Hello all, I was wondering if it would be possible to get my BA in math and then go on to get my MS on math? Also, if I applied for a job at a college with my BA would they look down on that versus a BS?
Thanks all.
Basically nobody gets a MS in Math. If someone has one, it usually means they left a PhD program and got the MS as a consolation prize. Some people get MS degrees in Applied Math, but the few that I know have said it isn’t worth it.
I don’t think employers will care much about a BA vs a BS so long as your coursework is competitive. Some schools don’t offer Math as a BS simply because it’s arguably not a science.
Don’t worry about the degree title (bachelor of arts versus science). Consider the curricula and course offerings when comparing.
Some schools or divisions of schools grant only BA degrees. An example is Berkeley’s College of Letters and Science, where the math department is. Math majors there earn BA, MA, or PhD degrees (no BS or MS degrees).
Yes, master’s degrees in math and many other subjects are often either picked up along the way during PhD study, or “consolation prizes” as described above, rather than degrees which graduate students specifically target.
I’ve known several teachers with MS degrees in math, and I’m getting one along with my bachelor’s degree. It shouldn’t matter what your degree is called (BA or BS) as long as you’ve taken the required courses for admission.
I would not recommend a MA/MS in Math…UNLESS…it is an hybrid Math/CS degree.
Personally, that BA/BS is Math should have AT LEAST a minor in CS also.