M.A.T. Mathematics Admission Requirements
The M.A.T. Admissions Committee evaluates each applicant individually and holistically, taking into account the applicant's statement of purpose, writing samples, academic record, letters of recommendation, and test scores.
All applicants to an M.A.T. program, regardless of discipline, should have:
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 in the major, and an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0. The degree must be complete at the time of admission.
- A passing score on the GACE Basic Skills Test or a stte-approved exemption;
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores above the 50th percentile in one of the three areas.
An applicant to the mathematics program should have:
- A completed major or significant preparation in a mathematics-intensive area (e.g. mathematics, applied or discrete mathematics, mathematical sciences or a mathematics-intensive engineering program).
Our students bring to their studies a variety of past experiences and undergraduate course work. In order to provide opportunities for candidates to strengthen their individual disciplinary backgrounds, the program requires that students take two additional disciplinary courses. On admission to the M.A.T. program in Secondary Mathematics, candidates meet with their program advisers to review their backgrounds and to plan appropriate course work.
The candate's undergraduate program together with the two additional courses completed as part of the M.A.T. program in Secondary Mathematics must incorporate the following coursework:
(a) Courses in mathematics:
- The calculus sequence (normally three semesters): topics to include sequences, series and function representation by series, multivariable calculus, some differential equations and some vector calculus
- A statistics course (with some counting methods and elementary probability)
- A course in linear algebra which should include abstract vector spaces
- A proof-oriented course including some topics in elementary set theory, elementary numbe theory and discrete mathematics
- A geometry course which should include axiomatic systems, non-Euclidean geometries and some three dimensional geometry
- A course in abstract algebra that developes an understanding of groups, rings and fields
(b) Mathematics electives to give a strong and relevant undergraduate major:
A student must complete courses in at least three of these areas:
- History of mathematics
- A two-semester calculus based physics sequence
- An upper-division course in real analysis
- An upper-division course in number theory
- A calculus-based applied mathemetics course
- A calculus-based course in probablity and/or statistics
- A course in discrete mathemetics
- A course in computer science
(c) Supporting Background and Competencies:
- A student shall have completed at least once course in each of at least two of the following broad areas: biology, chemistry, earth and space science, economics and physics.
A particular course may meet more than one requirement. An exceptionally well prepared student may request that one of the two additional disciplinary courses be waived.