Overview

The Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences program offers students an opportunity to advance their understanding of pure and/or applied mathematics at the graduate level, in preparation for a career in industry or a doctoral degree program. The program has three options: coursework (non-thesis), thesis, and project, which are explained in the rubric on Specific Requirements below. Those applicants interested in the thesis and project options should review research interests of our Department’s faculty.  The Department also offers a Master’s degree programs in Statistics and Biostatistics, as well as Accelerated Master’s programs in Mathematics and in Statistics for UVM undergraduate students.

Why choose UVM?

• Our Department is large enough to offer classes and research experiences in a broad range of mathematical subjects, while small enough to give students ample opportunity to interact with our active research faculty.
• We offer a variety of graduate classes, as well as flexible independent studies. For example, graduate students take classes in:
     o Applied mathematics: complex systems, differential equations, Fourier analysis, mathematical modeling, mathematical biology, numerical analysis,…
     o Pure mathematics: algebra, real/complex analysis, combinatorics, cryptography, geometry, number theory, topology, topological data analysis, …
• We have a regular Department Colloquium and regular seminars, such as the Combinatorics Seminar and the Quebec-Vermont Number Theory Seminar, as well as seminars in related departments, such as complex systems, computer science, engineering, physics and statistics.
• Burlington, Vermont has been ranked as a top college town by the New York Times. Find out more about living in Burlington here.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree with a major in mathematics or a closely related discipline (e.g., statistics, engineering, or physics, with a substantial mathematics foundation).
• Please review the Application Instructions for graduate admission to UVM. (You may also visit its “parent” website.) The information listed below supplements some of the general instruction on that page.
• The is no GRE score requirement. However, if you have taken the GRE test(s), we encourage you to submit your official score(s).
• Resume/CV is required.
• No Writing Sample is required.
• Please try to contain your Statement of Purpose to about 600 words (which is approximately one page).
• We encourage you to discuss which of the two options, coursework- or thesis-based, you plan to pursue at the moment, and why. (The project option may be thought of as a variation of the thesis option and can be used as a back-up plan for the latter, so you do not need to include it in your discussion.) You will be able to actually choose a particular option when you join the program; however, your thoughts on this matter will help the Admissions Committee reach a decision about your fit to the program. You may also include any other information about yourself that you consider relevant, such as your teaching and research experience. We encourage you to emphasize specific facts rather than make generic or emotional statements.
• An application fee will be waived by the UVM Graduate Admissions only for applicants from the categories listed under the rubric Application Fee Waiver Requests on the website Application Instructions.
• International students are to satisfy English Proficiency requirements
• Application deadlines (click on the link for Mathematical Sciences).
• While financial support (in the form of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, GTA) for MS degree applicants may be available, strong priority will be given to PhD applicants over MS ones. To be considered for a GTA, an MS applicant must arrange for at least one of the reference letters to address their teaching experience (e.g., as an undergraduate teaching Assistant or a tutor). Also, in addition to a general interview similar to that for PhD applicants, an MS applicant seeking GTA funding will need to pass a separate interview focused on teaching a short topic that will be communicated to them in advance (usually from College Algebra or pre-Calculus). Finally, an MS candidate who is admitted with GTA funding may be required to attend an online training program over a few weeks in the Summer preceding their first semester. (This emphasis on teaching preparedness of MS applicants versus PhD ones is due to the fact that the latter will be mentored by a teaching faculty during their first semester before being assigned to teach their own section, while the admitted MS GTAs will need to teach their own section starting in their first semester.)
• Between MS applicants for GTA funding, some further preference will be given to those who can justify pursuing the thesis option.
• All applications must be completed online.