University of St Andrews

Programme Specification for Master in Mathematics (Honours) Mathematics

Awarding institution:	University of St Andrews
Teaching institution:	University of St Andrews
Programme type:	Undergraduate
Programme title:	Mathematics (fast track)
Faculty:	Faculty of Science
School:	School of Mathematics and Statistics
Language of study:	English
Programme length:	4 years
SCQF credit level:	Level 11
UCAS code:	G100
Contact details:	See the School of Mathematics and Statistics website at http://www-maths.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/ For further details about this programme contact maths-dot@st-andrews.ac.uk
Admissions criteria:	BB Advanced Highers + AAAB Highers AAB A-levels 34 IB points MATHEMATICS
Accreditation details:	Approved by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
QAA benchmarks:	For general QAA information on academic infrastructure see http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/default.asp For subject specific benchmarking see http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/statements/Maths07.asp and http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/statements/MathsAnnex09.pdf
Date(s)of production:	June 2009
Date(s)of revision:
Authorised by:	Dr Martyn Quick
Route code:	USETMTHSMTH

Educational aims of programme

This programme will involve study of Mathematics at an advanced, research-led level in which students will gain an understanding of how knowledge is created, advanced and renewed. The programme will encourage in all students a desire to pursue learning with curiosity, integrity, tolerance and intellectual rigour.

Programme outcomes / Graduate attributes

In the course of this programme students will develop programme-specific skills. On completing the programme students should be able to demonstrate the graduate attributes outlined below.

a) Intellectual skills and attributes

• Ability to construct a coherent argument
• Ability to create a hypothesis and appreciation of how hypotheses relate to broader theories
• Ability to evaluate hypotheses, theories, methods and evidence within their proper contexts
• Ability to reason from the particular to the general and vice versa.
• Ability to solve complex problems by critical understanding, analysis and synthesis
• Clarity of expression
• Creativity and originality
• Curiosity and an enquiring mind
• Deductive reasoning
• Direct engagement with current research and developments in the subject
• Discipline specific technical abilities
• Independence of thought
• Logical processing of information
• Numeracy
• Quantitative and Qualitative methods of analysis
• Sophisticated use of a range of resources appropriate to the task at hand
• Identification of goals
• Planning and strategy
• Taking responsibility
• Objectives orientation; focus on goals
• Adaptability in response to developments and feedback
• Delivery of outcomes to time and scale demands
• Self motivation and independence
• Self-reflection

b) Transferable skills

• Listening
• Oral presentations
• Rapport building
• Audio-Visual presentations
• Web/electronic presentations
• Written material

Teaching, Learning and Assessment strategies

The skills and graduate attributes listed above will be accomplished through delivery of the following teaching, learning and assessment strategies appropriate to the programme aims.

a) Teaching and Learning

Students will engage with independent and group study in a supportive framework of teaching and learning. The strategy is to use methods of teaching and assessment that will facilitate learning appropriate to the aims of the single honours degree programme. The following methods will be employed where appropriate to the level of study and the particular content of each module in the programme.

• Demonstrations
• Dissertation
• Independent study activities (supervised and unsupervised)
• Lectures
• One-to-one discussion
• Practical work
• Problem solving in laboratory style environment
• Project work
• Regular practice exercises
  
• Small group discussion tutorials
• Tutorials

b) Material submitted for assessment

Assessment can be a blend of diagnostic work to determine student needs, formative work submitted for assessment and feedback (but not necessarily for academic credit) or summative work submitted for academic credit.

Continuous assessment

• Class tests
• Data analysis exercises
• Essays, dissertations (short and long)
• Oral presentations
• Practical reports

End of semester examinations

• Unseen written examinations
  

c) Learning and Teaching support

Students' scholarship skills (in, for example, academic writing, information gathering and academic conduct) will be supported and developed through this programme. The following will be available, where appropriate to the level of study and the particular content of each module in the programme.

• Access to specialist University support units
• Class handouts/handbooks
• eLearning - web-based and via the virtual learning environment (VLE)
• Feedback on work submitted (in accordance with School and University policies)
• School guidelines for good scholarship
• Library support
• Recommended reading lists and booklets (for the programme and specific modules and courses)

Programme structure

This is a four-year programme of study leading to the degree of Master in Mathematics (Honours). As with all St Andrews programmes, it is made up of credit bearing modules. Students must earn 600 credits over the duration of the programme, with 150 credits normally earned during each of the honours years and 60 credits of Advanced Standing awarded at 1000-level. Typically, the first two years of study include core modules specific to the programme as well as other modules chosen from a range of options (in some cases, including modules from a different Faculty). The remaining years offer advanced research-led learning through modules that provide a programme-specific curriculum.

For information about core and optional modules for each programme, please consult the Course Catalogue, which can be found at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/ug/Choosingyourdegree/Coursecatalogue/. This catalogue describes the detailed structure of the course and the contents of all the modules that can be included in the programme. Teaching, learning and assessment are progressive, with both the content and methods of delivery changing to suit the increasing level of complexity in the material, and independence of students, as they work through the programme.

Distinctive programme features

Distinctive features of this programme include an extended final-year dissertation and the opportunity to specialise in current research areas in Mathematics. Students can expect to have the opportunity to engage with a number of specialist topics including for example Fluid Dynamics, Group Theory, Measure and Ergodic Theory, Solar Theory, Environmental and Ecological Statistics, and Statistical Modelling.