The basic requirement for the MA degree is 30 units of approved coursework in mathematics, including required graduate courses in Modern Algebra (MATH 850) and Real Analysis (MATH 710). Additionally, students are required to complete one semester of graduate or undergraduate complex analysis. Students who have received a grade of B or better in complex analysis prior to admission will be waived from this requirement. 6 of the 30 units have to come from graduate courses (700 and above) other than MATH 710, 850, 880, 898, and 899. Undergraduate courses that can be used towards an MA include MATH 340 and all 400-level mathematics courses (course syllabi, list of currently offered courses). At least 50% of the units counted toward the degree must be exclusively from graduate courses. Another 20% may come from graduate or paired graduate/undergraduate courses. The remaining 30% may come from approved upper division courses.
In addition to coursework, the MA degree requires a Culminating Experience, either a Master's thesis containing original work, or the non-thesis option. The non-thesis option entails passing comprehensive exams in two areas selected from algebra, analysis and statistics plus writing an expository paper on an approved topic. Syllabi for the written exams and sample exams can be found here. Students who write a thesis may use the department's LaTeX template. Students who have not passed the GRE Analytical Writing Assessment with a score of 4 or better are also required to pass the University's Graduate Essay Test (the GET) prior to their first semester of study or enroll in SCI 614 during their first semester.
Graduate study at SFSU is guided by the philosophy that graduate students should develop and pursue their own mathematical interests. As much choice as possible is provided in the approved courses, including courses in other disciplines like Computer Science, the physical and biological sciences, and Philosophy. The culminating experience, too, is largely guided by the students own background and interest.
