Graduate Catalog 2026-2027

Mathematics, Master of Science (085)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/math/


Program Coordinator

Ferhan Atici, ferhan.atici@wku.edu, (000) 000-0000

The M.S. in Mathematics offers a general mathematics concentration, a computational concentration, and a data concentration, but has a core set of courses in applied mathematics, discrete mathematics, and statistics required for all students. The general mathematics concentration is recommended for students who wish to obtain a Ph.D. degree, to teach in a community college, or to seek employment in industry with an emphasis on conceptual foundations. The computational mathematics concentration is designed for students seeking employment in industry with an emphasis on computational mathematics and/or computer science in addition to knowledge in traditional areas.  The data concentration is designed for students seeking employment in industry with an emphasis on data science in addition to knowledge in traditional areas.

Concentration(s)

  • General Mathematics (MAGN)
  • Computational Mathematics (MACM)
  • Data (MADA)

Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)

This degree offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated timeframe. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information.

Program Admission

General Mathematics Concentration

  1. One of the following:
    1. A minimum GAP score of 575 [GAP = (GRE-V + GRE-Q) + (Undergraduate GPA x 100)];
    2. A 2.75 cumulative GPA.
  2. Completion of the following undergraduate courses:
    1. a calculus sequence through multivariable calculus;
    2. linear algebra;
    3. discrete mathematics;
    4. an applied mathematics course (e.g. differential equations, probability, calculus-based statistics, numerical analysis);
    5. abstract algebra, analysis, advanced calculus, or topology.
  3. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in at least one of the following:
    1. all mathematics and statistics courses that are applicable to the undergraduate mathematics major;
    2. courses specified in (b) through (e) of Item 2 above.

Computational Mathematics Concentration

  1. One of the following:
    1. A minimum GAP score of 575 [GAP = (GRE-V + GRE-Q) + (Undergraduate GPA x 100)];
    2. A 2.75 cumulative GPA.
  2. Completion of the following undergraduate courses:
    1. two-semester single-variable calculus sequence;
    2. linear algebra;
    3. discrete mathematics;
    4. one-year sequence of programming courses;
    5. B.A. degree with a major in either Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or Physics.
  3. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in at least one of the following:
    1. all mathematics and computer science courses that are listed in (a) through (d) of Item 2 above; or
    2. all courses in the major listed in (e) of Item 2 above.  Students cannot enter the program if they have a deficiency in the courses listed in Item 2 above.

Data Concentration

  1. One of the following:
    1. A minimum GAP score of 575 [GAP = (GRE-V + GRE-Q) + (Undergraduate GPA x 100)];
    2. A 2.75 cumulative GPA.
  2. Completion of the following undergraduate courses:
    1. two-semester single-variable calculus sequence;
    2. linear algebra;
    3. discrete mathematics;
    4. statistics or probability course;
    5. one-year sequence of programming courses;
    6. B.A. degree with a major in either Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or Physics.
  3. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in at least one of the following:
    1. all mathematics and computer science courses that are listed in (a) through (e) of Item 2 above; or
    2. all courses in the major listed in (f) of Item 2 above.  Students cannot enter the program if they have a deficiency in the courses listed in Item 2 above.

All applicants must submit the following documents for consideration:

  1. Transcripts
  2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  3. Statement of Purpose outlining academic goals and motivation for pursuing MS degree in Mathematics

Graduate Studies Admission

Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate Studies admission requirements.

Program Requirements (33 hours)

General Mathematics Concentration

Required Courses
MATH 431GIntermediate Analysis I 13
MATH 531Advanced Differential Equations 13
or MATH 535 Advanced Applied Mathematics- I
or MATH 545 Applied Analysis
MATH 541Graph Theory 13
or MATH 542 Advanced Topics in Discrete Mathematics
STAT 549Statistical Methods I 13
MATH 598Graduate Seminar: Communicating Mathematics and Technical Writing3
MATH 599Thesis/Research6
Electives
Select 3 hours from the following:3
MATH 500
Readings in Mathematics
MATH 517
Topics from Algebra
MATH 529
Applied Probability
MATH 531
Advanced Differential Equations
MATH 532
Real Analysis
MATH 535
Advanced Applied Mathematics- I
MATH 536
Advanced Applied Mathematics- II
MATH 539
Topology II
MATH 540
Stochastic Processes
MATH 541
Graph Theory
MATH 542
Advanced Topics in Discrete Mathematics
MATH 545
Applied Analysis
MATH 550
Complex Analysis
MATH 570
Topics in Operations Research
MATH 590
Special Topics in Mathematics
STAT 550
Statistical Methods II
Select 9 additional hours from the following:9
MATH 405G
Numerical Analysis
MATH 406G
Numerical Linear Algebra with Applications in Data Science (Numerical Linear Algebra with Applications in Data Science)
MATH 415G
Algebra and Number Theory
MATH 417G
Algebraic Systems
MATH 435G
Partial Differential Equations
MATH 439G
Topology I
MATH 450G
Complex Variables
MATH 470G
Introduction to Operations Research
MATH 500
Readings in Mathematics
MATH 517
Topics from Algebra
MATH 529
Applied Probability
MATH 531
Advanced Differential Equations
MATH 532
Real Analysis
MATH 535
Advanced Applied Mathematics- I
MATH 536
Advanced Applied Mathematics- II
MATH 539
Topology II
MATH 540
Stochastic Processes
MATH 541
Graph Theory
MATH 542
Advanced Topics in Discrete Mathematics
MATH 545
Applied Analysis
MATH 550
Complex Analysis
MATH 570
Topics in Operations Research
MATH 590
Special Topics in Mathematics 2
STAT 480G
Advanced Statistical Data Analysis
STAT 550
Statistical Methods II
Total Hours33

Computational Mathematics Concentration

Students in the computational mathematics concentration must have a working knowledge of a high-level programming language.

Required Courses
MATH 405GNumerical Analysis 13
MATH 406GNumerical Linear Algebra with Applications in Data Science (Numerical Linear Algebra with Applications in Data Science) 13
MATH 531Advanced Differential Equations 13
or MATH 535 Advanced Applied Mathematics- I
or MATH 545 Applied Analysis
MATH 541Graph Theory 13
or MATH 542 Advanced Topics in Discrete Mathematics
STAT 549Statistical Methods I 13
MATH 598Graduate Seminar: Communicating Mathematics and Technical Writing3
MATH 599Thesis/Research6
Electives
Select 6 hours from the following: 16
CS 456G
Artificial Intelligence
CS 549
Analysis of Algorithms
CS 555
Data Science
CS 562
Parallel and Distributed Computing
CS 565
Data Mining Techniques and Tools
Select 3 additional hours from the following: 13
MATH 431G
Intermediate Analysis I
MATH 435G
Partial Differential Equations
MATH 470G
Introduction to Operations Research
MATH 531
Advanced Differential Equations
MATH 535
Advanced Applied Mathematics- I
MATH 536
Advanced Applied Mathematics- II
MATH 540
Stochastic Processes
MATH 541
Graph Theory
MATH 542
Advanced Topics in Discrete Mathematics
MATH 545
Applied Analysis
MATH 570
Topics in Operations Research
MATH 590
Special Topics in Mathematics 2
STAT 480G
Advanced Statistical Data Analysis
STAT 550
Statistical Methods II
Total Hours33

Data Concentration

Required Courses
MATH 406GNumerical Linear Algebra with Applications in Data Science (Numerical Linear Algebra with Applications in Data Science) 13
MATH 531Advanced Differential Equations 13
or MATH 535 Advanced Applied Mathematics- I
or MATH 545 Applied Analysis
MATH 541Graph Theory 13
or MATH 542 Advanced Topics in Discrete Mathematics
STAT 480GAdvanced Statistical Data Analysis 13
STAT 549Statistical Methods I 13
CS 456GArtificial Intelligence 13
CS 555Data Science 13
MATH 598Graduate Seminar: Communicating Mathematics and Technical Writing3
MATH 597Internship at Intersection of Data Science and Mathematics/Statistics6
or MATH 599 Thesis/Research
Electives
Select 3 hours from the following: 13
MATH 405G
Numerical Analysis
MATH 470G
Introduction to Operations Research
MATH 529
Applied Probability
MATH 531
Advanced Differential Equations
MATH 535
Advanced Applied Mathematics- I
MATH 540
Stochastic Processes
MATH 545
Applied Analysis
MATH 570
Topics in Operations Research
MATH 590
Special Topics in Mathematics 2
MATH 597
Internship at Intersection of Data Science and Mathematics/Statistics
STAT 550
Statistical Methods II
Total Hours33
1

If classes with similar course content were taken at the undergraduate level, then the student must substitute appropriate graduate courses selected in consultation with a Mathematics Department graduate advisor.

2

With advisor approval.

 Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) in Mathematics

The Department of Mathematics offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree and a graduate Master of Science degree in an accelerated timeframe. The MS in Mathematics prepares students to be competitive applicants for admission into a Ph.D. program and/or for positions where strong research skills are needed. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information, see https://catalog.wku.edu/graduate/science-engineering/mathematics/mathematics-ms/

This JUMP program allows students to start working toward their MS in Mathematics with a concentration in General Mathematics, Computational Mathematics, or Mathematical Economics (Ref: 085) while completing their Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics (Ref: 528 and 728) or a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Economics (Ref: 731). Undergraduate students admitted into JUMP may take graduate courses that count toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Up to 12 credit hours can be double-counted toward both degrees, and up to 15 hours of graduate courses can be taken while a student is completing the undergraduate degree. The key benefit of the JUMP program is that it allows students to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in an accelerated timeframe. For more information, see https://www.wku.edu/math/.

To be considered for admission to the JUMP program to earn a BA in Mathematics (or a BS in Mathematical Economics) and a MS in Mathematics in an accelerated timeframe, a student must meet the following requirements:

Be a Mathematics or a Mathematical Economics major (includes programs with reference numbers 528, 728, and 731);

Have completed at least 60 hours total, with at least 24 hours earned at WKU;

Have at least 15 or more credit hours remaining to complete the bachelor’s degree;

Have completed or be enrolled in 15 credit hours in Mathematics;

Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25;

Have one of the following:

3.25 GPA in the Mathematics or Mathematical Economics major AND a grade of B or higher in at least one of the courses: MATH 307, MATH 310, MATH 317, MATH 337, MATH 439;

3.0 GPA in the Mathematics or Mathematical Economics major AND a grade of B or higher in at least two of the courses: MATH 307, MATH 310, MATH 317, MATH 337, MATH 439.

All applicants to Mathematics JUMP must submit to a Graduate Coordinator the following documents for consideration: one letter of recommendation from a WKU Mathematics faculty members and a statement of purpose outlining academic goals and motivation for pursuing the JUMP program.