Department of Mathematics

Master of Science in Applied and Industrial Mathematics

The Master of Science program provides students with a broad knowledge in applied mathematics, with an emphasis on areas with the highest demand in business and industry. Among the areas stressed in the program are mathematical modeling, numerical computations, operations research, financial mathematics, queuing systems and statistical analysis.  Numerical, computational and algorithmic approaches to problem solving are stressed throughout the program. Graduates of the program will be qualified to work in such fields as operations research, stochastic modeling, financial data analysis, and statistics, among many others. Graduates of the program will also be prepared for further work at the doctoral level.

The program requires the completion of an applied full-year research project at a graduate level. There are three options listed below in order of priority to complete this requirement. The project can be:

1. an external applied project through a local industry or a government agency.  Students choosing this option take MATH 791 and MATH 792; Master's Internship I and II, under supervision of a faculty from the Department of Mathematics,
   
   
2. with a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics on an applied graduate level project.  Students choosing this option take MATH 880 and MATH 881, Applied Graduate Project I and II, or
   
   
3. in the Department's Applied Mathematics Laboratory (AML).  Typically, corporations and government agencies sponsor these projects. Students choosing this option take MATH 880 and MATH 881, Applied Graduate Project I, II.  Not all AML projects can be used for the internship purpose.

Students need to submit a project proposal to the graduate committee for approval.  In particular, students working on AML projects must describe their roles and responsibilities as part of the team.  Students on AML projects must take a primary role in a significant portion of the project.

The project proposal must be approved by the graduate committee before students can register for the course.  All students must produce a final written project report and make an oral presentation to the graduate committee.  For students who participate in AML projects, this is in addition to any project required reports and presentation.

If the Graduate Program Committee believes that all attempts, based on the above options, to find an internship project for the student were not successful, the student can take two additional 600-level mathematics courses from any of the two tracks. Students who select this option also must take a comprehensive oral examination on four 600-level mathematics courses of their choice taken from a declared track.  Faculty members who have taught

All graduate students are required to meet with the APIM Graduate Program Director two and half semesters prior to their graduation (late April or late October, whichever applies) to discuss their choices for completing the internship requirement. Students will commit themselves to their choice by signing a form available from the Director.

Students whose careers are in education may, with the approval of the department's Graduate Program Committee, replace the industrial setting of the internship with an educational setting.  This will typically entail the development of original course material stressing applied mathematics and using innovative teaching techniques.

The main objectives of the program are:

1. to prepare individuals who are capable of applying advanced mathematical skills to problems in areas of science, business and industry;
2. to develop the students' abilities to integrate, in a meaningful way, the use of technology in their everyday professional practice;
3. to give educators an opportunity to satisfy their in-service requirements and simultaneously enhance their knowledge of technology and enrich their mathematical backgrounds;
4. to supply students with the mathematical competency necessary for advancement to a more professional role in the high-technology sector;
5. to develop students' reasoning and communication skills for improved service to the high-technology sector;
6. to educate students to solve problems, to work in teams and to communicate in an interdisciplinary setting;
7. to familiarize students with the recent advances in applied mathematics such as time series analysis, financial mathematics, operations research and stochastic modeling;
8. to prepare students for further graduate work at the doctoral level in applied mathematics; and
9. to enrich the academic culture by providing opportunities for interaction of mathematical and industrial research. Both full-time and part-time students are encouraged to enroll in the program.

Core courses are usually offered in the evening, for the convenience of part-time students.

Admission to this program is consistent with the general admissions policies of Towson University and includes some requirements specific to these programs.

• Admission Requirements

The Master of Science in Applied and Industrial Mathematics program offers two tracks: the Differential Equations/Optimization Track and the Applied Statistics/Mathematical Finance.  The degree requirements for these two tracks and graduate mathematics course descriptions are found here:

• Degree Requirements
• Course Descriptions of All Mathematics Graduate Courses

Also a list of students currently in the program and an email address provided by each student is available here:

• Current Graduate Students

Graduate Program Director
Xeuzhang (John) Hou, PhD
Phone: 410-704-2578
Fax: 410-704-4149
E-mail: xhou@towson.edu

For admission information contact the Graduate School Office phone: 410-704-2501 fax: 410-704-4675 email: grads@towson.edu

	A limited number of half-time graduate assistantships are available.  These provide help with tuition and a stipend; and are awarded on a competitive basis. Contact Dr. Xeuzhang Hou, 410-704-2578 for more information.