Program Overview

Overview

The University of Colorado Boulder offers a Professional Master of Science (MS) in Applied Mathematics, designed to equip students with technical knowledge and professional skills for careers in data science, statistics, applied mathematics, and engineering.

Requirements

The program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, with at least 18 credits in applied mathematics or statistics courses at the 5000 level or above. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better and earn at least a C grade in each course.

Prerequisites

The program is designed for students with strong math and computer science skills. Equivalent recommended courses include:

• APPM 3310: Matrix Methods and Applications (3 credits)
• One of the following:
  • APPM 3570: Applied Probability (3 credits)
  • MATH 4510: Introduction to Probability Theory (3 credits)

Course Requirements

The program requires:

• At least 18 credits in applied mathematics or statistics courses at the 5000 level or above
• Two 5000-level graduate courses (6 credits) outside of applied mathematics in an area where mathematics or statistics has significant application
• A culminating experience (CE) project instead of a master's thesis

Culminating Experience (CE)

The CE project has two options:

1. Project: Students work on a project that fulfills one of the following goals:
   • Master an important set of mathematical or statistical methods used in industry
   • Gain experience working with a large, high-dimensional, or "messy" dataset
   • Gain exposure to tools useful for future employment
2. Internship or Fellowship: Students secure an internship or fellowship related to applied mathematics, statistics, or data science and use their work as part of their CE.

Specializations

The program offers two specializations:

1. Statistics and Data Science: Students develop foundational tools for analyzing data, including complex and high-dimensional datasets.
2. Customized Specialization: Students forge their own path with a customized educational track based on their interests.

Educational Goals

The program aims to:

• Provide students with foundational knowledge in applied mathematics, statistics, or data analysis
• Equip students with industry-sought professional skills, including data analysis, communication, collaboration, presentation, organizational, and networking skills
• Offer opportunities for hands-on, real-world experience through internships, fellowships, and professional collaborations

Content Knowledge

The program provides students with:

• Foundational knowledge in areas of applied mathematics, statistics, or data analysis
• Skills to write efficient, reproducible code in at least one programming language (e.g., R and Python)
• Skills to interpret code and output from at least one programming language

Professional Skills

The program teaches students to:

• Utilize their foundational knowledge to solve real-world science, engineering, social science, or data analysis problems
• Develop industry-sought professional skills, including data analysis, communication, collaboration, presentation, organizational, and networking skills

Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's Degree Program

Students can earn this degree as part of the bachelor's-accelerated master's (BAM) degree program, which allows currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period.

Additional Information

For more information, see the department's Professional MS in Applied Mathematics webpage.