Program Overview
Job opportunities for mathematicians and statisticians are growing exponentially. Data collection in the digital age requires context and interpretation. The Master of Science in Mathematics at WCU was designed with flexibility in mind. The 33-credit program includes a core curriculum (18-credits) with the opportunity for focused study through electives. Elective courses helps our students to prepare for positions in actuarial science, computer science, operations research, biomathematics, cryptography, education at the high school or community college level, research, economics, environmental mathematics, geophysical mathematics, air traffic control operations, photogrammetry, and many more. Each student completes a capstone experience in the form of either a thesis or an oral comprehensive exam. A thesis is recommended for students who would like to pursue a doctoral degree in mathematics or a related field, or be employed as a research mathematician.
Tracks
Pure Mathematics
Core courses include studies in abstract algebra, real analysis, mathematical statistics, and geometry. Selection of electives leads to career preparation in any number of fields.
Mathematics Education
Students in this program can select up to four mathematics education electives, and an additional three credit elective in any area of mathematics or related field. This concentration prepares students for a wide variety of job opportunities in the field of teaching and/or mathematics education.
Program Highlights
- Faculty experts
- Opportunities for collaborative faculty research
- Concentrations in pure mathematics or mathematics education
- Weekly Mathematics Colloquia
- Personalized advising experience
- State-of-the-art computational mathematics laboratories
What can I do with this degree?
Mathematics opens the doors to many promising careers and teaches patience, discipline, and systematic problem-solving skills. In addition, most high-earning college degrees all have a common element namely mathematics. Not only do many professions and majors (engineering, doctors, physics, nurses, computer science, actuarial science, etc.) require courses in mathematics, but the analytical and problem-solving skills students learn in mathematics can apply to all disciplines. There are an unlimited number of job opportunities for our graduates with an MS in Mathematics.
Our graduates are in demand and find positions across the country and the world, including with the following employers:
- the Internal Revenue Service
- U. S. Census Bureau
- Ford Motor Co.
- Transamerica Insurance Co.
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- IBM Corporation
- Center for Communications Research
- A. C. Nielsen Co.
- American Airlines
- U. S. Department of Energy
- Exxon Production Research Co.
- United Airlines
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Prudential Securities
- International Computer Science Institute
- National Security Agency
- Silicon Graphics
- and others.