Mathematical Sciences Department

Department Chairperson: Dan Van Peursem, Ph.D.
Graduate Program Director: Nan Jiang, Ph.D.

Department of Mathematical Sciences
Patterson Hall 132E
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-658-5970
math@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/math

FACULTY

Professors:

José Flores, Ph.D., University of Iowa. Specialization: Numerical Analysis.
Nan Jiang, Ph.D., Kansas State University. Specialization: Numerical Analysis.
Yuhlong Lio, Ph.D., University of South Carolina. Specialization: Stochastic Processes, Non-parametric Function Estimation, Reliability, Iterative Processes, Survival Analysis.
Dan Van Peursem, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Specialization: Applied Mathematics.

Associate Professors:

Catalin Georgescu, Ph.D., State University of New York-Buffalo. Specialization: Dynamical Systems.
Gabriel Picioroaga, Ph.D., University of Iowa. Specialization: Operator Algebras and Wavelets.

Assistant Professor:

Ramiro H. Lafuente Rodriguez, Ph.D., Bowling Green State University. Specialization: Ordered Algebraic Structures, Lattice Theory, Topology, and Math Education.

DEGREE

Master of Arts in Mathematics, Plan B
Master of Science in Mathematics, Plan A and Plan B

CERTIFICATES

Advanced Graduate Mathematics
Graduate Mathematics

Program Description

Graduate students desiring to work toward a Master’s degree in mathematics should have completed an undergraduate major in mathematics equivalent to the one offered by USD. Students who do not have a sufficient background in mathematics may be required to complete coursework that will not apply towards a Master’s degree (e.g., linear algebra and differential equations).

The department offers non-thesis M.A. (Plan B) and thesis and non-thesis M.S. programs (Plan A and Plan B, respectively). The M.A. supports growth and professional development for high school teachers and exposure to additional math content for people who seek employment in other fields, but do not have an interest in a terminal degree. The M.S. programs are intended for students who plan to pursue doctoral studies in mathematics and cover advanced topics that will prepare graduates to take qualifying exams in Math Ph.D. programs without the need for additional coursework.

The Graduate Mathematics Certificate is a program designed for current high school mathematics teachers who are either enrolled in or have completed a master’s degree, are interested in getting credentials to teach concurrent dual credit math courses. The 18 credit sequence of the Graduate Mathematics Certificate and Advanced Graduate Mathematics Certificate would allow them to do that.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/apply-now and a non-refundable application fee of $35
Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. Official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for international students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
Completion of a baccalaureate degree in Mathematics or its equivalent is required for the M.A. and M.S. programs. Completion of a baccalaureate degree in Mathematics or a related discipline is required for the graduate certificates. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the following English-speaking countries: United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Australia, and New Zealand are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission.
Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose or goal statement.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

Three (3) professional letters of recommendation are required.

Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis

SCHOLARSHIPS

Nelontine Maxwell Larsen Award (available to graduate students majoring in the mathematical sciences)
Wallace Raab Memorial Scholarship (provides student memberships in the Mathematical Association of America for graduate students working toward an advanced degree in the mathematical sciences during their years of graduate study at USD. Excess earnings can be used for scholarships for selected graduate students.)
L. Fred and Rose E. Hart Scholarship (benefits graduate students pursuing an MS degree in mathematics, including funding research assistantship for students interested in MS Plan A [thesis] option)

Application Deadline

M.A. and M.S.
- Fall Start
  - Priority Deadline: March 15
  - Final Deadline: Two weeks before the start of the semester
- Spring Start
  - Final Deadline: Two weeks before the start of the semester
Certificates
- Fall and Spring Start
  - Final Deadline: Two weeks before the start of the semester