Paul R. Goodey, Chair
Murad Ozaydin, Graduate Liaison
423 Physical Sciences Center
Norman, OK 73019-3103
Phone: (405) 325-6711|
FAX: (405) 325-7484
Internet: http://www.math.ou.edu/
e-mail: pgoodey@ou.edu
Professors Albert, Apanasov, Basmajian, Brady, Breen, Dickey, Goodey, Grasse, Gutman, Landes, Lee, Magid, McCullough, McKnight, Miller, Ozaydin, Przebinda, Rubin, Walschap, Wei, White; Associate Professors Akin, Lifschitz, Murphy, Ray, Roche, Shankar, Zhu; Assistant Professors Forester, Petrov, Remling, Schmidt.
Information on both undergraduate and graduate programs is included. However, the general information contained in this section mainly covers undergraduate study. Please refer to the Graduate College section of this catalog for general information on graduate programs.
The department encourages self-study and the taking of advanced mathematics courses in high school. Credit for this activity may be earned through a variety of examinations, including those given by the College Entrance Examination Board (advanced placement), the department (advanced standing), and CLEP (College-Level Examination Program). Advanced standing tests are administered through the Independent Study Department. Transfer students are urged to consult either the department office or undergraduate mathematics adviser if doubt exists concerning proper placement.
Students majoring in mathematics, the physical sciences, or engineering should take the calculus sequence 1823, 2423, 2433, and 2443. The sequence 1743–2123, is designed for students in business and the life or social sciences.
Courses numbered below 1823 do not carry major credit. Neither do the courses 2123, 2213, 3213, 4280. Only students in the teacher certification program may earn major credit for 4232.
The department strongly recommends a grade of C or better in all prerequisite mathematics courses.
The student whose major interest is in mathematics may work either for the standard degree of Bachelor of Arts or the professional degree of Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.
For a well-rounded program in mathematics, majors should purposely seek out a variety of fields before specializing, even though this may result in more credit hours than are actually required for a major.
All major programs must include 12 hours of elementary calculus (1823, 2423, 2433, and 2443). Majors are strongly urged to take 2513 and 3333 before completing the calculus sequence.
The additional requirements for specific programs follow (unless otherwise indicated, all course numbers indicate mathematics courses).
The Mathematics Department has a number of endowed scholarship funds to support its undergraduate majors. Scholarship applications are accepted from January to March each year with the awards announced in April. Applications are available in the ‘Undergraduate Study’ section of the Math Department Web page: www.math.ou.edu.
The standard degree program (code 1701A) leading to the Bachelor of Arts general option requires:
Grades of C or better must be earned in all mathematics courses at the 3000-level or higher.
The professional degree program (code 1701K) leading to the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics requires:
Grades of C or better must be earned in all mathematics courses at the 3000-level or higher.
The dual B.S./M.S. degree in Mathematics and Biostatistics (code 1701L) requires the following mathematics courses:
B.S. Component
B.S./M.S. Component
M.S. Component
Additional Requirements
Prerequisites for Major Support Requirements
At least one of the biological or physical science courses must have a laboratory component.
No more than eight hours toward the dual degree program may carry a grade lower than a B. No course at the 4000-level or higher with a grade of C may apply toward the program.
The student planning to teach mathematics in the secondary school should follow the mathematics teacher certification program. He or she may receive either the standard or professional degree. However, the courses 2513, 3613, 4643 and 4753 must be taken. Further requirements are discussed in this catalog under Teaching Certificates.
Mathematics majors who are candidates for degrees with honors must satisfy all of the requirements for a professional degree. For other requirements students should consult the director of the Honors Program.
The requirements for the minor in mathematics are: 15 hours of courses acceptable for major credit, including 2443 and nine upper-division hours including six hours numbered 4000 or above. Three hours of either 3960 or 3970 (not both) may be substituted for three hours at the 4000-level or higher.
In order to meet a variety of needs, the department has established several masters’ programs. The traditional Master of Arts degree (Option I) is particularly suitable for students who may want to pursue a doctorate or who are interested in teaching at the college level. The Master of Science degree emphasizes applications of mathematics. The dual degree program addresses the increasing need of mathematics in business and management.
For admission to this program with full standing, a student should have completed the mathematics courses required for a bachelor’s degree with a major in mathematics at the University of Oklahoma or their equivalents. Students lacking this preparation must acquire it, either by taking the courses or advanced standing examinations. The course requirements are:
1. Twelve hours of elementary calculus equivalent to Math 1823, 2423, 2433, and 2443.
2. Math 2513, 3333, 4323, 4433.
3. Two courses from: 3413 (or 3113), 3613, 3693, 4073, 4083, 4163, 4333, 4373, 4443, 4733 (or 4753), 4743 (or 4753), 5423 (or 4103), 5653, 5853, 5863.
For the M.A. degree the student must present a minimum of 32 hours at the 4000 level or above.
The general requirements of the Graduate College must be satisfied as well as the following departmental requirements:
a. At least 15 hours from 5353-5363, 5453-5463, 5853-5863.
b. If only 15 hours are taken from (a), then another six hour sequence of 5000 or 6000 numbered courses must be taken.
c. Pass comprehensive examinations over three sequences listed in (a) or (b), two of which must be chosen from sequences in (a). Master’s candidates who plan to seek a Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma should take the qualifying examination to satisfy this requirement. The qualifying examination consists of comprehensive examinations over all three sequences in (a).
Both thesis and non-thesis programs are available for the master’s degree.
For entry to this program, a student is expected to have knowledge of a computer language, and one course in each of the areas of differential equations, linear algebra, modern algebra, advanced calculus, and probability/statistics. If the student is deficient in these prerequisites, up to three hours of work taken in residence to satisfy the requirements may be included in the graduate program with the approval of the graduate liaison.
Each student shall obtain approval for his or her program of study from the Applied Math Committee. This committee, with the graduate liaison as an ex-officio member, will ensure that the program of study, including a thesis, if any, will provide a coherent education in applied mathematics appropriate for a master’s degree, and that it will meet the formal requirements of the department. Course requirements are as follows:
1. One three-hour course in each of the areas of statistics and numerical analysis/computer science.
2. Two three-hour courses in abstract mathematics.
3. Math 5103, Mathematical Models.
4. Two courses besides those used in (1) in some area of applied mathematics.
5. At least two courses, taken at the 4000 level or higher from outside the mathematics department, which use mathematics beyond elementary calculus. A maximum of nine hours of coursework outside of mathematics can be applied to the degree.
6. No more than nine hours of coursework in mathematics below the 5000 level, and at most 12 hours of 4000-level coursework in total. No courses below 4000 level can be applied to the degree.
7. A total of 32 hours, of which 12 hours must be at the 5000 level or higher in the mathematics department. A thesis is not required, but is an option for a maximum of two hours credit.
Each student will pass a comprehensive examination over material to be determined by the student’s committee.
This program differs from the above M.S. degree in the following ways:
1. The entering student should be a certified or prospective teacher of secondary mathematics.
2. Up to six hours of work taken in residence, which is needed to make up any deficiencies the student may have, may be included in the student’s graduate program.
3. Course requirement (5) for the M.S. degree is replaced by the following requirement: the student’s program will include at least three hours of directed reading/independent study in mathematics education (a maximum of nine hours in education may be counted in the degree program).
The Master of Business Administration/Master of Science degree in mathematics program is available for those students who wish advanced training in both fields of study. The combined degree program consists of fewer hours than the total number normally required for the two degrees taken separately. See graduate section of this catalog for a description of this dual degree option.
In order to be admitted to the Ph.D. program in mathematics, a student should first have completed a master’s degree or equivalent. A total of at least 90 hours of graduate-level work is required for this degree, of which two hours may be master’s thesis (5980) or special problems (5990). A student who desires to study for the doctorate must pass a qualifying examination. A syllabus of the material covered by the examination is available in the departmental office. The examination may be repeated only once. This examination covers the first-year graduate sequences in algebra, analysis, and topology. An incoming graduate student with a master’s degree is required to take the qualifying examination not later than the second semester in residence. After the qualifying examination and after an agreement has been reached with a thesis adviser, the student then requests an advisory conference to determine a program in the area of interest.
The 90-hour program for the degree must include the following sequences of mathematics courses numbered above 5000:
1. A sequence of 12 hours (including seminars) in one of the major areas of mathematics;
2. Sequences of six hours in each of three other areas;
3. A thesis representing an original contribution to mathematical knowledge.
The candidate chooses the sequences in consultation with his/her Advisory Committee, which is responsible for determining the scope and character of the program of study.
The student will normally participate in seminars and colloquia in addition to the coursework.
Reading proficiency in two foreign languages is required.
Ph.D. — Option in Undergraduate Mathematics Curriculum and Pedagogy Research
A student who desires to study for this option of the mathematics doctorate must pass the qualifying review at a level appropriate for this option as determined by the Graduate Committee in consideration of the student’s record and qualifying examination performance.
A total of at least 90 hours of graduate-level work is required for this degree. The program must include the following:
1. An approved combination of 9 hours of reading, seminar and other mathematics courses numbered above 5000 in research in mathematics curriculum and pedagogy.
2. Approved sequences of six hours of courses numbered 5000 or above in each of two areas of mathematics, excluding courses used for the master’s degree.
3. An approved combination of no less than 18 hours of relevant courses above the 5000-level inside or outside the department to provide the necessary tools for research in undergraduate mathematics curriculum and pedagogy.
4. A thesis representing an original contribution to research in undergraduate mathematics curriculum and pedagogy. The program will include at most 15 hours of MATH 6980, Dissertation Research.
The candidate chooses the sequences in consultation with his/her Advisory Committee, which is responsible for determining the scope and character of the program of study. The 18 hours of research tool courses required above replace the foreign language requirement for this option of the mathematics doctoral program. Students will normally participate in seminars and colloquia in addition to coursework.
Support
Extensive support is available for students enrolled in a graduate program in Mathematics. The department has a limited number of fellowships available; all students are automatically considered for these fellowships.
Although both teaching and research assistantships are available, incoming students are generally considered only for graduate teaching assistant appointments.
Application materials are available from the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Mathematics, University of Oklahoma. Applications for support are accepted at any time; however, the majority of offers are extended from March to June of each year. Students desiring support in the fall terms should have completed applications sent to the Department of Mathematics by June 1st (March 1st for students applying outside the USA).
A student for who English is not a native language must submit the TSE to be considered for a teaching appointment.