The Graduate Program
General information
Program description for students admitted to start Spring 2010 and later
Program description for students admitted to start Fall 2009 and earlier
Graduate Advisor
Frequently asked questions: Application and admission
What math background is needed for the Master's program in math?
Students in the M.A. program in math should have completed undergraduate course work in mathematics that includes material covered in the advanced calculus sequence (Math 32300, 32400, and 32500, or Math 32300 and 31800, or Math 32300 and 32404 ), as well as a course in linear algebra similar to Math 34600. Students with an undergraduate degree in mathematics or a mathematical field who lack this background may be admitted conditionally to the MA program, but the appropriate course work will have to be completed without graduate credit. For students interested in the probability and statistics MA degree option, undergraduate courses in probability and statistics are also required. Please contact the graduate advisor for further information.
When are the deadlines for applying and what is the process?
The deadlines for admission are generally Nov 15th for admission for the Spring Semester, and May 1st for admission for the Fall Semester. Applications are processed as they are received, so applying early generally means finding out earlier and thus being able to plan better. The application forms and process, as well as the current official deadlines, are available at the CCNY Graduate Admissions webpage. Note that applications are not sent to the Department of Mathematics until they are complete, so make sure that all of the application components are sent in in a timely manner. As of applications for Spring 2010, applications for the MA program are now submitted electronically.
What do you mean exactly by the one-year "Advanced Calculus" course requirement?
"Advanced calculus" is a bit of a misnomer, as really what is required is advanced, theoretical treatment of the foundations of calculus. Such courses are called "Real Analysis," "Introduction to Analysis," "Advanced Calculus", "Functions of one or more real variables" and many other names. Though courses in multivariate calculus, differential equations, Fourier methods, etc. are continuations of a basic calculus sequence, they are generally not sufficiently theoretical to satisfy the advanced calculus course requirement. Any course which does not have a significant emphasis on students doing proofs will not meet this requirement.
Can I pursue a PhD in math at CCNY?
The mathematics PhD program at CUNY is located at the Graduate Center (GC). Many CCNY faculty have joint appointments as GC faculty and may teach at either campus, as well as supervise doctoral dissertations for GC students enrolled in the PhD program. All PhD courses are taught at the GC campus, on 34th Street and 5th Avenue. Upon completing the Master's program at CCNY, students may apply for admission to the CUNY PhD program. In addition, with permission of the graduate advisor and agreement of the instructor at the GC, CCNY Master's students may obtain permits to take courses at the GC towards their Master's degree requirements. For more information on the CUNY Math doctoral program visit the CUNY Math PhD program.
About how much does the program cost?
The CCNY tuition and fees webpage gives the current fees. These depend upon resident/non-resident status. The program requires 30 credits, and for part-time resident students the rate as of February 2008 is $270 per credit, with $500 per credit for non-resident students. There is a $125 application fee and technology and student fees of between $70 and $100 per semester. Resident students have the option of paying $3200 for full-time tuition per semester, which makes sense for resident students taking 12 or more credits in a semester. A typical student, finishing the program with 8 courses (32 credits) will have paid about $9200 or $16,500 over the course of two years for all fees and tuition, depending upon residency status.
Do you have any other graduate programs?
Not at this time, but we are beginning to develop a new graduate program in Mathematical Finance. We are gauging interest in such a program at this time and welcome input from potential students via email to the Graduate Advisor.
Do I need to take the GRE?
No, our program doesn't require it. For application to be a matriculated student, you need letters of reference, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, and possibly a TOEFL exam score. See the forms linked below in the next question. For application to be a non-matriculated student, you merely need to fill out a one-page form and show undergraduate transcripts to the Mathematics Graduate Advisor.
I'd like to apply, where can I get the forms?
The application forms and process are on the CCNY Admissions webpage.
Note that graduate applications are now electronically submitted, for the graduate program. Students applying for non-matriculated status still use the paper form, but that may change in the future. See this admissions page for the forms.
The application is electronic, but there is no way to pay the application fee online. What do I do?
At this point, you will need to submit your application online and mail or bring in a check or money order for the application fee. The plan is for there to be electronic application fee payment but that has not yet been implemented.
I'm an international student. What are the TOEFL requirements?
The program has absolute minimum TOEFL score requirements. The TOEFL exam is available in several forms, and the absolute minimum scores are 500 on the written exam or 173 on the computer based exam. See the CCNY Admissions requirements webpage for more information. The TOEFL is not required for students from countries where English is the official language, for permanent residents of the U.S. or individuals who have been granted official refugee or asylum status, or for students who have a degree from an institution in a country where English is the official language. Note that this is an absolute minimum score- communication in English is an important part both of understanding the mathematics in our program and in completing its work, and students whose English skills are weak often are not accepted if they do not have excellent mathematical preparation.
I'm an international student. My primary language of instruction wasn't English. Can my reference letters be in that language?
No, the letters of reference must be in English or English translations must be provided as well.
What are the various types of admission?
Students who are interested in the MA in Mathematics degree need to apply to become matriculated students. Students who appear promising but who have not yet met all of the requirements for admission may be admitted conditionally, with the condition being that they complete the requirements, perhaps by taking suitable courses at CCNY. Students who miss the application deadlines for admission to the program can apply as non-matriculated graduate students and begin to take courses, if accepted, with non-matriculated status. They will need to then apply again for admission to the degree program, and assuming they make progress towards the degree requirements, up to 4 courses (12 credits) of graduate work completed while a non-matriculated student can be applied towards the degree requirements for the MA in Mathematics degree.
Frequently asked questions: courses and program information
What are the current degree requirements for the Master's in mathematics?
The program requires a student to complete 30 credits of course work in mathematics or in a related field as approved by the graduate advisor. See the Master's Program Description.
What are the previous degree requirements for the Master's in mathematics?
The program requires a student to complete 30 credits of course work in mathematics or in a related field as approved by the graduate advisor. Students select one of two options: option A - Pure Mathematics, or option B - Probability and Statistics. The latter option requires that students compete two graduate courses in computer science, so students are advised to have some familiarity with programming in a high-level language. At this time, a thesis is not required for the degree. The exact requirements for the degree are given in the catalog and reproduced in the document Master's Description.
What happened to the options?
The new requirements do not require selecting an option.
I was admitted before Spring 2010, which requirements apply to me?
The older program requirements. Note that any combination of courses which satisfied the previous program will satisfy the current program, although (as always) courses outside of the mathematics graduate program courses require graduate advisor approval.
How are grades assigned in graduate courses?
Your instructor will inform you at the beginning of the term his or her method for computing grades. Although exams play a role in the evaluation, instructors will often give more weight to outside assignments than is done in undergraduate courses. Note that the lowest passing grade in graduate courses is a "C" and that you need a "B" average in all your graduate courses to be awarded the Master's degree.
When is registration for the Fall 2009 semester?
For continuing graduate students, web registration is available from May 19 onward. For new students and continuing students interested in in-person registration, see the registrar's page which has the dates as Aug 24-25th for new matriculated graduate students, and Aug 25th for non-matriculated graduate students.
Can I begin doing mathematical research for my Master's degree?
Generally the Master's degree in Mathematics does not have a research component. However, some of our faculty will provide Master's students with the opportunity to work with them on a research project, which may be credited towards the degree. If you are interested in doing such work you should consult directly with the faculty person with whom you wish to work, or consult the department graduate advisor.
How long will it take to complete the Master's degree?
Most students require two years to complete their degrees, though it is sometimes possible for a student entering in the fall to complete the program more rapidly. Students who enter the program in the spring semester may require an extra semester because of scheduling constraints. Courses are generally offered on a two-year cycle, described below, which is good to consult for planning.
Does the Math Department provide financial support for Master's students?
The Department tries to provide Master's students with adjunct teaching positions. Provided you receive favorable teaching observations and subject to enrollment needs, we support Master's students in this capacity for two years. Summer teaching may also be available, as well as positions with the office of Adult and Continuing Education and the Freshman Year Program.
Limited scholarship support through the Rich Scholarship is sometimes available to graduate students with outstanding academic records. Applications are processed in the spring and the required forms will be available on this site through the scholarship link on the Main menu. Outstanding new applicants for the Master's program will automatically be considered for support through a Rich Scholarship.
Master's candidates are also welcome to tutor in the Math Help Desk.
Can a student in the Math M.A. program take graduate math education courses?
No. The courses for these programs are quite different in scope from the courses for the Master's in mathematics. The Math courses taught as part of the various advanced certification programs administered through the School of Education are designed for students with different mathematics backgrounds and objectives than students pursuing the M.A. in Mathematics. On the other hand, a Master's in Mathematics would provide an excellent mathematics background for a career in secondary education, though a student would still need to complete various education requirements to obtain NY State certification. Details regarding teaching certification programs can be found at the School of Education website.
What is the anticpated schedule of courses?
Graduate course offerings generally follow a four-semester cycle, described in the table below
*Planned graduate course offerings.
There are four columns. Currently, the first column corresponds to planned Fall 2008 offerings, the second column Spring 2009 offererings, the third column the Fall 2009 offererings, and the last column for Spring 2010.
What happened to math 324 and 325 and what is happening to math 318?
The old Math 32400 (Advanced Calculus II) and Math 32500 (Advanced Calculus III) courses have been supplanted with a combined course. That course had been tentatively numbered Math 318 (Multivariable Advanced Calculus) but from Fall 2009 onward it has its more appropriate name Math 32404 (Multivariable Advanced Calculus.)
I'm a graduate student having a hard time in a course. Should I drop the course or tough it out?
There are many concerns here, and this can be a difficult decision. You will probably want to talk to your instructor or the Graduate Advisor. But there are several important pieces of information to know and to factor into your decision:
- There are no "D" grades for graduate students, so getting a 68 grade will result in an F.
- If you retake a course, both grades (the grade you got the first time and the grade you got the second time) are counted in your GPA. This is different from the way that undergraduate GPAs are computeed, where (subject to some limitations) the new grade will replace the old grade.
- Given that a 3.0 GPA is needed to remain in good standing and to graduate, getting a low grade can make things difficult for quite some time. For example, a 4 credit F will require getting A's in 3 other 4 credit courses to balance out and bring the average GPA to 3.0
What is the comprehensive examination requirement?
Most commonly, the comprehensive examination requirement has been waived by the Graduate Advisor.
I think I've met all of the graduation requirements, what do I need to do to make sure that I graduate?
First, check with the Graduate Advisor to ensure you are meeting all of the program requirements. There are three possible dates for awarding degrees each year: February, June, or September. The deadlines for applying for degree are listed in the current Academic Calendar and those deadlines are rock-solid. For example, 03/03/2008 is the Deadline for filing Application for Degree for June 2008 Graduation. Visit the Registrar's office to apply for your degree, or (as of Summer 2008) you can now apply for your degree online via this registrar page
What are "mathematically based disciplines " where I can take some elective courses?
Scientific and engineering courses, some economics or finance courses are typical examples of applicable courses in mathematically based disciplines. Remember that for these to count towards the degree, they must be approved by the graduate advisor in advance.
I've already taken some related graduate courses in a mathematically-related discipline, can those count towards my mathematics MA degree?
No, those courses require prior approval of the graduate advisor so if they have already been taken, they cannot be used toward the MA degree.
I'd like to take a course at another CUNY institution, how does that work?
There is the CUNY ePermit process for taking courses at other institutions which can be appropriate in special situations. This can be a tricky process to navigate. For best results,
- Contact the Graduate Advisor (Prof. Cleary) before starting the epermit process for approval
- Mention that your course has the approval of the math program Graduate Advisor in the comment box of your epermit application.
- If you are a Prob/Stat option graduate student taking a graduate CS course at another CUNY campus, it is not necessary to put down an equivalent CCNY CS course if you have the Graduate Advisor's approval beforehand.
A helpful link for finding the course offerings at all CUNY campuses is at the student.cuny.edu Schedule of Classes page which works well for all campuses, including CCNY.
I'm interested in doing an independent study. How does that work?
The first step in an independent study is finding a faculty member who is willing to supervise it. Once that is set, you need to complete the independent study form and email it to the graduate advisor.
I have more specific questions, when can I see the Graduate Advisor?
Check the Administrators Page for advising hours during registration and during the semester. No appointment is needed for visits during office hours, and the graduate advisor is happy to schedule appointments at other times if those hours don't work well. Email is a good method of contacting the graduate advisor as well as for making appointments.
I'm a graduate student and I'm not getting email notifications from the Graduate Advisor.
They may be sent to an email address that you never check; for example, your CCNY email address. Send email to the Graduate Advisor to update your email address.
