The Mathematics MS Program requirements are in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Catalog. Please take the time to read it carefully once a semester. The general rules of the Graduate School are also in the Graduate Catalog. They are important too and you should be familiar them. See especially the sections Degree Requirements and Regulations and Procedures in Chapter 1. The rules that apply to you are in the Graduate Catalog for the year in which you were admitted.

Below is a summary of the steps you will need to take. You are responsible for knowing the Graduate Catalog requirements and the Graduate School deadlines and procedures.

• You are required to take 30 hours of graduate course work (meaning 400 and 500 level courses) at least 15 hours of which must be the 500 level. Your program must include Math 419 and 452 unless you passed equivalent courses elsewhere with a B or better. There are also distribution requirements and some course restrictions. See the Graduate Catalog for the details.

• Together with the Graduate Advisor you will select a Master's Committee of at least three faculty members. The chair of this committee will be your Master's Advisor. With your advisor you will fill out the Graduate Faculty Committee Approval Form. Give it to the Graduate Advisor who will check it and send it to the Graduate School for approval.

• You will write a thesis or a research paper. If you are doing a thesis you need to take 3 credit hours of Math 599. If you are doing a research paper you need to take 3 credit hours of Math 598. To find out what the different is between a thesis and a research paper read here. The format requirements for a research paper can be found here. The format requirements for a thesis can be found here. Theses of former Math MS students at SIUC can be found through Morris Library.

• You will need to use LaTeX, a specialized typesetting program for mathematics, when writing your thesis or research paper. A LaTeX template for the thesis or research paper can be found on the Math Dept webpage here.

• When you have finished you thesis or research paper you will give a presentation to your Master's Committee. The committee members must approve your work. Your advisor will submit the Oral Defense Report and either the Research Paper Approval Form (Print on 25% Cotton Paper) or the Thesis Approval Form (Print on 25% Cotton Paper) to the Grad Advisor who will check them and send on to the Graduate School for approval.

• You must submit you thesis or research paper to the Graduate School by their deadline.

• You apply to graduate here. Tell the Graduate Advisor when you apply. He or she does not have ESP. The deadline line is toward the beginning of the semester.

• Don't forget to look for a job!!

Again, this is just a summary. Read the Graduate Catalog and explore the Graduate School's webpages before coming to us with questions.

Good Luck!