The VISP/MA(3+1+1) program is a combination of a one-year VISP and one-year MA program, which allows students to complete a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in 5 years.
Students from the partner universities will spend the first 3 years in your undergraduate university, then spend 1 year as a VISP student while taking graduate level courses towards the MA degree at UW-Madison, and spend another 1 as a master’s student at UW-Madison. Once you complete the 3+1+1 program and meet the program requirements, you will receive a Master’s degree in Mathematics.
Program Structure
The program has requirements for 30 graduate credits in Mathematics.
There are several required courses, such as advanced analysis and algebra. The electives come from courses covering the diverse mathematical spectrum, from linear algebra, splines and wavelets, linear programming methods, mathematical logic, mathematical biology, complex analysis, fourier analysis, stochastic processes, and more advanced topics.
Course requirements are listed on the program requirements page
VISP Year Enrollment Requirements:
Full-time enrollment
- During VISP, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits during the Fall and Spring semester to maintain full-time per F-1 immigration regulations.
- Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 Math courses per semester.
GPA
- Students must achieve an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in mathematics and cross-listed courses taken during VISP year.
If admitted to the MA-FAS program, you will be allowed to transfer up to 15 credits from your VISP year to your MA program.
MA-FAS Year Enrollment Requirements:
Full-time enrollment
- Master students must be enrolled in a minimum of 8 credits per semester (Fall and Spring) to maintain full-time graduate student standing.
- Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 2 Math courses per semester (Fall and Spring).
16 Graduate residence minimum
- At least 16 credits need to be completed while enrolled as a graduate student, required by the Graduate School. This cannot be waived. Exceptions require prior approval by the Director of Graduate Studies.
GPA
- Students must achieve an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in mathematics and cross-listed courses taken while a graduate student.
- GPA earned while a UW Madison undergraduate or special student does not count toward the MA program GPA.
Enrollment Exceptions
- Only in exceptional cases may a student enroll in 800 or 900 level courses. This requires approval by the Director of Graduate Studies or the Director VISP-MA.
- Exceptional students who wish to pursue a Master’s thesis will be able to enroll in an individual studies course Math 790 (Master thesis).
Key Contacts:
- Tonghai Yang, Director of VISP/MA-FAS, Department of Mathematics, thyang@math.wisc.edu
- Autumn Kent, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Mathematics, kent@math.wisc.edu
- Xin Cui-Dowling, Coordinator of VISP/MA-FAS, Department of Mathematics, xin.cui-dowling@wisc.edu
- Stephanie Milkey, Assistant Director, VISP Office, stephanie.milkey@wisc.edu
Further Information
- Currently, we have partnerships with: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Suzhou University, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of China, Beijing Normal University, Shandong University, East China Normal University, Wuhan University, and Nankai University.
- Students from partner universities participating in these partnerships will have fewer application materials required when applying for the MA program.
- The Department of Mathematics cannot provide financial support for the Master’s Degree program. Students enrolled in this program may not accept University appointments which grant waivers of tuition and/or academic fees, cf. the policy on-campus employment.
- It is currently not possible for students to simultaneously enroll in the MA-FAS program and another graduate program.
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