College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Mathematical Sciences
www.kent.edu/math

About This Program

The Pure Mathematics M.S. program offers a comprehensive curriculum and research opportunities to prepare students for a successful career in mathematics. Read more...

Contact Information

• Artem Zvavitch | azvavitc@kent.edu |
  330-672-3316

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university¹
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or vita
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 50 PTE score
  • Minimum 100 DET score

¹

Applicants are not required to have an undergraduate degree in pure mathematics; however, they are expected to have proficiency in algebra and analysis at the level of MATH 41001, MATH 41002, MATH 42001 and MATH 42002. Those who do not meet these specific requirements may be granted conditional admission by the Graduate Studies Committee.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Application deadline: March 1
• Spring Semester
  • Application deadline: October 1
• Summer Term
  • Application deadline: March 1

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students must complete, at minimum, two of the sequences and one semester of one of the remaining sequences. With prior permission from the Graduate Studies Committee, maximum 6 credit hours of mathematically-related coursework from other departments can be applied to meet the Mathematics Sequence Electives.

Graduation Requirements

• Candidates for the Master of Science degree must write and defend a thesis in an area agreed upon with the faculty advisor.

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Program Note

Each student should submit a detailed plan of study for approval by the advisor by the time the first 16 credit hours of graduate credit have been completed.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Reason in mathematical arguments at a level appropriate to the discipline, including using precise definitions, articulating assumptions and reasoning logically to conclusions.
2. Engage effectively in problem solving, including exploring examples, devising and testing conjectures and assessing the correctness of solutions.
3. Approach mathematical problems creatively, including trying multiple approaches and modifying problems when necessary to make them more tractable.
4. Communicate mathematics clearly both orally and in writing.
5. Teach university-level mathematics effectively.
6. Obtain a deeper understanding of some subdiscipline of mathematics.

Full Description

The Master of Science degree in Pure Mathematics is primarily a terminal, pre-professional degree comprising coursework beyond the bachelor's degree that emphasizes theoretical areas of the discipline, including algebra, analysis, geometry, number theory and topology. Students are required to write and defend a thesis in an area agreed upon with a faculty advisor.