Master of Arts in Mathematics

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

The Master of Arts in Mathematics is a thirty-six hour, non-thesis program designed for those who desire to teach undergraduate community college-level and/or dual-credit or AP-level high-school mathematics classes.  Recipients of the MA degree are also prepared for admission to a doctoral program in mathematics education.  The MA in Mathematics program is an online program; however, it can accommodate students who wish to take some face-to-face courses.

Students who wish to work in industry, teach at the upper post-secondary level, or pursue doctoral studies in mathematics are encouraged to pursue the MS in Mathematics.

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in Mathematics must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred for admission into the Mathematics program. However, GPA is not the sole criterion for admission. Based on a review of an applicant's undergraduate transcript, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics may require completion of undergraduate stem courses as a condition for admission. Required prerequisites include three semesters of calculus and one semester of linear algebra.

The degree requires a minimum of thirty-six hours of graduate credit. An oral comprehensive examination covering the four core MA courses is administered by the advisory committee for each degree candidate. The oral examination must be scheduled with the Graduate Advisor at least three weeks in advance.  Students must be enrolled in the MA program during the semester in which they take the comprehensive examination. Requirements specified in the degree plan are subject to minor modification by the department. Also, to ensure a balanced program, all electives must be approved by the department chair or an authorized representative of the graduate Mathematics faculty.

Master of Arts in Mathematics
Courses
MATH 5380Research Project In Math Edu3
MATH 5386Concepts in Modern Algebra3
MATH 5387Transformational Geometry3
MATH 5388Concepts in Analysis3
MATH 5389Concepts in Probability & Stat3
Electives
Select three graduate courses in MATH9
Additional Coursework
Select 12 hours of the following:12
Graduate courses in a second teaching field 1
Graduate MATH courses
Graduate STAT courses
Combination of graduate credit in the following areas: Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Secondary Education
Total Hours36
1

Selections must be made in consultation with the Graduate Advisor.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The MA in Mathematics is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Teach mathematics at the secondary and post-secondary levels.
  • Analyze quantities, magnitude, forms, and their relationships using symbolic logic and language.
  • Apply mathematics and statistics to the solution of general problems of interest.