Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Applied Mathematics and Statistics Department

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. 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.

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 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 and structure-­based drug design. Most doctoral students are supported through either a research or teaching assistantship.

The Ph.D. program normally takes about four to five years for students with a strong analytical and computing background. 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. It is strongly urged that all applicants develop some facility in computer programming.

A more detailed description of the graduate program is available from the departmental office. This includes specific distribution requirements, fields of specialization, and information on the preliminary and qualifying examinations. Interested students should request information and application forms as early as possible, especially if they plan to apply for financial aid.

Advanced Graduate Certificate Program in Operations Research
This advanced certificate program of 18 credits, consisting of six three-credit courses, trains students in the fundamental mathematical tools for working in the operations research profession. Operations research is the field of applied mathematics related to efficient management of the activities of private companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. The following courses are required for certificate: AMS 507 Introduction to Probability, AMS 540 Linear Programming, AMS 550 Stochastic Models, AMS 553 Simulation and Modeling, AMS 572 Data Analysis I, plus one (3 credit) elective chosen by student in consultation with an advisor.

Advanced Graduate Certificate Program in Quantitative Finance
This advanced certificate program of 15 credits, consisting of five three-­credit courses, trains students in the fundamentals required for the application of quantitative methods in the financial world. The certificate is open to students in related graduate programs at Stony Brook, as well as to non­-matriculated students registered through the School of Professional Development. The following courses are required for certificate: AMS 511 Foundations of Quantitative Finance, AMS 512 Capital Markets & Portfolio Theory, AMS 513 Financial Derivatives & Stochastic Calculus, one elective chosen from AMS 514­523, plus one additional (3­-credit) elective chosen by the student with the approval of an advisor.

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). The advantage of the combined program is that the M.S. degree can be earned in less time, thus costing less money than that required by the traditional course of study. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 in all courses, as well as a GPA of 3.5 in required courses for the AMS major, is typically required to apply for the combined degree program; exceptions may be made for students with significantly improved

Students apply to the program during their junior year. In the first semester of the senior year, students in the B.S./M.S. program are granted permission to take up to six graduate credits which will be applied towards the Masters degree requirements. In the second semester of the senior year, they become enrolled as graduate students. Because students in this program only need to earn 114 undergraduate credits, they are usually finished with undergraduate coursework by the first semester of their senior year. If needed, however, they may enroll in up to twelve credits of undergraduate coursework during the second semester of senior year. The undergraduate degree is issued at the end of the senior year, and the student continues in the graduate program through the fifth year. The requirements stated in the Graduate Bulletin must be earned to qualify the student for the master’s degree; this includes a total of at least 30 graduate level credits (including the six taken as an undergraduate). Further information about the combined program may be obtained from either the graduate program director or the undergraduate program director.

Part-Time Graduate Studies
In addition to the full-time graduate program leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, the department conducts a part-time program on campus. The part-time program is governed by regulations governing the resident full-time program with the exception that students in the part-time program have greater flexibility in choosing the time for the qualifying examination if they are contemplating pursuing the Ph.D.

The purpose of the part-time program is to provide an opportunity for men and women who are employed full time to pursue graduate study leading to advanced degrees in applied mathematics, statistics, and operations research. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics, mathematics, engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, or social sciences with a strong background in undergraduate mathematics will be considered for admission to this program. Qualified students may continue beyond the master’s degree for the Ph.D. degree.

Additional information, including the scheduling of courses for part-time students, may be obtained from the graduate program director.

Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Chairperson
Joseph Mitchell, Mathematics Building P-134A (631) 632-8366, [email protected]

Graduate Program Director
David Green, Mathematics Building P-137 (631) 632-8372, [email protected]

Graduate Secretary
Christine Rota, Mathematics Building P-141 (631) 632-8360, [email protected]

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

Web Site
http://www.ams.stonybrook.edu/

Application
https://graduateadmissions.stonybrook.edu/apply/

An applicant must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 point scale. If the student attends a college that only gives Passes or Credits for the first year of study, then these grades will be evaluated as C for GPA admission purposes unless the student provides actual grades.

• Paper recommendations can be sent in, but you must use the paper recommendation form from your application portal and give it to your recommender. Paper recommendations must be sent directly to the graduate program you are applying to in sealed envelopes, signed across the seal by the recommender.
• In order to gain access to our recommendation forms, you must submit an application. Within your application, you can either send emails directing your recommenders to each submit a recommendation online, or you may download a paper recommendation form and give it to your recommender. Paper recommendations must be sent directly to the graduate program you are applying to in sealed envelopes, signed across the seal by the recommender.

All applications must be submitted electronically through our online application system. Once you create an account, you can save and update your material as often as necessary until you click the “Finalize Application” button. Once your application is submitted, you can log on to track its status.