The Open University offers a Master of Math (M.Sc) degree. The course is a challenge, but can lead to excellent employment prospects, as the qualification is recognized all over the world. The course may be taken part-time or full-time, and the teaching materials and methods are extremely effective.
Open University Accreditation
The British government sets high quality standards that all UK universities must meet. The Open University, OU, is a British university that is fully accredited by the appropriate government department, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Open University is fully accredited, as shown at the government website.
Online Master of Math at the Open University
The Open University was set up, since its inception, to specialize in distance learning. When the first students enrolled in 1971, all 25,000 of them, mathematics was one of the subjects offered. There is therefore over 40 years of experience in teaching math at the OU. The Master of Math degree is a post-graduate qualification, which according to the Open University website, is "An MSc for mathematicians, scientists and engineers, exploring aspects of pure and applied maths. Options include calculus of variations, fractal geometry, number theory, functional analysis, and coding and approximation theory." The Open University also offered an M.Math degree, which is distinct from the M.Sc course, until 2005.
Open University Master of Math Subjects
The Master of Math degree at the OU requires the successful completion of a dissertation, as well as five subjects from the following ten optional modules:
- Advanced Mathematical Methods
- Analytic Number Theory I
- Analytic Number Theory II
- Applied Complex Variables
- Approximation Theory
- Calculus of Variations and Advanced Calculus
- Coding Theory
- Fractal Geometry
- Functional Analysis
- Nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equations
The dissertation requires the student to undertake independent study, culminating in a dissertation on a topic of the student's choice. The dissertation carries the same weight as each of the five optional topics. Unlike the undergraduate courses offered by the OU, no credit transfer is possible from other courses.
Online Master of Math at the Open University - Entrance Requirements
The course is geared towards those holding a math degree, as well as those holding a science or engineering degree that has a high mathematical content. It is a standard entrance requirement that the student holds at least a second class honours degree in math or science. It is the author's opinion that this is equivalent to a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 However, the OU provides examples that show the standard of math questions that the student should be able to solve, to test their suitability.
Online Master of Math at Open University - Summary
The Open University distance learning Master of Math degree is recognized internationally. The course is challenging, but the rewards - intellectual, self-esteem, and career - are enormous. Like all online math degree courses the are benefits (cost, as well as especially good training materials) and downsides (self-discipline needed, less interaction with others). The Open University also provides a Master of Mathematics degree. Math degrees, especially masters degrees, allow the holder access to most of the "top ten jobs list".
Online Master of Math at Open University - References
The Open University website contains all of the course information in this article, as well as sample questions from the course.
Martin Bell - Martin holds a B.Sc. degree in chemical engineering, and an M.Sc. degree in electronics and computing. He has spent more than 25 years ...
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