Applied and Computational Mathematics Jump To: Jump To: Program Offerings Certificate Offering type Certificate There has never been a better time to be a mathematician. The combination of mathematics and computer modeling has transformed science and engineering and is changing the nature of research in the biological sciences, data science and many other areas. Students seeking to pursue an academic program with a strong focus on applied mathematics may major in mathematics with a course of study geared toward applications, or may major in the sciences or engineering and enroll in the certificate Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics (PACM). Requirements for a major in the Department of Mathematics are a minimum of eight upper-level courses in mathematics or applied mathematics, including four basic courses on real analysis, complex analysis, algebra and geometry or topology. It is possible to design a course of undergraduate study aimed more specifically toward applications. Applied and computational mathematics faculty have developed core courses in applied mathematics where the emphasis is on computational methods and mathematical modeling. The latter is central to applied mathematics where it is not only necessary to acquire mathematical techniques and skills, but is also important to learn about the application domain. The PACM certificate is designed for students from engineering and from the physical, biological and social sciences who wish to broaden their mathematical and computational skills. It is also an opportunity for mathematically oriented students to discover the challenges presented by applications from the sciences and engineering. Students interested in the undergraduate certificate must contact the program's undergraduate representative on or before February 1 of their junior year to discuss their interests, and to lay out a plan for their course selection and research component. Goals for Student Learning Mathematics is the language of science, and almost every discipline of science and engineering is ultimately founded on mathematics. At the same time, state-of-the-art computational methods are enabling the study of increasingly complex systems. The aim of the Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics certificate is to enable students from a broad range of disciplines to develop a stronger mathematical and computational foundation, and to promote dialogue between mathematics and its applications. At the same time, the certificate aims to encourage students whose primary concentration is in pure mathematics to explore the impact of mathematics on science, engineering and technology. A core tenet of the PACM certificate is the bilateral interaction between mathematical foundations and applications. A strong background in mathematics and computational methods provides students with powerful tools to address problems that arise in other disciplines, and may lead them to view these from a new perspective. Conversely, challenging mathematical and computational questions that arise in applications strongly motivate the study and development of mathematics. The PACM certificate promotes such interactions: By requiring all students to take both mathematical foundations and applications courses; By requiring all students to perform an independent research project that connects mathematics with its applications; By requiring all students to attend and present their independent work in the certificate seminar, where they are exposed to a broad range of applications of mathematics to different disciplines and have the opportunity to interact with students with applied mathematical interests from many different majors across campus. At the same time, the flexible program is designed to allow each student to tailor their courses and independent work to their own interests, and to make mathematics as accessible as possible for students with diverse interests and backgrounds. Program of Study The requirements for the certificate in applied and computational mathematics consist of: A total of five courses, normally 300-level or higher (requires letter grade; pass/D/fail not accepted), at least two of which are not included in the usual requirements for the candidate's major. Independent work consisting of a paper in one of the following formats: (a) a project that you are working on with a professor; or (b) a summer research project. However, the independent work may not be used to satisfy any requirements of your major or of any other minor or certificate. In particular, you may not use your junior paper or senior thesis to satisfy the independent work requirement for the certificate. A significant extension of the senior thesis or of a course project may however be used to satisfy the requirement, subject to approval of the PACM undergraduate representative. Students are required to participate during the spring semester of their junior and senior years in a not-for-credit colloquium offered by PACM. This will provide a forum for presentation and discussion of independent work among all certificate students and will introduce them to a broad range of areas within applied mathematics. The course requirement may be satisfied by a broad range of courses that place a particular emphasis on applied mathematics, which are offered by the mathematics department as well as the science, engineering and economics departments. The five required courses must be distributed between the following two areas, with at least two from each area: Mathematical foundations and techniques, including differential equations, real and complex analysis, discrete mathematics, probability, numerical methods, etc. Mathematical applications in diverse areas offered by the applied and computational mathematics program and by science, engineering and economics departments. An extensive list of advanced undergraduate and some graduate courses that meet the certificate requirements can be found on the program website. Courses that do not appear on this list may be approved by the PACM undergraduate representative. Specific programs should be tailored in consultation with the PACM undergraduate representative to meet the individual needs and interests of each student. The independent work requirement is typically done under the supervision of a PACM core or affiliated faculty member, but external advisers are regularly accommodated. In the latter case, a second reader from PACM is asked to verify that the paper contains enough applied mathematics to satisfy the certificate requirements. In any case, plans for independent work must be approved by the undergraduate representative. Certificate of Proficiency Students who fulfill all requirements of the program will receive a certificate of proficiency in applied and computational mathematics upon graduation. Faculty Director Peter Constantin Director of Graduate Studies Maria Chudnovsky Director of Undergraduate Program Ramon van Handel Executive Committee Noga M. Alon, Mathematics René A. Carmona, Oper Res and Financial Eng Emily Ann Carter, Mechanical & Aerospace Eng Maria Chudnovsky, Mathematics Peter Constantin, Mathematics Paul Seymour, Mathematics Amit Singer, Mathematics Howard A. Stone, Mechanical & Aerospace Eng Romain Teyssier, Astrophysical Sciences Jeroen Tromp, Geosciences Ramon van Handel, Oper Res and Financial Eng Associated Faculty Ryan P. Adams, Computer Science Amir Ali Ahmadi, Oper Res and Financial Eng Michael Aizenman, Physics Yacine Aït-Sahalia, Economics William Bialek, Physics Mark Braverman, Computer Science Carlos D. Brody, Princeton Neuroscience Inst Adam S. Burrows, Astrophysical Sciences Roberto Car, Chemistry Bernard Chazelle, Computer Science Jianqing Fan, Oper Res and Financial Eng Jason W. Fleischer, Electrical & Comp Engineering Mikko P. Haataja, Mechanical & Aerospace Eng Gregory W. Hammett, PPPL Theory Isaac M. Held, Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences Sergiu Klainerman, Mathematics Naomi E. Leonard, Mechanical & Aerospace Eng Simon A. Levin, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Luigi Martinelli, Mechanical & Aerospace Eng William A. Massey, Oper Res and Financial Eng Assaf Naor, Mathematics H. Vincent Poor, Electrical & Comp Engineering Frans Pretorius, Physics Herschel A. Rabitz, Chemistry Peter J. Ramadge, Electrical & Comp Engineering Jennifer Rexford, Computer Science Clarence W. Rowley, Mechanical & Aerospace Eng Szymon M. Rusinkiewicz, Computer Science Mykhaylo Shkolnikov, Oper Res and Financial Eng Frederik J. Simons, Geosciences Jaswinder P. Singh, Computer Science Ronnie Sircar, Oper Res and Financial Eng Mete Soner, Oper Res and Financial Eng John D. Storey, Integrative Genomics Sankaran Sundaresan, Chemical and Biological Eng Robert E. Tarjan, Computer Science Corina E. Tarnita, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Salvatore Torquato, Chemistry Olga G. Troyanskaya, Computer Science Robert J. Vanderbei, Oper Res and Financial Eng Professor Noga M. Alon Maria Chudnovsky Peter Constantin Amit Singer Romain Teyssier Jeroen Tromp Associate Professor Ramon van Handel Lecturer Henry F. Schreiner Visiting Professor Ehud Yariv For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website. Courses APC 192 - An Integrated Introduction to Engineering, Mathematics, Physics (also EGR 192/MAT 192/PHY 192) Not offered this year QCR APC 199 - Math Alive (also MAT 199) Spring QCR An exploration of some of the mathematical ideas behind important modern applications, from banking and computing to listening to music. Intended for students who have not had college-level mathematics and are not planning to major in a mathematically based field. The course is organized in independent two-week modules focusing on particular applications, such as bar codes, CD-players, population models, and space flight. The emphasis is on ideas and mathematical reasoning, not on sophisticated mathematical techniques. Two 90-minute classes, one computer laboratory. Staff APC 323 - Topics in Mathematical Modeling (also MAT 323) Not offered this year QCR APC 377 - Combinatorial Mathematics (also MAT 377) Fall QCR APC 441 - Computational Geophysics (also GEO 441) Spring APC 486 - Transmission and Compression of Information (also ECE 486) Not offered this year
