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GRADUATE STUDIES The Mathematics and Statistics Department has 18 faculty members in Mathematics and Applications. Research specialties of the faculty include linear algebra and matrix theory, graph theory, differential equations, mathematical modeling, coding theory, signal processing and dynamical systems, among others. The department has regular colloquia and research seminars. Graduate master's
degrees are offered in mathematics, applied mathematics, and the mathematics
of communications. Doctoral
Program M.S.
Applied Mathematics M.S.
Applied Mathematics M.S.
Computational Science Admissions Graduate
Division Office Master's Thesis Latex
Template and Samples (updated 4/10/05, v 2.0.4) The Mathematics Education division has five faculty members and is in the process of hiring two others. Research specialties of the faculty include research on teaching and learning (at both the K-12 level and the undergraduate level), use of technology, and professional development for practicing teachers. All of the faculty are members of the Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education (CRMSE), which offers regular colloquia and research seminars. At the undergraduate level, students wishing to teach secondary school mathematics should pursue the BA degree in mathematics in preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential. In order to become certified to teach in public schools in California, graduates with this major are required to enroll in a fifth-year credential program in mathematics. At the master's level, two master of mathematics programs (each with a teaching emphasis) are offered: Master
of Arts for Teaching Service (MATS) for community college teaching Joint
Ph.D. Program The Mathematics and Science Education Doctoral Program (MSED) is administered jointly by the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and San Diego State University (SDSU). In this program, students with a baccalaureate and master's degree in mathematics, biology, chemistry, or physics complement their discipline knowledge with studies of how people learn mathematics and science. MSED offers a supportive environment where students pursue their own research interests while working closely with faculty on both campuses. The interdisciplinary course requirements (including courses in cognitive science and philosophy) strike a balance between theoretical and practical classes, including a teaching practicum. Master
of Arts in Teaching Service The Master of Arts for Teaching Service has two specializations: Community
College Teaching Admission Students should meet the requirements for classified graduate standing (e.g., a degree with the equivalent of a mathematics major, appropriate GPA and GRE scores), as described in the Graduate Bulletin. At the discretion of the Graduate Adviser and the Graduate Division, students may be admitted with conditional or unclassified standing in order to complete necessary background courses. Course and Exam Requirements In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master's degree as described in the Bulletin, students must complete an official program of 30 units, at least 24 of which must be from the Department of Mathematical Sciences. At least 15 of the 24 must be 600- and 700-level courses. An official program of study must be prepared with and approved by the graduate adviser before it is submitted to the Graduate Division. All students
are required to pass a department qualifying exam early in their program.
Currently this qualifying exam is part of MTHED 603. With departmental
approval and appropriate performance on the qualifying exam, students
may select either Plan A which requires MATH 799A (Thesis) or Plan B which
requires passing a comprehensive examination in mathematics education.
Students must also select one of the specializations (Community College
or Secondary Teaching) listed below. This specialization is designed for students with strong undergraduate preparation in mathematics and may be used to satisfy the requirements for teaching at the community college level. Students must have completed a bachelor's degree in mathematics (or equivalent) before entering the program and must have completed at least two courses selected from MATH 521A (Abstract Algebra), MATH 524 (Linear Algebra), and MATH 534A (Advanced Calculus) or their equivalent; the third course may be part of the program. It is helpful if MATH 521B and/or MATH 534B are also taken during the undergraduate years. Students interested in teaching mathematics in the community colleges should be aware of the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges (AMATYC) and their Standards document. Required mathematics courses for this specialization include a graduate course in Geometry
(MATH 600) Students should take at least one mathematics course that is numbered 621 or higher, and their nine units of electives should be courses in advanced mathematics. If a student was admitted with only two of MATH 521A (Abstract Algebra), MATH 524 (Linear Algebra), and MATH 534A (Advanced Calculus) as part of their undergraduate work, the third course must be one of the electives. Required courses in mathematics education include: MTHED
603 and MATH 720 (Seminar) can also be used when the seminar topic deals with mathematics education. Students
who obtain the adviser’s approval to select Plan A will substitute
MATH 799A (Thesis) for one of the mathematics education courses. Most
students select Plan B and take a comprehensive examination on three of
their mathematics education courses (normally 603 and two of 604, 605,
606, and 720). In preparation for this exam, see the adviser for instructions
and then register for three units of MATH 798, Special Study, Research
in Mathematics Education; these credits for MATH 798 are not included
in the 30-unit program. This specialization is designed to strengthen the mathematical background of secondary teachers, while providing course work to better understand the learning and teaching of mathematics in grades 7-12. Students should have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in mathematics before entering the program. Students interested in teaching mathematics in the secondary schools should be aware of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and their Standards documents; see their web site at: http://www.nctm.org/ Required mathematics courses for this specialization include a course in geometry
(MATH 510, 511, 512, or 600) Required courses in mathematics education include: MTHED
603 and MATH 720 (Seminar) can also be used when the seminar topic deals with mathematics education. The remaining 6 units of electives can be chosen from either mathematics or mathematics education courses, in consultation with the adviser. Students
who obtain the adviser’s approval to select Plan A will substitute
MATH 799A (Thesis) for one of the mathematics education courses. Most
students select Plan B and take a comprehensive examination on three of
their mathematics education courses (normally 603 and two of 604, 605,
606, and 720). In preparation for this exam, see the adviser for instructions
and then register for three units of MATH 798, Special Study, Research
in Mathematics Education; these credits for MATH 798 are not included
in the 30-unit program. Student Support A limited number of graduate teaching assistantships in mathematics are available to qualified students. Applications are available in the department office. Support for qualified candidates may also be available through the Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education, General Mathematics Studies, the School of Teacher Education, or through employment on faculty research grants. For further information, consult the Graduate Bulletin, the Mathematical Sciences Department Office (GMCS-413, 619-594-6191), or the MATS Graduate Adviser, Dr. Janet Bowers, jbowers@math.sdsu.edu, GMCS-570, 619-594-6361. The Mathematics and Statistics Department has 6 faculty members in Statistics and Biostatistics. Research specialties of the faculty include biostatistics, clinical trials, environmental statistics, statistical computing, statistical education, Bayesian statistics, and spatial statistics. The division is active in the American Statistical Association San Diego Chapter and holds weekly seminars in statistics. The American Statistical Association (ASA) is a scientific and educational society to promote excellence in the application of statistical science. The Division runs the SDSU Statistical Consulting Center which provides advice, data management, and statistical analyses to the university community and to the private sector. The Center is staffed by two co-directors who are Ph. D. level faculty and by Master's level graduate students in the statistics and biostatistics programs at SDSU. Refer here for current job opportunities. Graduate master's degrees are offered in Statistics and Statistics with a Concentration in Biostatistics. Statistics
in the Real World
MS Statistics Concentration in Biostatistics The Master of Science program in Statistics at San Diego State University is the ideal vehicle for a student who would like to gain employment as a statistician in private industry, government or education. The program gives students a solid background in statistical theory and can be used as a stepping-stone to a Ph.D. program in Statistics. The program also gives students practical experience with applied methods, including statistical computing and statistical consulting, that is highly valued by industry and government employers. For those interested in teaching statistics, opportunities to teach Introductory Statistics are available; pedagogical techniques are discussed in Stat 790 Teaching Assistant Training. Students may pursue either the general degree or a Concentration in Biostatistics that emphasizes statistical methods and applications in the biological, health, and medical sciences. Admission Requirements Students entering the master's program should have three semesters of calculus, one semester of a calculus-based probability course, and one semester of linear algebra. Students should also have working knowledge of a computer programming language. Students lacking some of the above undergraduate background may be admitted conditionally and may make up this coursework during the first year of the program (these courses do not count toward the degree course requirements). Requirements concerning the GRE exam and GPA requirements are the same as for the other SDSU graduate programs. A GRE combined score (quantitative and verbal scores) of 950 and a GPA of 2.85 (3.0 GPA international) are expected. Financial Aid The Department
of Mathematics and Statistics offers a limited number of research and
teaching assistantships, applications for which should include transcripts
and two letters of reference, to be submitted to the Department Chair.
Off-campus professional employment may be obtained through a University
Foundation work-study program, administered by the Placement Center. The Department maintains a web page with further information on admission and financial support. Program Requirements Candidates
must complete 30 units of graduate level and approved upper division coursework,
as described below. Thesis Requirements General requirements for the master's thesis are as described in the graduate bulletin. As defined in the bulletin: A thesis is the written product of a systematic study of a significant problem. It identifies the problem, states the major assumptions, explains the significance of the undertaking, sets forth the sources for and the methods of gathering information, analyzes the data, and offers a conclusion or recommendation. The finished product evidences originality, critical and independent thinking, appropriate organization and format, high level of writing competency, and thorough documentation. Students should note that they must be advanced to candidacy before they will be permitted to form an official thesis committee and to enroll in Math 799A. In addition to the university requirements, the departmental requirements are as follows: 1. The
chair of the thesis committee must be a faculty member from the Division
of Statistics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Please view complete details regarding SDSU Policy for Service on Master's Thesis Committees. PLAN
B (non-thesis option): Spring/Fall 2010 Students planning to take the Plan B option have to take at least 2 units of Stat 795, and one unit of Stat 720 or 790 or an additional unit of 795. In addition, the non-thesis option requires a two-part comprehensive examination in lieu of a thesis. Policies and procedures for the Plan B examination are given below. Policies
and Procedures for the Plan B examination: Theory Exam (part 1) will be given at 1:00-5:00pm on Wednesday before fall semester classes begin each year. Data Analysis Exam (part 2) will be available on the web at 10 am on Monday of the 12th week of each spring semester. The written report is due on the following Monday before noon. (For purposes of these exams, the spring break is not counted as a week of the spring semester.) Students should note that they must be advanced to candidacy before they will be permitted to take the two-part comprehensive exam. Students
may sign up for SPRING Data Analysis exam from February
15 to March 1, and for the FALL Theory Exam from
June 15 to July 1. Candidates must choose
two electives for the Theory Exam. Students with concentration in Biostatistics
must choose Stat 680A and Stat 680B for their electives. No registration
will be accepted after the deadline. To
register for exams, email: mathhelp@sciences.sdsu.edu Cancellations should be done before these deadlines as well, or a failing grade will be given. At the time of the exam, each student will be given a random ID number to be used on the exams. Students may take the two parts of the exam in any order. Each part of the exam may be taken by a student at most two times. Spring
2010 Data Analysis Exam: Fall
2010 Theory Exam: Guidelines for Statistics Theory Exam If you have filed for Advancement to Candidacy, and successfully passed the two part comprehensive exams, please download and complete a copy of the Report of Final Examinations form. Have your Academic Advisor sign the form, and then take the form to the Graduate Division Office. Faculty While coursework from other instructors may be counted towards the MS, the core faculty for the program consists of the statistics specialists within the Department. These are as follows: Barbara Bailey, Jianwei Chen, Kristen Duncan, Juanjuan Fan, Richard Levine, C.D. Lin, K.J. Lui, Vladimir Rotar Juanjuan Fan serves as advisor for the Statistics program.
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