Requirements for the M.S. Degree

In addition to the minimum Graduate School requirements, the following are required:

The M.S. degree in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics requires the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 graduate credits.

All credits in satisfaction of the degree must be at the graduate level. The department may impose additional requirements as described below. In addition, the average for all courses taken must be B or higher, and at least 18 credits of all courses taken must carry a grade of B or higher.

The student pursues a program of study planned in consultation with an academic advisor. The program and any subsequent modifications require approval by the graduate studies director.

Core Requirements for the M.S. Degree

Applied Mathematics

• AMS 501 Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems
• AMS 503 Applications of Complex Analysis
• AMS 504 Foundations of Applied Mathematics
• AMS 505 Applied Linear Algebra
• AMS 526 Numerical Analysis I
• AMS 527 Numerical Analysis II
• AMS 595 Fundamentals of Computing

• AMS 505 Applied Linear Algebra or AMS 510 Analytical Methods for Applied Mathematics and Statistics
• AMS 507 Introduction to Probability
• AMS 540 Linear Programming
• AMS 550 Stochastic Models
• AMS 556 Dynamic Programming or AMS 553/CSE 529 Simulation and Modeling or AMS 542/CSE 548 Analysis of Algorithms
• One course in statistics
• AMS 595 Fundamentals of Computing

• AMS 510, Analytic Methods for Applied Mathematics and Statistics or (AMS 504 Foundations of Applied Mathematics and AMS 505 Applied Linear Algebra)
• AMS 507 Introduction to Probability
• AMS 570 Mathematical Statistics I
• AMS 572 Exploratory Data Analysis I
• AMS 575 Internship in Statistical Consulting
• AMS 578 Regression Theory
• AMS 582 Design of Experiments
• AMS 595 Fundamentals of Computing

Fundamentals of Applied Math

• AMS 507 Introduction to Probability
• AMS 510 Analytical Methods for Applied Mathematics and Statistics
• AMS 530 Principles in Parallel Computing

• MCB 520/CHE 541 Graduate Biochemistry (an alternate graduate level cell or developmental biology course may be substituted with permission)

• AMS 532 Journal Club/Lab Rotations in Computational Biology (2 semesters, 1 credit each semester)
• AMS 535 Introduction to Computational Structural Biology and Drug Design
• AMS 533 Numerical Methods and Algorithms in Computational Biology
• CSE 549 Computational Biology

• AMS 536 Molecular Modeling of Biological Molecules
• AMS 537 Dynamical Models of Gene Regulation and Biological Pattern Formation
• AMS 538 Methods in Neuronal Modeling

Elective Requirements for the M.S. Degree

Any graduate-level AMS or other graduate-level courses in a related discipline approved by the graduate studies director may be used to satisfy the credit requirement beyond the core course requirement. In addition, six elective credits may be earned by completion of a master's thesis.

Final Recommendation

Upon the fulfillment of the above requirements the faculty of the graduate program will recommend to the vice provost for graduate studies that the Master of Science degree be conferred or will stipulate further requirements that the student must fulfill.

Time Limit

All requirements for the Master of Science degree must be completed within three years of the student's first registration as a full-time graduate study.

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Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

The course of study prescribed for the M.S. degree provides basic guidelines for doctoral study. The student pursues a program of study planned in consultation with an academic advisor. The program and any subsequent modifications require approval of the graduate studies director.

Qualifying Examination

A student must pass a qualifying examination to be allowed to continue toward the Ph.D. degree. The qualifying examination is given twice a year and is designed to test the student's preparation to do research in applied mathematics. Each student must demonstrate competency in algebra and analysis and in-depth knowledge of one area of applied mathematics. More information can be found in the qualifying examination page.

Research Advisor

After completion of at least one year of full-time residence and prior to taking the preliminary examination, the student must select a research advisor who agrees to serve in that capacity.

Preliminary Examination

This is an oral examination administered by a committee and given to the student when he or she has developed a research plan for the dissertation. The plan should be acceptable to the student's research advisor. A committee approval request form must be filled out at least 4 weeks before the scheduled date of prelimary examination.

Language Requirement

This language requirement is replaced by English writing. Please check this page for the information.

Advancement to Candidacy

After successfully completing all requirements for the degree other than the dissertation, the student is eligible to be recommended for advancement to candidacy. This status is conferred by the vice provost for graduate studies upon recommendation from the departmental graduate studies director.

Dissertation

The most important requirement of the Ph.D. degree is the completion of a dissertation, which must be an original scholarly investigation. The dissertation must represent a significant contribution to the scientific literature and its quality must be comparable with the publication standards of appropriate and reputable scholarly journals.

NOTE: Please keep in mind that there is a standard procedure for the Ph. D. thesis defense. First, you need to submit a request for committee approval to the Graduate Director. Remember all outside committee members must be accompanied by a vita. The Graduate Director will then send a letter to the Graduate School for approval.

Second, you need to send the defense announcement to the Graduate Director through email. The Graduate Director will then forward the announcement to the Graduate School, which again needs approval.

Normally approval is not a problem. But the Graduate School request that all the Ph. D. student follow this procedure. It is recommended that you send the reqeust for committee approval at least four weeks before your scheduled defense and send the defense announcement at least 3 weeks before your scheduled defense.

Dissertation Defense

The student must defend the dissertation before the dissertation examining committee. On the basis of the recommendation of this committee, the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics will recommend acceptance or rejection of the dissertation to the vice provost for graduate studies. All requirements for the degree will have been satisfied upon successful defense of the dissertation.

Minimum Residence

At least two consecutive semesters of full-time study are required.

Time Limit

All requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within seven years after the completion of 24 graduate credits in the program. The time limits for the qualifying and preliminary examinations and advancement to candidacy are described in the departmental Graduate Student Handbook.

Course Descriptions