Final approval of a candidate's program rests with the department's Graduate Committee. Granting of the master's degree is dependent on the student's having:

• passed the preliminary examination or audited the corresponding courses with a grade of B or better;
• completed MATH 609 or MATH 646, MATH 645, MATH 662, and either five approved electives or four approved electives and a master's thesis under the direction of a faculty member in the mathematics department;
• passed a comprehensive oral examination;

• presented a mathematical talk in the Student Colloquium lecture series. Every graduate student is expected to attend the Student Colloquium series and, when appropriate, the talks given by the Distinguished Visiting Professor (DVP). All graduate students will be active members of the Bucknell Chapter of the MAA.

The final decision as to whether or not the student is to be recommended for a degree rests with the department's Graduate Committee.