Applied Mathematics and Statistics, B.S./M.S.

Program Overview

Applied Mathematics and Statistics, B.S./M.S.

Chairperson

Joseph Mitchell, Mathematics Building P-134A

Graduate Program Director

David Green, Mathematics Building P-1

Graduate Secretary

Christine Rota, Mathematics Building P-1

Advanced Graduate Certificate Awarded

• Advanced Graduate Certificate in Operations Research
• Advanced Graduate Certificate in Quantitative Finance

Degrees Awarded

• M.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics
• Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Department Overview

The Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, offers programs in computational applied mathematics, operations research, quantitative finance, statistics, and computational biology leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The department offers an integrated series of courses and seminars, supervised reading, and facilities for research. Emphasis is on the study of real-world problems, computational modeling, and the development of necessary analytical concepts and theoretical tools.

Facilities

A state-of-the-art, computational laboratory is operated for student education and research, with access available to university–based high-performance computing facilities. It also features a network of advanced Unix workstations and modern printing facilities. The laboratory’s full-time staff is available to help students become familiar with the laboratory facilities.

Research Opportunities

Students participate in joint research with 5 national laboratories, several industrial groups and various sciences, biomedical, and engineering programs. Students, who receive a broad training, find themselves excellently prepared for careers in government and industry in which mathematics is used as a computational or conceptual tool.

Faculty Research Interests

Faculty research programs receive significant external funding and provide students with an opportunity for active participation in a variety of projects in all areas of the department. Faculty interests include:

• Applied graph theory
• Biostatistics and computational biology
• Structure-based drug design
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Combinatorial optimizations
• Computational statistics
• Data analysis
• Flow through porous media
• Fracture mechanics
• Inverse problems
• Mixed-boundary value problems
• Nonlinear conservation laws
• Quantitative finance
• Reliability theory
• Risk management
• Robust estimation
• Nonparametric statistics
• Stochastic modeling and sequential decision making
• Structure-based drug design

Degree Requirements

Most doctoral students are supported through either a research or teaching assistantship.

Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. program normally takes about four to five years for students with a strong analytical and computing background.

M.S. Programs

The M.S. programs, when pursued on a full-time basis, may be completed in three or four semesters. Students who have taken graduate courses before enrolling at Stony Brook may request transfer of up to twelve credits. If such a request is approved, it may be possible to complete the M.S. degree in two semesters.

Combined B.S./M.S. Degree

Undergraduate applied mathematics majors, with strong academic credentials may apply for admission to the special Bachelor of Science-Master of Science program in Applied Mathematics and Statistics at the end of the junior year. The combined B.S./M.S. program in applied mathematics and statistics allows students with superior academic records to use up to six graduate credits toward the B.S. and M.S. requirements. In essence, those six credits count toward two goals simultaneously. Normally, it would take six years to complete two separate degrees, but with the combined B.S./M.S. program, there is only a 5 year commitment (10 semesters).

Admission Requirements

For admission to graduate study, the minimum requirements are as follows:

1. A bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, the physical sciences, or in the life or social sciences with a strong mathematics background.
2. A minimum overall grade point average of at least 3.00, as well as a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in all courses with a significant mathematical or quantitative component.
3. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.
4. Three letters of reference.
5. Official transcripts for all undergraduate study completed.
6. Acceptance by both the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics and the Graduate School.
7. In some circumstances, a student may be admitted provisionally although they are missing some of the above requirements. Students admitted provisionally must follow an approved course sequence and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 during the first year of graduate study before being admitted to full degree candidacy.