Graduate Programs in Mathematics and Statistics: Introduction

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Bowling Green State University

Overview
Degree Programs
Prerequisites to Graduate Work

Overview

Mathematics has seen a dramatic increase in its application beyond traditional areas of physical sciences into social, biological and behavioral sciences. Part of the dynamic has been the technological revolution in computing providing new opportunities for mathematical research and, even more significantly, new opportunities for applying mathematical concepts to the problems of business, industry and government. New career opportunities in areas of applicable mathematics have emerged, without diminishing in any way the traditional needs of academe and the physical sciences. Indeed, career opportunities in higher education promise to become very attractive as the number of individuals receiving doctoral degrees in mathematical sciences continues to decline and the average age of mathematics faculty continues to increase. If you have an aptitude for the subject, a career in mathematical sciences is worth considering.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Bowling Green State University is well-equipped with 32 full-time faculty and several distinguished visitors, all with Ph.D. degrees, to respond to the needs of mathematics students. In addition, there are 11 permanent faculty members in the Computer Science Department, 12 in the Department of Applied Statistics and Operations Research, and 2 with specializations in mathematics education in the Department of Educational Curriculum and Instruction.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is located in the Mathematical Sciences Building which also houses the Frank C. Ogg Science Library and the Scientific Computing Laboratory. Most classes in mathematics are held in this same building. The faculty, library, and programs of study make it possible for us to meet the needs of most students pursuing graduate studies in the mathematical sciences. In addition to formal courses, we offer a variety of informal seminars and a weekly colloquia where mathematicians and statisticians of international reputation present talks.

Degree Programs

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers the Master of Arts, the Master of Arts in Teaching, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree programs. Through proper selection of course work, students in the M.A. program can prepare for direct entry into careers in business, industry, government, and education, or for study toward a Ph.D. in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or operations research. Areas of specialization in the M.A. program are pure mathematics, mathematical statistics, and scientific computation.

The pure mathematics specialization is designed for students interested in obtaining a broad background in pure mathematics or in pursuing a Ph.D. degree in mathematics. The mathematical statistics specialization is intended for students interested in statistics and can be designed for those planning to pursue a doctoral degree. The scientific computation specialization is intended for students interested in applied mathematics.

The placement record of our advanced degree recipients has been very good. Our master's graduates of recent years are split fairly evenly between the teaching profession and business. Our department graduated its first Ph.D. in 1975. A total of 69 students were granted the Ph.D. during the years 1975 to 1998. In response to a recent survey, all but 1 of our Ph.D. graduates since 1989 reported that they had obtained positions at four-year colleges, universities and research institutes, or have jobs in government or industry commensurate with their training.

Ph.D. theses have been written in the areas of algebra, combinatorics, complex analysis, functional analysis, partial differential equations, probability, scientific computation, and statistics. Current research interests of the faculty include ordered algebraic structures, combinatorics, functional analysis, groups and geometries, inverse problems, probability, scientific computation, and statistics.

The goal of the Ph.D. program is to maintain a balance between efficiently preparing students for dissertation work and achieving breadth in the mathematical sciences. A cognate requirement gives students experience in applying mathematics or statistics to another field.

The Master of Science in applied statistics is offered jointly with the Department of Applied Statistics and Operations Research. See the "Applied Statistics and Operations Research" section for further information. In addition, a mathematics supervision program leading to the Specialist in Education degree is available. See "Mathematics Supervision" for further information.

Prerequisites to Graduate Work

The preferred foundation for graduate work is an undergraduate major in mathematics or a closely related area. Applicants with less than this level of prerequisite background may be accepted if it appears that they are adequately prepared for graduate work. Minimum preparation consists of a full year in differential and integral calculus and two courses for which calculus is a prerequisite.

Applicants planning to specialize in scientific computation should have completed courses in linear algebra, advanced calculus, ordinary differential equations, and programming in a high-level language such as C or FORTRAN before or soon after admission.


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