Program Information

The Department of Mathematics offers the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, and the Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Science in Teaching, each with a major in mathematics. Complete descriptions of the minimum requirements for these degrees are provided in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

The Department has an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program designed for superior undergraduate students who have the ability to pursue such a plan of study leading to the Master of Science degree. The main feature of the program is that up to 12 semester hours of approved graduate level mathematics courses may be used as dual credit for both the undergraduate and the graduate degree. All other requirements for both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree must be met. For admission requirements for this program, see the undergraduate coordinator.

There are opportunities for concentrated study in a number of specific areas of pure and applied mathematics at both the master’s and doctoral levels. The faculty directs studies and research in algebra, number theory, analysis, geometry, topology, logic and set theory, differential equations, dynamical systems, probability theory, optimization, combinatorial theory, biomathematics, and imaging.

In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, the minimum prerequisite for admission to the program of graduate studies in mathematics is the completion, with an average grade of B or better, of at least 24 credits of undergraduate mathematics, including a full year of calculus and three semesters of appropriate work beyond the calculus. The most appropriate courses for this purpose are advanced calculus, linear algebra and abstract algebra. Students lacking part of the requirements will be required to make up the deficiency early in their graduate work.

Prerequisites to individual courses should be determined before registration by consultation with the instructor concerned. Some of the courses listed are offered only as needed. Since times of offering courses are estimated a year in advance, certain changes may be made if needs are known by the Department.

Students pursuing the master’s degree in mathematics must pass two comprehensive written examinations, one in algebra and one in analysis or prepare and provide an oral defense of a thesis on original research conducted under the supervision of a faculty adviser. Students pursuing the Master of Arts in Teaching or the Master of Science in Teaching degree must prepare a teaching portfolio and pass an oral examination. Each of these programs normally requires two years for completion.

The requirements for a doctoral degree include 36 hours of 6000-level course work in mathematics; no hours of teaching, colloquium, dissertation, or individual work will count toward this requirement. To become a candidate for the doctoral degree, the student must pass a comprehensive preliminary examination with written and oral components administered by the Department. The doctoral student must also pass a reading knowledge examination in one of the following foreign languages: French, German, or Russian. The dissertation is an important requirement for the doctoral degree in mathematics. The topic for the dissertation may be chosen from a number of areas of current research in pure and applied mathematics.

Details concerning all requirements for graduate degrees in mathematics may be obtained by writing the Mathematics Department Graduate Selection Committee or consulting the Department website, http://www.math.ufl.edu.

Degrees Offered with a Major in Mathematics

• Doctor of Philosophy
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Clinical and Translational Science
  • concentration in Imaging Science and Technology
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Master of Science
• Master of Science in Teaching

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Mathematics Courses

Mathematics Departmental Courses

mathematics (PHD)

SLO 1     Knowledge        
Describes and explains advanced knowledge of at least one chosen specialty and conducts research in it.

SLO 2     Skills     
Communicates mathematical thinking through clear and compelling arguments to faculty, peers and others.

SLO 3     Professional Behavior   
Teaches mathematical courses in a professional manner, assessing the appropriate level of presentation for the students, creating an atmosphere conducive to learning, and supporting student-teacher interactions for active learning

Mathematics (MAT)       

SLO 1     Knowledge        
Demonstrates content knowledge relevant to mathematics teaching

SLO 2     Skills     
Communicates mathematics effectively through prior organization of material, effective use of the blackboard or other presentation media, compelling choice of illustrative examples, and emphasis on methods of solving problems rather than on presenting solutions

SLO 3     Professional Behavior   
Prepares for lessons; arrives on time; conducts themselves appropriately

Mathematics (MS)          

SLO 1     Knowledge        
Depth: Either solves problems in two areas from algebra/analysis/applied/topology or conducts research in mathematics at the master's level

SLO 2     Skills     
Writes extended mathematical prose to the precision required by the discipline and supports mathematical arguments with logical reasoning

SLO 3     Professional Behavior   
Teaches mathematical courses in a professional manner, assessing the appropriate level of presentation for the students, creating an atmosphere conducive to learning, and supporting student-teacher interactions for active learning

Mathematics (MST)

SLO 1     Knowledge        
Describes and explains content knowledge relevant to mathematics and teaching

SLO 2     Skills     
Communicates mathematics effectively through prior organization of material, effective use of the blackboard or other presentation media, compelling choice of illustrative examples, and emphasis on methods of solving problems rather than on presenting solutions

SLO 3     Professional Behavior   
Prepares for lessons; arrives on time; conducts themselves appropriately