PhD students in the math department and students enrolled in other UW–Madison PhD programs are eligible to earn an MA degree with the named option titled Foundations for Research (FR).
The MA degree is available with the named option titled Foundations of Advanced Studies (FAS). It is designed to strengthen the student's mathematics background and enhance the opportunities for applications to PhD programs and for employment as a mathematician in nonacademic environments.
Admissions
Students apply to the Master of Arts in Mathematics through the named option or the PhD:
- The Foundations for Research named option is offered for work leading to the PhD. Students may not apply directly for the master’s, and should instead see the admissions information for the PhD.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 30 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | See Named Options for policy information. |
| Assessments and Examinations | None. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Required Courses
Select a Named Option for courses required.
Named Options
A named option is a formally documented sub-major within an academic major program. Named options appear on the transcript with degree conferral. Students pursuing the Master of Arts in Mathematics must select one of the following named options:
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn a substantial body of mathematics presented in introductory graduate level courses in mathematics.
- Select and utilize appropriate methodologies to solve problems.
- Communicate clearly in written/oral presentations.
- Recognize and apply principles of ethical and professional conduct.
People
Please visit the Math Department website for a complete list of faculty and instructional academic staff.