Applied Mathematics, MS

Program Description:

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers the Master of Science degree in mathematics. The graduate program is designed to provide a solid foundation for further professional training or careers in teaching, industry, or government. Degree requirements are flexible, allowing considerable latitude in tailoring the course of study to individual preferences. Two concentrations are available: mathematics and applied mathematics. The mathematics concentration is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in mathematics or the equivalent. The applied mathematics concentration is designed not only for persons with undergraduate training in mathematics, but also for those with degrees in related disciplines, such as engineering and science, who want a solid foundation in mathematics. All required courses are offered in the late afternoon or evening.

Admissions Requirements:

Applicants for admission are expected to meet the general requirements for admission to graduate study as established by the School of Graduate Studies. In addition, applicants must present post-calculus courses in mathematics, as well as related course requirements appropriate for the intended program of study. The specific undergraduate preparation required for each of the department’s two degree options forms part of the description of each option.

Faculty:

Professors

K. T. Arasu, combinatorics

Joanne M. Dombrowski, functional analysis, operator theory

Anthony B. Evans, finite geometry, graph theory

Weifu Fang (Chair), applied mathematics, partial differential equations, inverse problems

Ann M. Farrell, mathematics education

Chaocheng Huang, partial differential equations

Qingbo Huang, partial differential equations, harmonic analysis

Susann Mathews, mathematics education

David F. Miller, optimization

Steen Pedersen, operator theory

Thomas P. Svobodny, applied mathematics

Larry Turyn, differential equations, applied analysis

Associate Professors

Yuqing Chen, discrete mathematics

Lop-Fat Ho, optimal control, duality theory

Alexander J. Kaplan, functional analysis

Xiaoyu Liu, combinatorics

Phan Loi, operator theory

Richard Mercer, operator algebras, mathematical physics

Michelle Reed, mathematics education

Dan Slilaty, graph theory, matroid theory, topology

Emily Tian, applied mathematics

James T. Vance Jr., Fourier analysis

Assistant Professors

Aina Appova, mathematics education

Timothy Boester, mathematics education

Qun Li, geometric analysis, partial differential equations

Xiangqian Zhou, discrete mathematics

Program Requirements:

The Master of Science degree may be earned by satisfying the requirements of the mathematics or the applied mathematics option. The mathematics option is a flexible program emphasizing advanced mathematical concepts in the core areas of mathematics. Students may either complete a traditional curriculum in mathematics or develop, with a graduate advisor, a plan of study that is tailored to their individual needs. Either option can provide a solid foundation for doctoral study in mathematics or for a career in teaching, industry, or government.

All master’s degree candidates are required to pass comprehensive written examinations. The department makes provision for part-time degree candidates by offering courses in the late afternoon or evening.

Applied Mathematics Concentration

The Master of Science degree program in Applied Mathematics option is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in engineering, science, mathematics or statistics, who wish to acquire a solid foundation in applied mathematics. The applied mathematics option is structured but still allows students considerable latitude in designing a course of study. The option focuses on the computational tools of modern applied mathematics and the mathematical theory underlying these tools. It can provide a solid foundation for doctoral study in mathematics or for a career in teaching, industry, or government.

In addition to the undergraduate degree, applicants for admission to the Applied Mathematics program should have completed courses in multivariable calculus, ordinary differential equations and linear algebra. Students should also have some experience with computer programming or the use of computational software packages. Courses in partial differential equations and physics are desirable. Applicants with insufficient preparation may be admitted on the condition that they complete certain prerequisite work to be specified by the department at the time of admission.

The M.S. degree in Applied Mathematics requires 30 semester credits of course work chosen so as to satisfy the following program requirements.

I. Required Core Courses: 13 Hours

MTH 6060 - Mathematical Modeling Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 6810 - Applied Mathematics I Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 6820 - Applied Mathematics II Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 7160 - Numerical Analysis I Credit Hour(s): 4

II. Advanced Courses: 7-8 Hours

Two additional courses chosen from:

MTH 7170 - Numerical Analysis II Credit Hour(s): 4
MTH 7310 - Real Analysis I Credit Hour(s): 4
MTH 7320 - Real Analysis II Credit Hour(s): 4
MTH 7770 - Applied Analysis Credit Hour(s): 4
STT 7020 - Applied Stochastic Processes Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 7400 Computational Complexity and Algorithm Analysis Credit Hour(s):

III. Elective Courses*: 3-10 Hours

Chosen from the courses listed below or from any of the advanced courses listed above:

MTH 6070 - Optimization Techniques Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 6100 Theoretical Foundations of Computing Credit Hour(s):
MTH 6190 Cryptography and Data Security Credit Hour(s):
MTH 6310 - Real Variables I Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 6320 - Real Variables II Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 6550 - Advanced Linear Algebra Credit Hour(s): 3
MTH 6560 Coding Theory Credit Hour(s):
MTH 6570 - Combinatorics and Graph Theory Credit Hour(s): 4
STT 6610 - Theory of Statistics I Credit Hour(s): 4
STT 6620 - Theory of Statistics II Credit Hour(s): 4
STT 6640 - Computational Statistics Credit Hour(s): 3

Note(s):

A mathematical modeling project completed under the supervision of a faculty advisor may be substituted for 4-6 credits of Electives listed above.

Students completing a project must give an oral presentation describing project results and pass two (2) 90-minute comprehensive examinations over selected coursework. Students not completing a project must pass three (3) 90-minute comprehensive examinations over selected coursework.

Total: 30 Hours

*Certain other courses may be permitted as substitutions with advisor approval. Such courses may be offered by departments other than the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.