The Master of Arts Degree (Professional Option)

Admission

The minimum requirements for admission to this program are:

1. A bachelor's degree with a major in mathematics or equivalent mathematical training.

2. Evidence that the student is likely to succeed:
   1. This must include three letters of recommendation from mathematicians, usually the applicant's current or former teachers.

   2. A complete transcript of previous college studies including grades in all mathematics courses.

   3. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination, both the general exam and the mathematics exam.

   4. (for foreign students) Evidence of a good command of English. A TOEFL score of 550 or a computer-based score of 213 is satisfactory. It is not required for students from English speaking countries.

3. Acceptance by both the Mathematics Department and the Graduate School.

Requirements

1. Two consecutive semesters of full time work in a program approved by the Department.
2. At least 30 graduate credits.

3. A Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 in graduate courses taken at Stony Brook.

4. A passing grade (C or better) in the final examination of each of the following courses (or the equivalent): MAT 530, 531,534, 535, 542, 544, and 550; the overall average of the grades in these final examinations must be at least B. This requirement is waived for students who have passed the Ph. D. comprehensive examination.

5. A Satisfactory grade in the teaching practicum, MAT 598.

6. A three course minor in an area related to mathematics; the particular sequence of courses must have Departmental approval.

The Curriculum

The Master of Arts curriculum consists of the following courses, ordinarily taken in the order indicated.

Semester I (12 credits)	Semester II (12 credits)
MAT 530 Topology/Geometry I	MAT 550 Real Analysis I
MAT 534 Algebra I	MAT 542 Complex Analysis I
MAT 598 Teaching Practicum	MAT 531 Topology/Geometry II
MAT 544 Analysis	MAT 535 Algebra II
Semester III	Semester IV
Minors and Math Electives	Minors and Math Electives

All students must follow a course of study approved by the Department. A student who follows the above curriculum, and who passes all courses with a grade of C or better, with an overall B average, automatically has Departmental approval. Any student wishing to follow a different curriculum must have the approval of the Graduate Studies Director for his or her program.

The Problem Seminar

The problem seminar is designed to extend and unify the M.A. core courses by analyzing problems and exploring supplementary topics which relate to one or more of these courses. This seminar is also designed to focus the student's preparation for the written Doctoral (Comprehensive) Examination.

The Teaching Practicum

All new Teaching Assistants are required to take the teaching practicum, MAT 598.

The Comprehensive Examination

The Masters Degree Comprehensive Examination consists of the final examinations in the following seven courses:

MAT 530, 531 Topology/Geometry I, II

MAT 534, 535 Algebra I, II

MAT 542 Complex Analysis I

MAT 544 Analysis

MAT 550 Real Analysis I

A student who for any reason does not take one of the above courses is nevertheless required to pass the final examination in that course, or an equivalent examination. The Masters Comprehensive requirement is waived for students who pass the doctoral comprehensive exam.

The Residence Requirement

Two consecutive semesters of full time study are required.

The purpose of the residence requirement is to ensure that students experience the stimulation of regular mathematical interaction with other students and with the faculty. Unusually mature individuals who present evidence of their ability to pursue graduate study in mathematics successfully without this interaction may be admitted on a part-time basis.

The Minor Requirement

A minor syllabus should consist of three courses in an area closely related to mathematics, such as physics, applied mathematics, computer science, statistics, economics, etc. Courses need not be at the graduate level, but the program must end at the graduate level; i.e., at the end of the three-semester sequence, the student should be adequately prepared to take graduate level courses in the minor subject. No freshman level courses may be counted towards the minor requirement. Most lower division courses also will not be counted towards the minor requirement.

The minor requirement is independent of all other requirements; in particular, undergraduate courses, which may not be counted towards the 30 graduate credit requirement, may be counted towards the minor requirement. Similarly, courses taken before entering Stony Brook may be counted towards the minor requirement, but cannot be counted towards the residency requirement.

The minor syllabus must be approved by the Department; the Graduate Secretary has a standard form to be filled out. This approval should be obtained before any courses in the minor are taken. Students are responsible for ensuring that the courses listed in their syllabus are actually offered.

Students presenting earlier study (at a sufficiently high level) in an allied area may, at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Director, use this prior study towards satisfaction of the minor requirement.

Advanced Placement

Incoming students with a strong undergraduate background or previous graduate study may be advised to skip courses in the Masters curriculum. You may take the final examination without taking the course; however, in order to ensure that there are sufficiently many copies of the final examination, blue books, and chairs in the room, you should notify the appropriate professor, in advance, of your intention to take the final examination. For detailed syllabi of these courses, see Section 9.

Students are permitted to transfer up to six credits of graduate work done elsewhere, in appropriate courses, for use towards the thirty credits required for the M.A. degree, subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Director and the Graduate School.