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

About This Program

The Pure Mathematics M.A. program provides a rigorous curriculum and faculty mentorship to prepare students for a successful career in mathematics research and education. Read more...

Contact Information

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

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

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

Examples of Possible Career 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)
• Goal statement
• Résumé or vita
• 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

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) 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, a 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 Arts degree must pass the departmental qualifying examination at the master’s level in algebra and analysis.

• 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 Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Reason in mathematical arguments, 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. Understand and appreciate connections among different subdisciplines of mathematics.
7. Be aware of and understand a broad range of mathematical subdisciplines.
8. Obtain a broader and deeper understanding of core mathematics disciplines of algebra and analysis.

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Pure Mathematics comprises a flexible program of coursework in mathematics beyond the bachelor's degree emphasizing theoretical areas of the discipline (algebra, analysis, geometry, number theory and topology). There is no thesis requirement or option. Students in the Pure Mathematics Ph.D. degree can apply for this M.A. degree after completing the requisite number of credit hours.