Applied Mathematics Concentration
Much of the history and philosophy of Applied Mathematics can be summarized by a quote from the preface to The Functions of Mathematical Physics by Harry Hochstadt, "The topics covered... were first studied by the outstanding mathematicians of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Among the many who devoted themselves to these studies are Gauss, Euler, Fourier, Legendre and Bessel. These men did not recognize the modern and somewhat artificial distinction between pure and applied mathematics. Much of their work was stimulated by physical problems that led to the studies of differential equations. Frequently they developed generalizations to obtain results having no immediate or obvious applications. As a consequence mathematics was often ahead of its time having tools ready before physicists and engineers felt the need for them." The concentration reflects this historic interplay by presenting topics of obvious interest to applied scientists as well as being of purely mathematical interest.
The concept of transformations plays a central role in Applied Mathematics. Partial differential equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations. Ordinary differential equations are transformed into algebraic equations. And algebraic systems are transformed into simple algebraic systems. Thus, one can understand why Linear Algebra plays a fundamental role in the concentration.
Concentration Requirements
The concentration consists of five courses. The core of the Applied Mathematics Concentration is made up of the three courses: Calculus III (MAT 2412), Linear Algebra (MAT 3310) and Applied Mathematics (MAT 4315). Fundamental to modern applied mathematics is the study of structures known as vector spaces and the linear operators on those spaces. Students are introduced to these concepts in Linear Algebra. These ideas are expanded in Calculus III where the linearity and multidimensionality introduced in Linear Algebra are combined with the infinite processes of calculus. These concepts continue to be drawn together in Applied Mathematics, where the analogy is completed between discrete problems, continuous one-dimensional problems and continuous multidimensional problems.
The fourth course is an applied mathematics elective such as Differential Equations (MAT 3324), Probability (MAT 3326), Statistics (MAT 3327), Numerical Analysis (MAT 3338), or a Computer Science course approved by the director.
The fifth course is an elective from a field other than Mathematics. This allows the student to tailor the concentration to his or her own interests and reinforces the concentration’s interdisciplinary nature.
Possible courses include:
Other electives as approved by the department.