Get a Master's in Applied Mathematics

Today’s societal needs and problems are heavily dependent on mathematical and statistical tools. With a master’s in applied mathematics from Florida Tech, graduates use their mathematical expertise with other disciplines (science, engineering, economics, medicine, and finance) to solve multifaceted challenges such as weather and climate conditions, the complexities of network analysis, changes in biodiversity, crime statistics, traffic jams, and more.

Graduate students seeking a master’s in applied mathematics are continual problem-solvers who train themselves to continually ask “how?”

• How can automotive systems become more efficient?
• How might disease spread in populated areas in the event of bioterrorism?
• How can we model the spread of fire depending on weather, ground cover, and types of trees?

It is this kind of scientific exploration, combined with customized interdisciplinary training, that gives students such a variety of career opportunities.

Customize a Career Direction

Graduate students work closely with the faculty and undergraduate students to gain experience in research, teaching, and undergraduate training. Most of the faculty have expertise in applied and computational mathematics and statistics. Co-supervisors from related departments such as engineering or science collaborate with students when completing an interdisciplinary project.

Beyond the required core courses, students seeking a master’s in applied mathematics have the flexibility of forming a custom-made curriculum based on their research interests and future career goals. They graduate with the ability to understand and articulate solutions in a variety of fields, giving them an advantage when communicating with research and science funding agencies and employers. After receiving a master’s in applied mathematics, many graduates also choose a doctoral program at Florida Tech (see below for more information).

Gain Practical Experience

Because graduates with a master’s in applied mathematics typically are employed in scientific, engineering, business, or government environments, hands-on practical experience is an important aspect of the program at Florida Tech. Research projects at Florida Tech vary from real-life challenges, which you might find in a job, to theoretical problems that contribute to the field. Students take part in research projects with faculty and fellow graduate students in many different disciplines of mathematics, as well as areas of science, engineering, medicine, and business, through interdisciplinary teams.

There are many reasons to choose Florida Tech for an applied mathematics master's degree. Florida Tech has one of only 30 applied mathematics programs in the United States. The university also offers students the tools and resources they expect to find at a large university in a smaller, more intimate college environment. Careers in applied mathematics are some of the highest-paying, most available jobs for graduates.

A Degree with Flexibility

One of the first benefits of an applied mathematics master's degree at Florida Tech is its flexibility – allowing graduate students to design a curriculum that fits their research interests and career goals. As a national research university, Florida Tech is committed to providing students with a variety of research experiences in as many areas of their field as possible, opening up careers in a wide range of industries.

Small Classes – World Renowned Faculty

Florida Tech boasts a small faculty-to-student ratio with a close-knit academic community – a rarity for an applied mathematics master's degree program. Professors in the math department have doctoral degrees in applied and computational mathematics and statistics. They teach all courses (not graduate students), supervise research projects and conduct their own meaningful research studies on topics currently important to the field.

Research Opportunities

Graduate students participate in research on many applied mathematics topics with faculty and fellow graduate students. Research is conducted in areas of science, engineering, medicine and business through interdisciplinary teams, as well as in the areas of concentration needed for the student's applied mathematics master's degree program. Graduate students take part in summer internships to gain industry and research experience at companies such as Harris Corp., Intersil, Oak Ridge National Research Lab, NASA/Kennedy Space Center and Microsoft.

High-Tech Laboratory Facilities

The facilities and resources available for students are important for students in an applied mathematics master's degree program and Florida Tech doesn't disappoint. Besides access to the engineering and science labs, there are four mathematics labs that feature advanced software such as Wolfram Mathematica, MATLAB, the R Project, Sage, and IBM SPSS. The new computational mathematics and statistics research lab includes a 55-inch touchscreen Mondopad.

Great Location

Another of the benefits to choosing Florida Tech for an applied mathematics master's degree is its location within the Florida High Tech Corridor – home to more than 5,000 high-tech companies and the fifth largest high-tech workforce in the nation.

Doctoral Program

Graduates with an applied mathematics master's degree who wish to continue their research and elevate their subject matter expertise can enter the doctoral program at Florida Tech. Specializations include nonlinear analysis, stochastic analysis, optimization, numerical analysis scientific computing and statistics. Doctoral graduates can continue into academia as professors teaching the next generation of students or bring their expertise into the workforce as consultants.

Internships and research opportunities are part of the applied mathematics programs available to Florida Tech graduate students.

Most graduate students take part in summer internships to gain industry and research experience at companies such as Harris Corp., Intersil, Oak Ridge National Research Lab, NASA/Kennedy Space Center and Microsoft. Internship opportunities are a vital part of the applied mathematics program as they provide opportunities for students to use the skills they’ve learned in the classroom to develop solutions for complicated real-life problems they’ll encounter in their career.

The opportunities in the applied mathematics programs at Florida Tech include teaching assistantships, if qualified. This is a valuable experience for students looking to continue in the field as professors. It is also a chance for students in any career path to enhance communication and organization skills.

Advanced Research Opportunities

Research projects in applied mathematics vary from real-life problems to theoretical challenges that establish a foundation for future applied mathematics careers. The applied mathematics programs in research are diverse, with students working with faculty, fellow graduate students and interdisciplinary research teams. Some projects in which Florida Tech students are involved include:

• Mathematical biology: Models and computational methods to explore problems that involve complex fluids such as platelet aggregation
• Nonlinear analysis: ODEs and PDEs, Potential theory, optimal control and inverse problems
• Dynamical systems and chaos theory
• Image processing: Satellite imagery, bio-imaging, and global warming research
• Biostatistics: Stem cell research
• Stochastic analysis: Strategic defense of networks, antagonistic stochastic games, and stochastic finance
• Computational number theory
• Scientific computing

Students in the applied mathematics programs at Florida Tech also work with research organizations such as:

• Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
• Mathematical Biology Institute
• Oak Ridge National Lab
• Institute for computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics
• National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis

Other Applied Mathematics Programs

Florida Tech’s student chapter of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) is dedicated to bringing together mathematics, technology, and science students to inspire cooperative efforts to fix many of the world’s biggest problems. Graduate students can submit research findings to SIAM journals, mathematical biology journals, and publications of the American Mathematical Society for publication consideration.

The Infinity Math Club is a student-run group that brings together students of all disciplines to learn more about mathematics and discover new ways of looking at the field. The club holds regular meetings to discuss different projects and theories in math.

Providing students the opportunity to pursue the intersection between science, engineering, technology, and math are what careers in applied mathematics are all about. Florida Tech graduates often accept teaching positions, choose to work in finance or business, or become part of a government research laboratory. Because the applied mathematics program at Florida Tech is interdisciplinary, graduates find a wealth of careers in applied mathematics available to them.

Career Outlook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook. According to the bureau, careers in math are forecast to continue to grow 14% on average through 2020. Check the handbook for job descriptions, job outlook, and information on similar occupations.

Career Options

Graduates with a master’s in applied mathematics work in a variety of industries including government labs and research agencies, medical device manufacturers, chemical companies, electronics firms, and aerospace companies. Florida Tech’s customizable curriculum makes it easy for graduates to become experts in a specialized field, making them even more attractive to employers.

Graduate students can look forward to applied mathematics careers such as:

• Data mining / data privacy
• Materials science
• Finance and economics
• Computer systems analyst
• Economist
• Actuary
• Risk analyst
• Financial analyst
• Logistician
• Climatologist
• Market research analyst
• Mathematician
• Postsecondary teacher
• Statistician
• Survey researcher

Potential Employers for Florida Tech Graduates

Some examples of the organizations, corporations and research institutes that hire mathematicians include:

• Harris Corporation
• Lockheed Martin
• Boeing
• Leonardo DRS
• Kennedy Space Center
• NASA
• The Space Telescopic Science Institute
• Government labs and research agencies (Department of Homeland Security, National Security Administration, National Institutes of Health, and others)
• Electronics and computer manufacturers
• Aerospace and transportation equipment manufacturers
• Medical device companies
• Academic institutions and research institutes
• Financial service and investment management firms
• Chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturers

Doctoral Programs

Graduates with an applied mathematics master’s degree who wish to continue their research and elevate their subject matter expertise can enter the doctoral program at Florida Tech. Specializations include nonlinear analysis, stochastic analysis, optimization, numerical analysis, scientific computing, and statistics. Doctoral graduates can continue into academia as professors teaching the next generation of students or bring their expertise into the workforce as consultants.

On average, graduates with a PhD have higher salaries and employment rates than those with a master’s or bachelor’s degree, according to the BLS. Doctoral graduates can continue into academia as professors teaching the next generation of students or bring their expertise into the workforce as consultants. For full-time doctoral graduate research assistants at Florida Tech, full-pay tuition scholarships are available.