Master of Science Degree in Computational Applied Mathematics
New this year: MS-CAM Scholarship & TA plus Tuition/Fee Waiver (see below for details).
Mathematics is a universal language. Applied mathematics combines the beauty and function of mathematics to help us understand and improve the world around us. Since mathematics is universal, it can be applied anywhere. This is a particularly exciting aspect of applied mathematics. Applied mathematicians help to design satellites, explain how our mind works and improve MRI machines. Applied mathematics allows one to find patterns that are common to many disciplines with a unifying mathematical structure. A problem in neuroscience sometimes has the same mathematical structure as doing an internet search! Applied mathematics allows one to make that connection.
The Department of Mathematics at California State University, Fullerton offers a graduate program in computational applied mathematics leading to the Master of Science Degree. The program is intended for individuals who are seeking or who currently hold positions that involve mathematical or quantitative applications. It was developed in consultation with mathematicians and scientists in the local industrial community. The coursework emphasizes modern applied mathematics, modeling, and computation. Every class involves the use of modern interactive software for numerical computation and simulation modeling, including MATLAB, Python, and R. Graduates have gone on into successful careers in industry and in teaching at the college level. Several have also obtained advanced degrees in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science.
PREREQUISITES
Students seeking admission to the program must have the following:
- Bachelor's degree in mathematics or related area from an accredited college or university
- Four semesters of Calculus, a computer programming course or equivalent experience, and upper division courses in mathematical probability and advanced calculus/analysis
- Overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all upper division mathematics courses, or a combination of previous course work and work experience approved by the graduate committee of the Mathematics Department.
Application Procedure
Students must submit the following:
- Official transcript sent to CSUF's Admissions and Records.
- Complete the online CSUF graduate application
. - Compete the supplemental application:
- (optional) Letters of recommendation.
- (optional) GRE Scores.
-
International students should visit this
International Admissions Office
for additional information and requirements.
Applicants must upload the supplemental application (3) above in the "Program Materials" section of your online Cal State Apply application under “Other” in the Documents tab.
Application window for Fall: October 1 to April 1.
Application window for Spring: August 1 to December 1.
Financial aid, including teaching/research assistantships and out-of-state tuition fee waiver, is available. Application due date is around the end of March.
If you need more information, you may contact the Graduate Advisor Dr. Charles H. Lee at charleshlee@fullerton.edu
or at (657) 278-2726. For administrative question please contact the Math Department office at mathoffice@fullerton.edu.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUALIFIED STUDENTS
Incoming Master of Science in Computational Applied Mathematics (MS-CAM) students are encouraged to apply to the MS-CAM Scholarship. Awardees will receive $6,000 per year for two years. Eligible applicants are those who are starting their first year of the MS-CAM program in Fall 2024 and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. The scholarship application deadline is May 1, 2024. Application instructions are available on the Math Department Scholarships and Awards webpage
. If you need more information, you may contact the Graduate Advisor Dr. Charles H. Lee at charleshlee@fullerton.edu or at (657) 278-2726.
TEACHING ASSOCIATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUALIFIED STUDENTS
We offer interested masters students, depending on availability, part-time instructor positions where they teach one or more of our elementary mathematics courses. Applications for the Teaching Associate (TA) position will be accepted during the spring and summer to teach the following fall semester. Please view our TA Job Description and Application Procedure for more details.
We are currently offering a limited number of tuition waivers for Teaching Associates newly hired in Fall 2024:
Terms of TA Tuition Waivers:
(1) Awardees receive an in-state, part-time tuition waiver for two courses or six units, whichever is higher.
- Non-resident tuition fees are not waived.
- Additional campus-based fees are not waived.
- Graduate business professional fees are not waived.
(2) TA tuition waivers will be awarded for a specific 2-year period (i.e. Fall 2024 through Spring 2026). Students will maintain their waiver if they take a leave of absence, however, the leave does not extend the 2-year period for which the waiver was awarded.
(3) TAs are not eligible to transfer their tuition waiver to a dependent child, spouse, or a registered domestic partner.
Eligibility:
(1) TAs must teach 3.0 units each semester.
(2) Awardees must enroll in a minimum of 3 units of coursework per semester. Students who are enrolled in GRAD 700 are not eligible for a TA tuition waiver.
(3) Awardees must maintain good academic standing and maintain satisfactory performance as a TA.
(4) Graduate Assistants and Instructional Student Assistants are not eligible for the tuition waiver at this time.
To be considered for the TA Tuition Waiver, you must submit a completed graduate application through Cal State Apply and a completed Teaching Associate application by March 1, 2024.
If you need more information, you may contact the Graduate Advisor Dr. Charles H. Lee at charleshlee@fullerton.edu
or at (657) 278-2726. For administrative question please contact the Math Department office at mathoffice@fullerton.edu.
Courses
The program starts in the fall semester and can be completed in two academic years, including a summer in between. All required courses are offered sequentially during the evening with six units per semester.
Fall Semester (first year)
Math 500A, Advanced Linear Algebra and Applications (3 units). Prerequisites: linear algebra, advanced calculus and consent of instructor. Corequisite: MATH 500B. Topics and computational methods from linear algebra useful in graduate studies in computational applied mathematics. Finite and infinite dimensional vector spaces, linear transformations and matrices. Introduction to Hilbert spaces. Projection theorem and some of its applications.
Math 500B, Applied Analysis (3 units). Prerequisites: undergraduate calculus, linear algebra, advanced calculus and consent of instructor. Corequisite: MATH 500A. Topics from analysis useful in graduate studies in computational applied mathematics. Topics may include initial and boundary value problems, including series solutions, eigenvalues and eigenfunctions, Fourier analysis, generalized functions, an introduction to the calculus of variations, and transform methods.
Spring Semester (first year)
Math 501A, Foundations of Numerical Analysis (3 units). Prerequisites: Computer programming and MATH 500A, MATH 500B. Numerical methods for linear and nonlinear systems of equations, eigenvalue problems. Interpolation and approximation, spline functions, numerical differentiation, integration and function evaluation. Error analysis, comparison, limitations of algorithms.
Math 502A, Foundations of Probability and Statistics (3 units). Prerequisites: MATH 335. Theory and applications of probability and statistical models including univariate and multivariate distributions; expectations and transformations of random variables.
Summer Term (end of first year)
Math 501B, Scientific Computing and Applications (3 units). Prerequisites: Computer programming and MATH 501A. Numerical methods for initial and boundary-value problems for ordinary and partial differential equations. The finite element method. Error analysis, comparison, limitations of algorithms.
Math 503A, Mathematical Modeling (3 units). Prerequisites: MATH 500A, MATH 500B. Mathematical modeling concepts. Topics may include: dimensional analysis, scaling and sensitivity; system concepts, state space, observability, controllability and feedback; dynamical systems, models and stability analysis; optimization models.
Fall Semester (second year)
Math 502B, Computational Statistics and Data Analysis (3 units). Prerequisites: MATH 335 and MATH 502A. Theory and applications of sampling theory, statistical estimation and hypothesis testing. Topics may include machine learning and data analysis techniques.
Math 503B, Parameter Estimation and Inverse Problems (3 units). Prerequisite: MATH 503A. Development and analysis of mathematical models, with the emphasis on estimating model parameters and solving inverse problems. Topics may include tomography, image processing, Tikhonov regularization, Monte Carlo methods.
Spring Semester (second year)
Math 597, Industrial Project in Computational Applied Mathematics (6 units). Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit. Students in the Computational Applied Mathematics Master’s Program earn a total of 6 units. Students work in teams on projects that are sponsored and funded by local industrial firms. Each team is supervised by a faculty member. The project is intended to provide a realistic industrial-like experience, complete with deadlines and a written final report, where students can put what they have learned to work, and where success is based on individual initiative, teamwork, and communication skills.
Faculty
Dr. Derdei Bichara, Associate Professor, Mathematical Biology, Dynamical Systems, Control Theory
Dr. Nicholas Brubaker, Associate Professor, Mathematical Modeling, Fluids, Electrostatics and Elasticity
Dr. Laura Smith Chowdhury, Professor, Mathematical Modeling, Complex Networks, Differential Equations
Dr. Charles Hung Lee, Professor, Computational Mathematics, Fluid Dynamics, Aerospace Engineering
Dr. Kristin Kurianski, Assistant Professor, Mathematical Modeling, Wave-Type Phenomena, Physical Systems
Dr. Tyler McMillen, Professor, Nonlinear Dynamics, Differential Equations, Neuroscience
Dr. Stephanie Reed, Assistant Professor, Mathematical Modeling, Stochastic Processes, Probability and Particle Systems
Dr. Anael Verdugo, Professor, Nonlinear Dynamics, Differential Equations, Computational Biology
Industrial Projects
2024, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Autonomous Localization Based on Surrounding Terrain Outlines Using Machine Learning Techniques
2024, Intelligent Fusion Technology, CisLunar Positioning Navigation and Timing (PNT) Modeling and Simulation Tools for CONOPS and System Architecture Assessment
2023, The Aerospace Corporation, High-Resolution Wide-Swath Synthetic Aperture Radar Multi-Functional Radio Frequency Satellite System
2022, Intelligent Fusion Technology, GNSS-MCBBW HPA Linearization using Advanced ML-AI for Satellite-Navigation
2022, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, On the Minimization of Delta-V for Station-Keeping Lunar Orbits
2022, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Solar Eclipse Prediction with Applications to Space Exploration
2022, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Robust Algorithm for Line of Sight Calculation with Applications to NASA High-Resolution Lunar Digital Elevation Map
2021, Intelligent Fusion Technology, Advanced Mathematical Modeling of Distributed Collaborative Beamforming (DCB)
2020, The Aerospace Corporation & Intelligent Fusion Technology, Modeling of a Wideband SATCOM System and Reinforce Learning-Based Pre-Distortion
2020, Aerendir, Mountain View, CA, Device authentication using biometric information – an algorithm investigation
2019, The Aerospace Corporation, Advanced Mathematical Modeling of Large LEO/MEO Constellations of Small Satellites: Un-intentional Physical Obstruction and RFI Modeling
2018, The Aerospace Corporation, SOSE Spectrum Resiliency Assessment Index (SRAI) and Resilient Capacity (RC) Modeling: Modeling of SRAI and RC Against RFI Threats for Space-Based SOSE Applications with Dynamic Communication Link Margin and Availability
2017, University of Sao Paulo & Brazil Synchrotron Lights, Fast Iterative Techniques for Tomographic Image Reconstruction
2017, Intelligent Fusion Technology, Advanced Signal Synchronization Techniques for Turn-Around Satellite Transponder
2017, The Aerospace Corporation & US Air Force Research Lab, Mathematical Models and System Engineering Framework for Program and Technical Baseline Risk Assessment
2016, L3 Technologies, GPS Precision Augmentation
2015, Earth Science Associates, Long Beach CA, Earlier Cyclone Track Prediction through Analysis of Tropical Disturbances
2014, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Network Communication Analysis & Simulation
2014, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Solar System Multi-Hop Relay Architecture
2014, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, CubeSat Constellation at the Earth-Moon L1 Libration Point
2013, SPILAB Pasadena, CA, Bio-Inspired Multi-Spectra Cameras
2012, Earth Science Associates, Long Beach CA, The Pore Pressure Regime of the Northern Gulf of Mexico
2011, GE Healthcare, Madison, WI, The Mathematics of Imaging Blood Flow & the HYPR algorithm
Research and More
Faculty members in the modeling and computation track are actively involved in research areas which include aerospace engineering, social networks, cellular biology, epidemiology, and small-scale systems. They have obtained grants from the National Aerospace and Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support their research.
Faculty members regularly work with students in their projects and have found funding for students from their research grants. Research is a wonderful way to use the ideas from courses in a “real world” situation. Faculty members work with students in research projects which often lead to publications and presentations by students at local and national meetings.
The industrial relevance of computational applied mathematics can be seen through the industrial projects in which faculty serve as consultants and the patents they obtain from their inventions.
CAREERS
Graduates from the Master’s Program in Computational Applied Mathematics have a broad range of career options. Recent graduates work in industry as scientific programmers, go into doctorate programs in applied mathematics, statistics, or engineering, as well as become teachers in community colleges. The problem solving skills along with the mathematical and computing knowledge obtained through coursework are valued by employers and graduate schools.
Employers of applied mathematicians include aerospace companies (e.g., Boeing), biotech companies (e.g., Amgen), financial companies (e.g., PIMCO), internet companies (e.g., Google) and research laboratories (e.g., NASA). The beauty of applied mathematics is that it is both interesting and useful. Because of this, applied mathematicians are hired by a huge range of companies. More information about the types of jobs available to applied mathematicians can be found in the careers website of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
(SIAM).
Frequently Asked questions
Q: My undergraduate degree was not mathematics; can I still apply?
A: Yes. You will most likely have additional prerequisites. You may contact Prof. Charles Lee at charleshlee@fullerton.edu if you need clarification on prerequisite requirements. After you apply, the graduate statistics committee will formally review your application and indicate which courses you need to take before beginning the program.
Q: What are the university requirements for admissions?
A: The minimum university requirements include the following
(1) A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
(2) A grade-point average of at least 2.5
(3) Good standing at the last college attended
(4) An undergraduate major in mathematics, statistics, or related field, with a grade point average of at least 3.0 in mathematics and statistics courses and at least 2.5 in related sciences.
Q: What are the prerequisite courses?
A: A two-year Calculus sequence, including Linear Algebra (MATH 150A, B and MATH 250A, B, or equivalent), a Probability Theory course (MATH 335, or equivalent), an upper-division Mathematical Analysis or Advanced Calculus course (MATH 350, or equivalent), and a Computer Programming course (MATH 320, or equivalent). Upper-division prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of B or better.
Q: What if I don’t have the prerequisite courses?
A: Students who do not satisfy the prerequisites may be considered for conditional admission, provided that they are missing only a few of the prerequisites courses.
Q: What should I do if I need to take many prerequisite courses?
A: You can take some courses in your local community college or through open university at CSUF
before applying to the program.
Q: When can I begin the program?
A: Ordinarily, a new cohort begins each fall semester. You may apply for the spring semester if you have prerequisite courses to take.
Q: How do I apply?
A: Apply online at www2.calstate.edu/apply
Q: What is the application deadline?
A: Deadline for Spring is December 1. The deadline for Fall is April 15. You are encouraged to apply ASAP, as admissions can close at any time.
Q: Besides the application, what other materials do I need to submit?
A: Each college or university previously attended must send a copy of your transcripts directly to CSUF’s Admissions and Records. You do not need to send transcripts to the Math Department. CSUF transcripts do not need to be sent. You also need to fill the supplemental application and upload it in the "Program Materials" section of your CalState Apply application under "Other" in the Documents tab.
Q: Any additional requirements for international students?
A: International students are required to take the TOEFL. Visit the International Admissions website
.
Q: Is the GRE required?
A: No. But if you’ve taken the GRE, you are encouraged to include your scores on your application.
Q: Are letters of recommendation required?
A: No. However, on the application, you must provide names and contact information for three references, who are familiar with you academically and professionally. These may be stated in a Word document that is uploaded in the "Program Materials" section of your CalState Apply application under "Other" in the Document tab.
Q: How can I check the status of my application?
A: You may contact the Math Department office at mathoffice@fullerton.edu. Applications are not considered complete until all transcripts have been received. You may log on to your student center (log on credentials provided after application is submitted) to see if there are any outstanding tasks for you to do. Please allow at least two weeks before you follow up on your application.
Q: I was admitted but cannot start the program in the term for which I applied. What can I do if I want to start the program later?
A: You will need to reapply.
Q: How long does the program take to complete?
A: The program requires a total of 30 units, which is usually completed over a two-year period, including a summer session. Six units are typically taken each semester. It is required to take six units (Math 500) during the first semester. However, in consultation with the graduate advisor Dr. Lee, students can take three units in subsequent semesters if they wish to complete the program in more than two years.
Q: When and how can I apply for Teaching Associateship?
A: We begin accepting applications for teaching assistantships beginning of March. The applicants must apply through Mathjobs.org. Please contact the Math Department at (657) 278-3631 for more information.
Q: How much does the program cost?
A: Information about the cost of the program can be found on the Graduate Studies Office
for prospective students. In addition to the costs listed on that website, there is an online fee of $33 per unit, regardless of whether you will be attending the classes online or in person. This fee is non-refundable if you decide not to attend CSUF. If you are not a resident of California, an additional fee per unit non-resident tuition fee is charged. Information about this fee can be found at the Student Financial Services fee information website
. Highly qualified students can be considered for a non-resident tuition fee waiver upon their request for fall admission only. Please contact Prof. Charles Lee via email at charleshlee@fullerton.edu if you wish to be considered.
Q: Is any financial support available?
A: Please see the Mathematics Department
website as well as the Graduate Studies Office
website.
