression Analysis (3)
MATH 542 A-D Topics in Probability/Statistics (3)
MATH 581 Numerical Methods for Linear Systems (3)
MATH 582 A-D Topics in Numerical Analysis (3)
MATH 592 A-D Topics in Applied Mathematics (3)
MATH 625 Advanced Mathematical Modeling (3)
MATH 655 Complex Analysis (3)
MATH 680 A/B Applied Functional Analysis I/II (3)

2. Electives (15 units)

Select approved courses. At least 6 of these 15 units must be at 500 or 600-level. Up to 9 units may be taken in Departments outside of Mathematics with prior approval of the Graduate Committee.

Option III. Mathematics For Educational Careers

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree Option III

A. For Admission to Graduate Status

Students are expected to have cleared competency for Single Subject Mathematics by program or examination. Students with a Baccalaureate Degree who have not cleared subject matter competency in mathematics may be eligible for the program with the Conditionally Classified status. Conditionally Classified students need to meet the conditions required by the University and clear competency for Single Subject Matter in Mathematics within two semesters.

B. Culminating Experience

At the end of each B section of the courses listed below, students will write a paper that will provide the opportunity for an individual in-depth study of one topic of the course that has relevance for mathematics at the secondary-school level. A portfolio containing all articles and individual contributions to the courses will show candidate’s mastery of concepts, mathematical breadth and ability to communicate mathematics clearly and engagingly. Students should provide a summary of what they have learned in this curriculum and reflect on the applicability of it to their career. The portfolio will be submitted to a Committee chosen by the candidate and approved by the Graduate Committee. The University requires that students take at least 1 unit of MATH 698 (Thesis or Graduate Project). Units taken in MATH 698 will not count toward the total 30 units required for the Degree.

C. Course Requirements

This Program is designed especially for secondary teachers and for other professionals with a Baccalaureate Degree who are seeking educational careers. It will deepen students’ knowledge beyond what can be learned in a Baccalaureate Degree Program for secondary teachers of mathematics.

All courses include active learning and presentations on selected topics. In addition, each B section of the courses will culminate with the student working on a project and writing an article. The overall goal is to enable teachers to take leadership roles in their schools. In addition, they will be knowledgeable instructors of AP Statistics and AP Calculus.

1. Required Courses (30 units)

MATH 510A/B Algebra and Number Theory (3-3)
MATH 511A/B Linear Algebra and Geometry (3-3)
MATH 512A/B Concepts of Analysis (3-3)
MATH 513A/B Discrete Mathematics (3-3)
MATH 514A/B Probability and Statistics (3-3)

These courses cannot be replaced in the Program by any other graduate course.