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Master's Degree Requirements

The Mathematics Department is currently enrolling only PhD students and no MS students. However, during their time in the program, a PhD student may decide to graduate with a Masters degree. We offer four Master’s degrees detailed below. For the purposes of these programs, there is at any time a list of designated core courses. Currently, this list consists of the sequences numbered 504/5/6, 524/25/34, and 544/5/6.

For any Master's degree, a student must complete the basic requirements for a Master's degree at the University of Washington.

Transfer credits are not accepted at the 400 level; other transfer credits and substitutions are at the discretion of the graduate program coordinator. Note that the University of Washington Graduate School allows at most 6 transfer credits.

The M.S. program with an option in optimization provides more focused training in this direction, which can be useful for students seeking employment in certain industries. (Students intending to do research in optimization would normally follow the requirements of the PhD program rather than these MS programs.) 

Note that the department does not offer a Master's degree in mathematics education. For information about such a degree, contact the College of Education.

Enrolled students can check their degree progress on MyGrad Student View.



Master of Arts, Non-Thesis

Residence:
3 quarters.
Courses:
A minimum of twelve approved one-quarter courses at the 400 or 500 level, including two courses in each of algebra, analysis, and one other field. The course total must include six courses chosen from the designated core graduate courses or, with prior approval of the graduate program coordinator, from other 500-level sequences. The six courses at the 500 level should be distributed over no more than three sequences.
Final Examination:
Written examination in an area agreed upon by the student and the chair of the examining committee. Oral examination may be substituted with prior approval of the graduate program coordinator.

Master of Science, Thesis

Residence:
3 quarters.
Courses:
A total of twelve numerically graded one-quarter courses from MATH 402, 403, 404; 424, 425, 426; 427, 428; 441, 442, 443; any 500-level mathematics course; AMATH 507; 584, 585, 586; plus 9 thesis credits (700). Other courses may be included in the total with prior approval of the graduate program coordinator. Courses to include at least two quarters from each of two designated core graduate courses and one other 500-level sequence in an area of specialization.
Thesis:
Should demonstrate the ability to do independent research.
Final Examination:
The thesis is defended in an oral examination.

Master of Science, Non-Thesis

Residence:
3 quarters.
Courses:
A total of fifteen numerically graded one-quarter courses from MATH 402, 403, 404; 424, 425, 426; 427, 428; 441, 442, 443; any 500-level mathematics course; AMATH 507; 584, 585, 586. Other courses may be included in the total with prior approval of the graduate program coordinator. Courses to include at least two quarters from each of two designated core graduate courses, and in addition one three-quarter sequence of 500-level mathematics courses in an area of specialization approved by the graduate program coordinator and the chair of the student's examining committee.
Final Examination:
Oral examination in the area of specialization on a topic agreed upon by the student and the chair of the examining committee, or the General Examination for the Ph.D. degree.

Master of Science, Optimization Option, Non-thesis

Residence:
3 quarters.
Courses:
A total of fifteen one-quarter courses from the following.
CORE (3 courses): MATH 514, MATH 515, and MATH 516
Optimization electives (3 courses): Optimization-related 500-level or above courses with approval from the Graduate Program Coordinator
Electives (9 courses): selected from the list below or with approval from the Graduate Program Coordinator.
MATH 407, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 441, 442, 443, 461, 462, 491, 492, AMATH 584, AMATH 585, AMATH 586, any 500-level math course (except for Math 510, 530, 550, 570, 580, 590, 597, 600, 700, 800).
Final Examination:
Oral examination in the area of specialization on a topic agreed upon by the student and the chair of the examining committee, or the General Examination for the Ph.D. degree.
Recommended preparation:
Linear algebra (Math 208, 318), Linear analysis (Math 209) and multivariable calculus (Math 224); numerical analysis (Math 464, 465) plus one other 400 level course for admission; a sequence such as 424,5,6; 427,8; plus knowledge of a computer language.
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