program description

the primary aim of applied mathematics is to elucidate scientific concepts and to describe and predict phenomena through the use of mathematics. the applied mathematician is at once a mathematical specialist and a systems analyst whose task is to confront complex real-world problems with mathematical analysis. in business and industry, the applied mathematician has opportunities to utilize both background and training in solving problems of a practical nature. to do so, one must know the mathematical theories involved and have an appreciation for the specific science or technology that provides the source of the problem.

the bachelor of science in applied mathematics responds to the needs of business and industry for applied mathematical scientists. the program also responds to the needs of those students who enjoy mathematics for its own sake but who also have interests in other fields to which mathematics is applied. applied mathematicians and statisticians are employed in such areas as operations research, systems analysis, computing, data analysis, biological sciences (for example, doing research on dna topology, mathematical cancer biology, or meeting the special needs of biostatistics), communications research, and in the management sciences.

the applied mathematics program prepares students in several areas. first, students acquire a broad knowledge of the techniques and methods of applied mathematics. these techniques include differential equations, optimization, statistics, numerical analysis, computer programming, and operations research. second, students learn to model scientific phenomena and complex real-world systems, (mathematical modeling, applied mathematics project) and to use these models to understand and predict the behavior of these systems. finally, they learn how to communicate these results to other scientists and managerial decision makers.