The department offers two degree programs for students who wish to emphasize secondary and junior college mathematics education-the M.A.T. and the M.M. degrees. Courses at the 700-level specifically designed for these programs are designated by the letter I adjoined to the course number. These courses are generally offered in the late afternoon during the academic year and during the summer to provide area teachers the opportunity to work toward a degree on a part-time basis.
The Master of Mathematics degree is designed primarily for students who seek a broad, thorough training in mathematics which includes course work specifically designed to meet the needs of secondary-school teachers for whom SC certification is not an issue, and for those intending to teach at the junior/community college level.
Learning Outcomes
- MM students will demonstrate an understanding of algebra, calculus, statistics and geometry as taught at the secondary level, and the basic elements of group theory, ring theory, and real analysis, that is, the material of core curriculum courses listed above. MS and MA students will master the material of the core curriculum courses listed above, as well as the foundational material of their specialty. The level of problem formulation and solution, and written expository skill, should reach a level adequate for the writing of a thesis. [Note: specific topics could be itemized here as in the PhD plan, but since the three degrees have such different programs of study, this would probably be excessively lengthy.]
- All students who are GTA’s will demonstrate teaching proficiency in the settings described in the Curriculum above.
Admission
For admission into the M.S., M.A., M.M., or Ph.D. degree programs, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an approved institution and should have an undergraduate foundation in mathematics equivalent to that of a major in mathematics at the University of South Carolina. A minimum B (3.0) average in all college-level math courses is required for full admission.
Applicants should submit an official transcript from each school or college previously attended, and at least two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their abilities in mathematics. Applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit a satisfactory score on the iBT TOEFL exam. The minimum score for admission to the program is 80.
Application and materials should be submitted online at http://www.gradschool.sc.edu/apply.htm, or be mailed to:
The Graduate School
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Degree Requirements (30 Hours)
The M.M. degree requires 30 approved semester hours of graduate course work, at least half of the course work must be in mathematics. All mathematics courses must be numbered 700 and higher. M.M. degree candidates must earn a grade of B+ or better in at least two of these mathematics courses from different areas of mathematics.
