M.S. in Mathematics: Overview

M.S. Wake Forest University’s M.S. in Mathematics program provides an opportunity to study a wide array of areas of mathematics with faculty members committed to both excellent teaching and excellent research. Students can choose to write a thesis under the direction of a faculty member, or select the non-thesis option requiring more coursework. The department offers an average of more than 10 graduate-level courses every semester, including topics courses.

The program is small, and the students make strong connections with faculty and with their peers. The student-faculty ratio is close to 1:1, and the students have access to a lounge designated for graduate students. The two-year master’s program is intended either as a terminal master’s degree, or as a stepping stone to a Ph.D. program. Some of our graduates have taken jobs in education, government, and finance. Others have gone on to Ph.D. programs in areas such as Mathematics, Statistics, Education, Physics, and Computer Science. About 50% of our master’s students receive financial support in the form of a teaching assistantship. TAs do not need to pay tuition, and are paid a annual stipend of $19,390 for the 2026-2027 academic year in return for 15 hours per week of work supporting the teaching efforts of our faculty.