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**Review** Graduate Catalog 2025-2026

Mathematics M.A. – Liberal Arts Concentration

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

General Master's Degree Admission Requirements

View delivery options, start terms and admission requirements.

 

Director: Jodie Novak, Ph.D.

Location: Ross Hall 2239

Telephone: 970-351-2820

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/mathematical-sciences/

This program is intended for students who do not already possess a Master's degree and wish to continue into the Mathematics Education Ph.D.  It is not intended as a stand alone program. Students who complete this program and are deemed to be making good progress are automatically admitted to continue with the Ph.D. program.

Generally, a Bachelor's degree in mathematics or mathematics education with strong mathematics courses is required for admission. Students without a Bachelor's degree in mathematics are advised to consult the school for a list of recommended undergraduate courses they should take before applying.

Applicants to this program must submit the same application materials required for the Mathematics Education Ph.D.: a CV (curriculum vitae); at least three letters of recommendation with the UNC cover sheet; current general GRE scores (the subject exam is not required); and an essay of approximately 500 words about their personal educational goals and specific interest in the University of Northern Colorado's Mathematics Education Ph.D. program.

See Mathematical Sciences

Degree Requirements — 30 Credits

Required Concentration Credits — 18 credits

MATH 525Linear Algebra I

3

MATH 531Basic Analysis I

3

MATH 532Basic Analysis II

3

MATH 540Introduction to Topology

3

MATH 560Introductory Complex Variables

3

MED 610Survey of Research in Mathematics Education

3

NOTE: MED 610 satisfies the Graduate School requirements for Introduction to Graduate Studies.

Required Elective Credits — 12 credits

Electives must be graduate level (500 or above) MATH, MED, or SRM courses, and must be approved by the student’s advisor. At most 3 of the required elective credits can be from MATH 599 or MED 599.

Comprehensive Examinations

A student may select any of the following options to satisfy the comprehensive examination requirement. At least two faculty members will be involved in judging whether or not the selected option has been completed satisfactorily.

  • Option 1. Completion of an Action Research Project involving the selection of a problem related to the student’s teaching, review of relevant literature, plan, analysis and discussion. A copy of this project must be filed with the School; in addition, the student must make a presentation of the project. Students who choose this option will normally take MED 599 or MATH 599 to support their work on the project.
  • Option 2. Completion of a Master’s Research Project involving the selection of a problem, review of relevant literature, plan, analysis and discussion. A copy of this project must be filed with the School; in addition, the student must make a presentation of the project. This project may be associated with a course the student is taking, as long as it is an independent research project of high enough quality and approved in advance by the graduate program coordinator.
  • Option 3. A written comprehensive examination over at least 2 of the required courses agreed upon in advance with the graduate program coordinator. Up to two hours of oral examination will be given upon successful completion of the written examination.

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