The M.S. in Mathematics degree and the M.S. in Applied Mathematics degree each require 30 credit hours of graduate courses with at least 18 hours of 400-level courses. The choice of the courses must be approved by the graduate advisor. Up to 6 hours of coursework may be replaced with a masters thesis. All students in the program must also pass a comprehensive examination on Calculus, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra. The M.S. degree can serve as a final degree in mathematics or as background for further work toward a Ph.D.