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**Review** Graduate Catalog 2025-2026

Mathematics M.A. – Liberal Arts Concentration

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences 

Coordinator: Jodie Novak, Ph.D.

Email: Jodie.Novak@unco.edu

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

Admission

Location: Online

Start Term: Fall, Spring and Summer

General Masters Degree Admission Requirements

Mathematics M.A. - Liberal Arts Concentration

Admission Deadline

For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:

  • Summer term: March 15
  • Fall term: June 15
  • Spring term: Nov. 15

You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact the Admissions Coach for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.

Each applicant must:

  • Possess a baccalaureate degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.

    • If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.

    • If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.

Take the following steps to be considered for admission:

Step 1: Complete the Application

Complete the online application.

  • Answer the application questions.
  • Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
    • Request one (1) academic or professional letter of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
  • Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee. 
    • Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
    • International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
    • The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.

Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.

Step 2: Request Transcripts

Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. 

Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.

Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.

Mailed transcripts should be sent to:

University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639

Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.

The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.

UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.

Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.

Step 3: Note About the GRE

This program does not require GRE scores.

Step 4: Supplemental Items

Log back into the Admissions Portal to submit the following:

  • A statement/essay of approximately 500 words addressing your professional goals, your interest in pursuing a Mathematics Master of Arts with an emphasis in Teaching and a summary of your current teaching position in which you would be able to apply the practical coursework elements. (Please contact the Program Coordinator if you do not have a current teaching position.)
  • Proof of teaching licensure/certification, if you have one.

Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.

International Applicants

International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.

For More Information 
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.

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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