Applied Mathematics Professional Master's Program
Applied mathematicians are involved in more fields than most of us know. We come in contact with businesses or companies built upon and sustained by the expertise of applied mathematicians almost every day. For example, applied mathematicians stand behind every online purchase that we make, every train we take, every weather report we receive, every video game we play, and every digital image we view. Renewable energy calculations, natural disaster simulations, computer animation, digital imaging, epidemiological modeling, pharmaceutical manufacturing, financial services, and investment managing are all fields that require high-level mathematical skills. Mathematical theories and techniques are used to innovate and to create, to predict and to solve. Since problem-solving is vital in almost every field, those who are skilled in this area are in increasingly high demand in a multitude of different jobs (USA Today). According the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, "The very idea of a career in mathematics has evolved and diversified," and applied mathematicians hold a variety of unexpected job titles such as employee benefits consultant, electronic commerce specialist, imaging scientist, and risk analyst.
The Master of Applied Mathematics program at IIT is a non-thesis professional master's degree program that provides graduates with mathematics training for technology-based jobs in business, industry, or government. Graduates develop state-of-the-art skills in modeling, analysis, and computation needed to solve real-world problems. The program requires students to learn writing and communication skills along with teamwork and project management skills. The program can typically be completed in 15 months, with three regular term semesters and one summer semester.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
All IIT Graduate College requirements must be satisfied. Specific departmental requirements are:
-
32 credit hours and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 required.
- Required courses: 23 hours of core courses.
- Elective courses: nine hours of electives from each of four areas selected in consultation with, and approval of, the director of the program. The program may include, at most, nine hours at the 400-level.
- Capstone professional experience, which consists of a six-hour course in case studies and project management and an internship in applied mathematics.
- A professional master's project (three credit hours of MATH 594), under the supervision of a faculty member or an industrial partner.
Students are responsible for following all departmental procedures as well as the general requirements of IIT Graduate College.
The director of the program serves as temporary academic adviser for all newly admitted graduate students until an appropriate project supervisor is selected.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Core Sequences (23 hours)
| Applied Math and Computational Science Core | |
| Course | Title |
| MATH 475 | Probability |
| -or- | |
| MATH 563 | Statistics |
| MATH 577 | Computational Mathematics |
| MATH 522 | Mathematical Modeling |
| Business and Professional Core | |
| Course | Title |
| COM 523 | Communicating Science |
| CHEM 511 | Business Principles-Project Management |
| Capstone Professional Experience | |
| Course | Title |
| MATH 523 | Case Studies and Project Management |
| -or- | |
| MATH 592 | Internship in Applied Mathematics |
| MATH 594 | Professional Master's Project |
Electives (9 hours)
Advanced Computation
- MATH 578 - Computational Math II
- MATH 512 - PDE
- MATH 565 - Monte Carlo Methods
- MATH 581 - Theory of Finite Elements
- MATH 589 - Numerical Methods for PDEs
- CSC 595 - Advanced Scientific Computing
Stochastic Modeling and Analysis
- MATH 543 - Stochastic Analytics
- MATH 544 - Stochastic Dynamics
- MATH 545 - Stochastic PDE
- MATH 548 - Mathematical Finance I
- MATH 582 - Mathematical Finance II
Statistical and Data Analytics
- MATH 563 - Statistics
- MATH 564 - Applied Statistics
- MATH 565 - Monte Carlo Methods
- MATH 567 - Design of Experiments
Discrete Mathematics and Optimization
- MATH 553 - Discrete Applied Math I
- MATH 554 - Discrete Applied Math II
- MATH 535 - Optimization
PLAN OF STUDY
A typical plan of study is based on a student starting in the fall semester.
Fall Semester (first year)
- MATH 475 or 563
- MATH 577
- COM 523
Spring Semester
- MATH 522
- CHEM 511
- MATH elective
Summer Semester
- MATH 523 - Capstone case studies course
-or-
- MATH 592 - Internship in Applied Mathematics (requires approval)
Fall Semester (second year)
- MATH 594 - Professional Master's Project
- MATH elective
- MATH elective
ADMISSION CRITERIA
Students are required to have a bachelor's degree in mathematics, science, engineering, business, or an equivalent degree, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. They are evaluated on an individual basis, but are expected to have taken the following courses (or equivalent courses):
- Differential Equations
- Matrix or Linear Algebra
- Probability or Statistics
- Computer Programming: Matlab, C, or FORTRAN
Applicants must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. The following minimum GRE scores are required:
- 304 (quantitative + verbal) 2.5 (analytical writing), test scores before 2011: 1100 (quantitative + verbal)
A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550/213/80 (paper/computer/Internet test score) is required if an applicant is from a non-English-speaking country.
A professional statement of objectives and resume must be submitted.
At least two letters of recommendation are required.
Also see:
For more information, please contact:
Program Director
Charles Tier, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer
Illinois Institute of Technology
Engineering 1, Room 212, 10 W. 32nd Street, Chicago, IL 60616
tel: 312.567.3523
fax: 312.567.3135
e-mail: ctier_AT_iit_DOT_edu