Q: What programs of graduate work are offered?
A: Graduate work in mathematics leading to the master’s degree is offered with a concentration in general mathematics, applied mathematics, actuarial and statistical mathematics, biological mathematics, computational mathematics and educational mathematics. Educational mathematics is designed for secondary and middle school teachers, and qualifies them teaching dual credit courses and at community colleges.
Q: What is the structure of the MS program in Mathematics?
A: There are two options available for the MS in Mathematics: thesis and non-thesis. Details of degree requirements can be found at the Degree Plan.
Q: Which degree options should I take, thesis option or non-thesis option?
A: There are three considerations for choosing the thesis or non-thesis options:
Q: What are the admission requirements for the MS program in Mathematics?
A: Applicants to the MS in Mathematics must submit the following items:
Q: Do I need to take GRE? What is the minimum score of GRE do I need?
A: If you have earned a master’s degree, you do not need to take GRE. Otherwise, GRE scores are required. The math program does not require a minimum score. A higher score will be helpful if you want to apply for graduate assistantships or scholarships. The average of GRE scores on both vocabularies and quantitative analysis is 304.
Q: What are the deadlines to submit an application?
A: There is no application deadline for domestic students. International student application deadlines are:
Q: Are graduate assistantships available?
A: Yes, a limited number of graduate assistantships are available to competitive students. Please contact the department head of mathematics if you are interested in a graduate assistantship.
Q: What financial supports does the math department provide?
A: There are many different kinds of financial supports are available. Please visit the webpage, Financial Supports for Mathematics Graduate Students.
Q: How much are the tuition and fees?
A: Please see the website: Tuition and Student Fees.
Q: I don't have US citizenship or permanent residency, but I have H1-B Visa and I am employed in Texas. Will I be considered as a Resident or Non- Resident for this program's tuition?
A: H1B students may be consider for “international pending” tuition. While there is not a tuition chart that shows that tuition rate, it is about $30/credit hour more than what a Texas resident pays. The student must have a H1B visa status for at least one year and continually employed in Texas during that time.
During the application process, they have to prove Texas residency by providing our completed residency questionnaire, a copy of their H1B visa, and one of the following:
Q: How many times may I take Math 597?
A: You may take Math 597 a few times as long as it has a different course title.
Q: Do I have to come to Commerce to take a class?
A: No. Our graduate classes are offered through interactive TV classrooms in Commerce, Corsicana, and Mesquite. You can take a graduate class in any of these locations that is convenient for you. Some online classes are offered in each semester. You may take online classes.
Q: Can I take online classes to complete the MS degree in math?
A: Yes, it is possible. Each semester, some online classes are offered. Thus, you can take online classes to meet the course requirement. For Math 518 or Math 595, you need to discuss with a professor if you can do it online, or how you can meet the professor. Some professors can do it by Skype, Adobe Connect, or other methods of communication. Currently, all students need to come to Commerce to defend Math 518 or Math 595.
Q: How does an online class work?
A: After you signed up an online course, you will receive an email from the professor in the week before the class starts. It is important that you check the email that you used for signing up the class. In case you did not get emails from the professor, please email the professor for course information and how to do an online class. Tests of online classes need to be proctored. The course syllabus should have information about testing.
Q: The semester has begun for a week. How can I sign up for a graduate class?
A: Since the classes have gone for a week, you will need to contact the professor teaching the class you would like take. Ask the professor what you miss, what you need to catch, if you can catch up, and if your grade will be affected. After you understand your responsibility for catching up the class, you will let the department head know so that he/she can give you an approval for taking the class.
Q: How do I sign up for Math 518 or 595?
A: After taking a few graduate courses, you may have some courses in which you are interested, and a professor you would like to work further. Then you will talk to the professor for doing Math 518 or 595 as early as possible. With the agreement by the professor and once you have decided to work with the professor on Math 518 or 595, the professor will inform the department head to create a section of Math 518 or 595 so that you can sign up. Please note that:
Q: I plan to take Math 595. Can I take it online in Summer I?
A: For Math 595, you need to find a professor who is available in Summer I to direct you on a research project. After the research project is chosen, you will work on the project. You need to ask the professor if you can discuss the project with him/her online. One summer term is not enough to complete a Math 595 project. There are two options: either get an incomplete grade so that you can have more time to finish it in summer II; or you work on the project in Summer I without registration of Math 595, then you sign up Math 595 in Summer II and complete Math 595 in Summer II. Although you can work with your professor online, you need to come to Commerce for defending your project. If you want to graduate in August, you need to defend it on or before the first Friday in August.
Q: If I get an incomplete grade for Math 595 in Summer I, do I have to pay and take it again in Summer II ? Will I need to pay twice?
A: No, you do not need to pay for an incomplete for Math 595.
Q: Which should I take, Math 518 or Math 595?
A: It depends on which degree options do you take. If you take the thesis option, you will take six hours of Math 518. If you take the non-thesis option, you will take Math 595. Also please see the answers in the previous questions, Which degree options should I take, thesis option or non-thesis option, and How do I sign up for Math 518 or 595.
Q: How can I transfer a graduate course?
A: To transfer a graduate course you took at another institution, you need to fill out the Transfer Course Request Form.
Q: I took a graduate class during my undergraduate study. Can it be transferred and used for my graduate program?
A: If the graduate courses you took during your undergraduate study are on your undergraduate transcripts, they cannot be transferred.
Q: What courses can be transferred?
A: Courses need to be at the graduate level, in mathematics or can be used for a concentration in our program, and offered at a regional credited institution. A 595 course cannot be transferred from another university.
Q: How many courses may I transfer?
A: A maximum of 1/3 of the credit required for a master’s degree may be accepted as transfer credit from another accredited graduate school if approved by the major and/or minor department and the Graduate School. Transfer credit can only be granted for credit with grades of “A”or “B” earned within six years of graduation with A&M-Commerce master’s degree. To transfer, an official transcript must be on file in the Office of Graduate Studies.
Q: Where should I send the official transcripts?
A: Please send it to:
Texas A&M University – Commerce
Office of Graduate Studies
Po Box 3011
Commerce, TX 75429
Q: When should I take the comprehensive exams?
A: You should take the comprehensive exams as soon as you are qualified. You are qualified for comprehensive exams if you have taken at least two core courses in a sequence and two more core and/or track courses with grades B or better. Once you are qualified for taking comprehensive exams, please let the department head know the courses that you want for the comprehensive exams.
Q: How do I prepare for comprehensive exams?
A: Once you are qualified for comprehensive exams, please let the department head know the courses that you want for the comprehensive exams. The department head will let you know the professors who can give you suggestions how to prepare for the comprehensive exams.
More information about Comprehensive Exams found here.
If you still questions that are not answered in this file, feel free to contact:
To request a change to this page or to request access to make changes yourself, email helpdesk@tamuc.edu.