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Master of Science in Mathematics

The M.S. in Mathematics program can provide a suitable background for further graduate study in the mathematical sciences or for a career in education, business, industry, or public service.

Miami has been recognized time and again as a "Public Ivy", offering tremendous educational opportunities. The Department of Mathematics has been recognized by its peers in a similar fashion, often garnering national recognition and awards.

About the M.S. in Mathematics

The Department offers a Master of Science Degree in Mathematics. Located in Bachelor Hall in Oxford, Ohio, we are just a short drive from Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. Our 25+ tenure track faculty have research interests in a wide range of areas within mathematics, including Algebra, Analysis, Applied Analysis, Graph Theory and Combinatorics, Mathematics Education, Optimization, Set Theory, Differential Equations and Applied Dynamical Systems, as well as Algebraic Topology and Geometric Group Theory. Find out more about our faculty and their research interests.

Our program is small compared to many Ph.D.-granting departments. We usually have about 20 graduate students at any given time, hence classes are small with a great deal of personal interaction between students and faculty. Graduate student and faculty offices are not far from each other, facilitating collaboration.

Our graduate degree paves the way toward a variety of careers. For some of our alumni, our program has served as a gateway to top Ph.D. programs; some teach mathematics as instructors in universities and high schools and others are successful in business, industry, private sector, or government service.

The applications are accepted year-round, but admission decisions are made in early February. A GRE score is not required to gain entrance into our graduate program. The application contains an option to request financial support in the form of the Graduate Assistantship.

A Combined Bachelor's / M.S. program is available.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Content Knowledge: Demonstrate depth of knowledge of the main concepts, theorems, and techniques of major branches of mathematics;
  2. Independent Learning: Demonstrate the ability to independently investigate and understand advanced topics from the mathematics literature;
  3. Professional Communication: Demonstrate the ability to present mathematical ideas to professional audiences in both written and oral form.

Degree Requirements

The required courses in this program include a selection in both pure and applicable mathematics.  The program can provide a suitable background for further graduate study in the mathematical sciences or for a career in education, business, industry, or public service. Each program must be approved by the Graduate Committee before the end of the student's first year of graduate study.

  • Course Requirements and some additional course details
  • GPA: 3.00 GPA overall, in all courses in the approved program, and in all other  MTH courses except those which cannot count towards the degree.
  • Final Masters Project or Thesis (the thesis option requires a 6 credit hour
    thesis (MTH 700) in addition to the 32 hours.)
  • Final Oral Exam: Presentation of Final Project or Thesis.

Interested in Teaching Mathematics?

Unlike many programs, here at Miami, you will most likely have an opportunity to teach a recitation session or possibly your own class, such as Precalculus, Calculus, or similar. This will give you an excellent taste of professional life in higher education.

Learn More About the MAT for Mathematics

Graduate Assistantships

A graduate assistantship is an award made by the Department of Mathematics and the University. The award consists of a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. In return, the awardee will be expected to teach or perform other duties for the Department.

How and when are Graduate Assistantships Awarded?

On February 1 of each year the Graduate Committee of the Department of Mathematics will consider all completed applications and make some initial offers of assistantships. The committee will consider all information provided by the student but must have three letters of recommendation and a transcript of grades at the minimum. The Committee will continue to make awards until all openings have been filled. Typically, all assistantships are awarded and accepted by the end of April, however, we encourage you to apply even beyond this date, since occasionally positions become available.

What duties are expected of a Graduate Assistant?

Common Graduate Assistant duties include teaching recitation sessions for classes such as Precalculus, Calculus, or similar, and grading, running help sessions, etc for a maximum average of 20 hours per week.  Some GAs may be assigned to teach their own section of Calculus I.

What does the Graduate School expect from a Graduate Assistant?

In order to maintain your Graduate Assistantship, the Graduate School requires that you take a minimum of 9 (and a maximum of 14) graduate hours. The Department of Mathematics further requires that you take at least 9 hours of graduate classes offered or approved by the Department. Further, you must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.00.

What are the benefits of being a Graduate Assistant?

Graduate Assistants are paid a competitive stipend. Further, they are assigned an office in the department where they can study and work, and they can use computer labs in the department at any time of the day.

What costs will a Graduate Assistant need to pay?

A Graduate Assistantship only covers the stipend and tuition waiver. The student will need to pay a portion of the General Fee as well as miscellaneous fees. The payroll office will allow a Graduate Assistant to pay these fees in installments and the installments can be taken from the GA's paycheck.

Note that room and board, text books, and living expenses are not paid by the assistantship. These expenses are the responsibility of the student. 

What do you need to submit to the Department to be considered for an assistantship?

If interested, please indicate on your application for admission that you wish to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship. No separate application is required.

When should you get your application materials to the Department?

The target date for applications is February 1. The Graduate Committee starts making decisions on admission and Assistantships in early February and makes an initial round of offers at that time. Applications will be accepted and considered until all open positions are filled.

Do you need to be admitted or to apply to the Graduate School to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship?

Yes. Graduate assistantships can be held only by current graduate students.

Location Information

If you are awarded an assistantship, the Department will require that you be on campus the week before school starts. Miami usually starts the Fall semester in the last week of August. You will be required to attend a "teaching seminar" course for which you will receive credit.

All Graduate Assistants will be assigned an office in the Department, close to the offices of all faculty members.

The Graduate School

For more information about our program or the Graduate School at Miami University, complete the Graduate School Request for Information at the Graduate School website.

Contact Us

For further information, contact Beata Randrianantoanina, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Mathematics, Miami University, 227 Bachelor Hall, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, randrib@miamioh.edu.

Department of Mathematics

123 Bachelor Hall
301 S. Patterson Ave.
Oxford, OH 45056