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The Master of Arts program in mathematics at San Diego State University is the ideal vehicle for a student with an undergraduate degree in mathematics who wishes to learn more about higher mathematics. This would be the appropriate program for a student who entertains the idea of going on to a PhD program in mathematics. It is also the best program for students who wish to pursue a career in teaching mathematics at the Community College level. More Community College teachers of mathematics in San Diego area Community Colleges have this degree than any other, and numerous graduates have gone on to teach at Community Colleges throughout California.
Applicants to the program are expected to have a degree in mathematics roughly equivalent to the bachelor's degree at SDSU. Requirements concerning the GRE exam and GPA requirements are the same as for the other graduate programs. A GRE combined score of 950 and a GPA of 2.85 (3.0 GPA for international) are expected. Students deficient in one of these areas, or in basic coursework expected with the bachelor's degree, may be admitted on a conditional basis and given one or two semesters to remedy their deficiencies. The Department maintains a web page with further information on admission and financial support.
Like other masters programs at SDSU, the degree requires 30 units. Students may elect Plan A which requires 27 units of coursework and 3 units of thesis, or elect Plan B which requires 30 units of coursework and a comprehensive examination. The coursework must be approved by the MA advisor, and at most 9 units of coursework at the 500-level can count towards the degree. All other work must be at the 600-level or above. This program requires the student to take a core of courses in the areas of Algebra and Analysis. The student must take two of the following algebra courses; math 627A (groups and rings), 627B (field theory) and 623 (linear algebra). In addition, the student must take two of the following analysis courses; math 630A, 630B (functions of a real variable), 631A, and 631B, functions of a complex variable). Elective courses are mainly chosen from pure or applied mathematics, but courses from computer science, statistics, engineering or other disciplines may be included in the program.
While coursework from other instructors may be counted towards the MA, the core faculty for the program consists of the mathematics specialists within the Department, namely: Professors: Ricardo Carretero, Jose Castillo, Mark Dunster, Tunc Geveci, Robert Grone, Stefen Hui, David Lesley, Joseph Mahaffy, Peter Salamon, Associate Professor: Steven Kirschvink, Michael O'Sullivan, Vadim Ponomarenko, Roxana Smarandache, Assistant Professors: Carmelo Interlando Vadim Ponomarenko serves as advisor for the program.
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