Examinations are given in the following subject areas:
- Algebra
- Analysis
- Geometry
- Numerical Methods
- Ordinary Differential Equations
- Partial Differential Equations
- Set Theory/Topology
- Applied Statistics
- Mathematical Statistics
MS Exam Policy and Procedure
Each area examination is based upon a syllabus prepared by the faculty. Each exam is supported by 300 and/or 500-level courses in the topic area. Syllabi and the last six previously given examinations for each topic will be made available to students.
Examinations are given twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. The fall examinations are offered during the week prior to the start of fall term and the spring examinations are offered during the first week of spring term. It is possible for students to sign up for examinations up to the Monday, three weeks before exam week. Students are required to bring a PSU photo ID card to the exam.
At each examination period, in the Fall or in the Spring Terms, a student can take either one or two examinations.
For each examination, a student will receive a Pass, a Conditional Pass, or a No Pass (Fail). Students who receive a Conditional Pass in an examination will have four weeks from the notification date to work with the examination committee to remove the conditions needed to receive a Pass.
Students are encouraged to take examinations early in their graduate program. Most students should be able to plan their programs so that they are able to take these examinations during their first or second year.
Students must be registered for and complete at least one graduate credit hour for the term in which they intend to take an examination. Students taking the fall examination must be registered for fall term, and those taking the spring examination must be registered for spring term.
Students requiring special testing accommodations must arrange them through the Disability Resource Center, 503-725-4150, SMSU room 116, drc@pdx.edu.
Cancellation Policy
Students may cancel sign-ups for master’s exams up to the Monday before exam week by emailing Constance Lague, laguec@pdx.edu. Specific sign-up and cancellation deadline dates will be announced by the department at the beginning of the sign-up period.
A given subject area examination can be taken by a student at most two times.
An exam cancellation after the deadline, or no notice of cancellation from a student at all, will count as one of the two allowed attempts. If you must cancel past the deadline due to an unexpected illness, and you do not wish for it to count as a No Pass the department will require that you provide a doctor's note.
Program-Specific MS Exam Policy
Mathematics MA/MS
Students following degree Option A. must pass one master's exam in either Algebra or Analysis (and complete 501 project). Students following degree Option B. must pass two master’s exams, one of which must be in either Algebra or Analysis. The student chooses the other subject area for their second exam and may select any subject from the above list except for Applied Statistics.