Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree Programs

The department offers an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and an M.S. in Statistics. The master's programs are based on a two-year curriculum of study culminating with a comprehensive examination or a thesis. Graduates from these programs are well prepared both for doctoral studies and for employment in academic and non-academic settings.

M.S. in Applied Mathematics
  1. Offers students a rigorous introduction to the fundamental tools of applied mathematics, with particular emphasis on differential equations and numerical analysis.
  2. The program requires 30 semester hours of course work that includes year-long courses in real analysis, numerical analysis and differential equations, and a semester course in complex analysis.
  3. Elective courses can be chosen from graduate courses in applied areas such as linear, nonlinear and dynamic programming, convex analysis, calculus of variations, applied functional analysis and optimal control.
  4. A recently added Industrial Mathematics track allows students to take six of their elective hours in approved courses in the departments of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Engineering, ISOM, Business or Environmental Sciences. A major component of this track is a project report (to serve as a thesis) which contains a solution to a practical "real-life" problem drawn from a company, university department or government unit.

M.S. in Applied Mathematics Course Requirementslist in the UToledo Catalog

More in-depth information can be found in the Graduate Guide.

M.S. in Statistics
  1. Gives students training in methodology of applied statistics and also provides a solid foundation in statistical theory.
  2. Students' skills in applied statistics are developed through project-oriented courses, statistical computing emphasizing S+ and SAS, and faculty supervised experience in the department's statistical consulting service.
  3. Through the statistical consulting service students gain first-hand experience assisting with the statistical analysis of problems that come from local institutions such as the UToledo College of Medicine, the UToledo Center for Applied Pharmacology and from local industries.
  4. The program requires 35 semester hours of courses. Among the required courses are applications of statistics, statistical inference, linear statistical models, multivariate analysis, statistical computing, non-parametric statistics, categorical data analysis, statistical consulting and sample survey methods and theory.

M.S. in Statistics Course Requirementslist in the UToledo Catalog

More in-depth information can be found in the Graduate Guide.

Examination and Thesis Project

All masters programs culminate in a written comprehensive examination or a thesis project.

  • The M.S. (applied math) examination consists of two three-hour exams (one in Real and Complex Analysis and one in Differential Equations).
  • The M.S. (statistics) examination consists of two three-hour exams (one in Probability and Statistical Theory and one in Applied Statistics) plus a take-home project.

All of the examinations are generally scheduled a week apart in the student's fourth semester of study. Students in the M.S. applied programs who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in the department may also satisfy the M.S. exam requirements by passing the corresponding doctoral exam at the M.S. level.

The thesis option is available in the M.S. (applied mathematics) programs only. Thesis writing and research takes place during the student's second year of study under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Recent master's thesis topics include: "applications of nonlinear programming to optimal control", "exotic containers", "closed geodesics on Jacobi surfaces" and "matroids".

Last Updated: 2/21/24