The Master of Arts in Mathematics degree program provides advanced training in the theory of mathematics and its applications to a broad range of disciplines. This program prepares students for positions in education, government agencies, industry, or nonprofit institutions, or for further graduate study leading to a PhD degree.
Degree Requirements
The requirements for obtaining an MA in Mathematics can be found on the associated page of the BU Bulletin.
- Courses: The courses mentioned on the BU Bulletin page can be chosen from the courses numbered MA 500 and above. You can find more information about the graduate courses we offer here. Students can also request to use courses from other departments to satisfy some of these requirements. Please contact your advisor for more information about which courses can be used in this way. All courses must be passed with a grade of B- or higher.
- Comprehensive Examination: This exam has both a written and an oral component. The written component consists of an expository paper of typically fifteen to twenty-five pages on which the student works over a period of a few months under the guidance of the advisor. The topic of the expository paper is chosen by the student in consultation with the advisor. On completion of the paper, the student takes an oral exam given by a three-person committee, one of whom is the student’s advisor. The oral exam consists of a presentation by the student on the expository paper followed by questioning by the committee members. A student who does not pass the MA Comprehensive Examination may make a second attempt, but all students are expected to pass the exam no later than the end of the summer following their second year.