Degree: Master of Science (MS)
Field of Study: Applied Mathematics
Program Overview
A student must satisfy all of the general requirements of the School of Graduate Studies as well as the more specific requirements of the department to earn a master’s degree. Each graduate student is assigned an academic advisor upon matriculation. The academic advisor's primary responsibility is to help the student plan an appropriate and sufficiently broad program of coursework and study that will satisfy both the degree requirements and the special interests of the student. With the aid of the academic advisor, each student must present a study plan indicating how they intend to satisfy the requirements for a graduate degree. Master's students completing a thesis as part of their program will also form a thesis committee, chaired by their research advisor, to advise on and evaluate both the thesis and its oral defense.
Graduate Policies
For graduate policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.
Program Requirements
The department offers specialized programs in applied mathematics. For each of the programs, there is a minimum requirement of 30 credit hours of coursework, at least 18 of which must be at the 400 level or higher. Students in the program must complete coursework requirements in each of the following groups:
- At least 15 hours of courses designated MATH
- At least 6 hours of courses not designated MATH
- 6 hours of thesis work (see below) or successful completion of a comprehensive exam
Given the great diversity of topics used in applications, there cannot be a large common core of requirements for the MS in applied mathematics. Still, all students pursuing this degree are strongly advised to take MATH 431 and MATH 441. In addition, to add breadth to the student’s education, the set of courses taken within the department must include three credit hours of approved coursework in at least three of the following seven breadth areas. Examples of acceptable courses in each area are listed below; other courses require approval of a student petition by the department graduate committee. Although some courses are listed in multiple areas, a course may be used to satisfy only one breadth area requirement.
Applied Mathematics Breadth Areas
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
MATH 471 | * | |
| Introduction to Real Analysis I | |
| Advanced Matrix Analysis | |
| |
| Bayesian Scientific Computing | |
| Probability I | |
| Applied Probability and Stochastic Processes for Biology | |
| |
| Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | |
| Numerical Differential Equations | |
| Numerical Solutions of Nonlinear Systems and Optimization | |
| |
| Ordinary Differential Equations | |
| Introduction to Partial Differential Equations | |
| Dynamical Models for Biology and Medicine | |
| |
| Bayesian Scientific Computing | |
| Computational Inverse Problems | |
| Introduction to Mathematical Image Processing and Computer Vision | |
| |
| Mathematical Logic and Model Theory | |
| Introduction to Cryptology | |
| |
| Applied Probability and Stochastic Processes for Biology | |
| Mathematical Modeling | |
| Dynamical Models for Biology and Medicine | |
| Computational Neuroscience | |
Other suitable courses for students in applied mathematics include:
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
MATH 424 | Introduction to Real Analysis II | 3 |
MATH 425 | Complex Analysis I | 3 |
MATH 427 | Convexity and Optimization | 3 |
MATH 444 | Mathematics of Data Mining and Pattern Recognition | 3 |
MATH 492 | Probability II | 3 |
The student must pass a comprehensive oral examination on three areas, two of which must be on the list of breadth areas (although no particular courses are specified). The third area for the examination may be any approved subject.
A student in the MS program in applied mathematics may substitute the comprehensive examination requirement with an expository or original thesis, which will count as 6 credit hours of coursework. The thesis will be defended in the course of an oral examination, during which the student will be questioned about the thesis and related topics. These two variants correspond to the graduate school's Master's Thesis and Master's Non-Thesis options.