Fairfield University Mathematics Graduate Program
Summer 2012
Requirements for the Master of Science in Mathematics
The requirements for the Master of Science in Mathematics at Fairfield
University consist of 30 credits, including the 4 course, 12-credit core sequence
(MA 435/436/471/472), 5 3-credit elective courses in mathematics at the
graduate level, and the 3-credit capstone experience. At most two of these
courses may be transferred from other mathematics graduate schools, and at
most two may be in the form of independent studies. The capstone experience
is designed by the individual student together with a faculty mentor and may
consist of a thesis, an independent project, or a capstone classroom experience.
Transfer: You may transfer up to two graduate courses in mathematics from
other programs to count towards their degree if they received a B or better, if
the courses can be demonstrated to cover comparable content with at least as
high a level of rigor as the courses in the program. A transfer course does not
necessarily have to match a specific elective offered here. Under unusual
circumstances transfer course may be used to replace one of the four core
courses (435/436/472/473), but you must specify that on the form, and must
positively demonstrate that all the content is covered and the level of rigor,
workload and standards are at least as high. A transfer course may not be used
in place of the capstone experience. If you wish to count a transfer course that
you already took you should obtain the transfer form from the math
department office or online, and submit it to the department secretary with the
necessary documentation about the course and the grade you received in the
course. Upon approval by the Director of the Program and the Chair of the
Steering Committee the credit will be entered into your records at the Dean’s
office and a copy of the approved form will be sent to you. You should not
assume credit has been given until you receive the approved form. While
enrolled in the program, if you wish to take courses elsewhere you should use
the same form to pre-approve the courses. Upon completion of the course, you
should submit appropriate documentation of the grade received and the
approved transfer course form that you received back to the Registrar, and
confirm with the Dean that the grade and credit have been recorded. Transfer
credit will not be approved unless the department secretary receives the form
at least 30 days before the intended graduation date.
Independent Study: You may take up to two courses towards your degree in
the form of independent study (you must first complete three courses in the
program, at least two taken within the program), which may either cover
material not normally offered as an elective in the program, or material closely
related to an existing elective if there is a compelling reason why you cannot
take the elective when it is scheduled to run as a class. In any case the content
covered should be comparable to and the level of rigor, workload, and
standards should be as high as regular classes in the program. If you wish to
take an independent study you should first identify a faculty member willing to
act as instructor. Together with the instructor you will develop a syllabus for
the course and a plan for assessment of your performance, and identify another
faculty member willing to act as the second reader for the course (who will read
and offer the instructor comments on all assessments). You should obtain the
independent study form from the department office or online, complete it with
the assistance of the instructor, sign it, obtain the signatures of the instructor
and second reader and return it to the department secretary. The department
secretary will obtain the approval of the Director, Chair of the Steering
Committee and Chair of the Department (if any of these is the instructor,
another member of the Steering Committee will fill that role), and forward
copies to the Dean’s office, the instructor and to you to indicate the independent
study has been approved. Under unusual circumstances an independent study
can replace one of the four core courses (435/436/472/473), but you must
specify that on the form, and must positively demonstrate that all the content of
the core course will be covered and the level of rigor, workload and standards
are at least as high. You should not assume the independent study substitutes
for one of the core courses until you receive a copy of the approved form.
Independent study requests will not be approved unless the department
secretary receives the independent study form at least two weeks before the
start of the academic term in which the independent study will take place.
Capstone Experience: The purpose of the capstone experience is to transition
from the passive, guided learning of mathematics in the classroom to the
independent, self-directed learning and use of mathematics. The capstone
experience is typically taken in the last year of the program. You should work
in cooperation with a faculty mentor (which need not be your program advisor)
to devise an appropriate capstone experience for your educational objectives
and interests, and to identify another faculty member willing to act as the
second reader. The workload must be comparable to that of a three-credit
course, and there must be a substantial independent final paper or project.
Some semesters a specific capstone course will be offered, which may be taken
to fulfill the capstone requirement. Otherwise, your capstone experience must
be approved. To get approval, you should obtain the capstone form from the
department office or online, complete it with the assistance of your faculty
mentor, sign it, obtain your faculty mentor signature, and return it to the
departmental secretary. The department secretary will obtain the approval of
the Director, Chair of the Steering Committee and Chair of the Department (if
any of these is the mentor, another member of the Steering Committee will fill
that role), and forward copies to the Dean’s office, the mentor, second reader
and to you to indicate the capstone experience plan has been approved.
Capstone experiences will not be approved unless the department secretary
receives capstone form at least two weeks before the start of the semester in
which the experience will take place.