The following are a list of frequently asked questions about the on-campus masters of science program in Applied Math department. For FAQs about other degree programs, please see the Ph.D. FAQs or the Online Masters FAQs.
- What does your program have to offer me?
- Our students graduate with the knowledge, the experience, and the ability to be leaders in a society that exhibits increasing demands for competence in communication, computation, and quantitative analysis. Applied mathematics encompasses some of the most diverse and interdisciplinary research in the physical, engineering, and biological sciences, which is what is needed in order to address the problems that we face today and in our future. We offer a broad curriculum of graduate courses in applied mathematics to provide students with the tools they need to succeed.
- What will I be able to do with my MS degree in AMATH?
- Many of our students go on to careers in industry at places such as Boeing, Microsoft, or biotechnology companies. Furthermore, some students use their MS degree to become instructors at community colleges or universities. Also, some students choose to apply to PhD programs with UW AMATH or at other prestigious universities.
- How do I apply to the MS program?
- You can fill out the application online at the graduate school webpage. The application will tell you what you need to submit, and you can save it before you submit it.
- What things do I need to apply to the MS on-campus program?
- This information can now be found on the admissions page. To
apply, you will need to submit:
- All post-secondary transcripts
- GRE General Test scores
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- CV or Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Assistantship and Fellowship Application
- What are the deadlines for applications?
-
January 15th for international applicants
January 15th for domestic applicants - Can I only apply for fall quarter?
- For our on-campus MS, we only offer fall admissions. Our online MS program offers admission for autumn, winter and spring quarters.
- Do I need to take the GRE general exam?
- Yes; applicants are required to submit verbal, analytical and quantitative scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE). HOWEVER, if you have earned a graduate degree from an accredited institution in the United States, you may be exempt from the GRE requirement.
- How do I submit my official GRE general scores?
- In requesting that scores be sent to the UW Office of Graduate Admissions from Educational Testing Services either during or after you take the test, use 4854 (University of Washington) under Score Report Recipients and 0702 for the department code.
- What is the minimum score you consider in the GRE?
- We have no minimum. We consider your application as a whole.
- What grade point average do you look for in potential MS students?
- We would like to see students able to keep above a 3.2 out of 4.0 scale. We especially look at grades in upper level mathematics courses, such as our prerequisite courses.
- Will I be offered a teaching or research assistantship? Are there fellowships available?
- We do not guarantee funding for our MS students; however, you are welcome to apply for student positions through the UW website. Students do enter our MS program with fellowships.
- How much can I expect to pay?
- Tuition rates do change frequently. You can find information regarding tuition rates at the Office of Planning and Budgeting website. This lists costs for residents (of Washington) and non-residents. For information on estimating costs, please visit the financial aid cost estimate page. International students can find cost estimates on the graduate school website.
- I speak excellent English, even though it is not my native language. Do I need to take an English proficiency test?
- Yes, and this is a graduate school requirement. Details regarding the English Proficiency rules are located in the graduate school's Memorandum #8.
- What is the minimum score on the [TOEFL,IELT, other English proficiency exam] needed for admissions?
- You can find required scores on the graduate school’s Memorandum #8.
- What do I do if I am still finishing my undergraduate degree when I apply?
- Many students apply while finishing up their undergraduate degree. Please make it clear what coursework is still in process within your statement of purpose.
- How many students do you accept in the MS program?
- In fall 2012, we have accepted 21 new students. We generally see over 100 applicants.
- Are prerequisite courses required?
- Yes. They are the foundation for our coursework.
The three prerequisite courses for the degree:
- Beginning Scientific Computing (AMATH 301) or equivalent course work
- Introduction to Differential Equations and Applications(AMATH 351) or equivalent course work
- Applied Linear Algebra and Numerical Analysis(AMATH 352) or equivalent course work
- Do the prerequisite courses need to be completed before I begin my graduate degree coursework?
- Yes, and you may email gpa (at) amath.washington.edu with specific questions.
- What GPA am I expected to maintain?
- In order to be a candidate for the MS degree, you must maintain an overall GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0. Individual courses that are graded 2.7 and lower must be retaken.
- How many courses should I take each quarter?
- Full-time at the graduate level is 10 credits. Students who finish their MS in one year typically take 3 classes (12-15 credits) per quarter.
- What courses do I need to take?
- Students are required to take all three of AMATH 567 (Applied Analysis), AMATH 568 (Ordinary Differential Equations) and AMATH 569 (Partial Differential Equations). Substitution of any of these courses with AMATH 501, AMATH 502 and AMATH 503, respectively, is permitted. Either AMATH 581 (Scientific Computation) or AMATH 584 (Numerical Analysis 1) is also required. Students need to take a total of 24 credits in AMATH courses.
- Do students take courses in other fields? What fields do they take courses in?
- Yes. Students take graduate level courses in pure mathematics, statistics, computer science, oceanography, engineering (many different fields), biochemistry, biology and many other fields.
- Is there a way to transition from the MS to the PhD program?
- There is: students have to notify the graduate program coordinator by January 15th of the year they wish to start in the PhD program. Students' files will be evaluated with those of the external PhD applicants. As of 2012, two students in the online MS program have entered the PhD program. These students were admitted and are currently working towards a PhD in applied mathematics.
- What constitutes the Final Examination?
- This consists of a 25 minute public presentation in the presence of at least two of the applied mathematics faculty on a current topic of interest. The topic should be related to applied mathematics and/or its applications and be at a level that surpasses the material covered in the courses taken towards the MS program. Please see here for more information.
- How does one satisfy the independent study requirement?
- Students should contact faculty members whose research they are interested in, and come to a mutual understanding on how the independent study requirement can be satisfied. Students could read book chapters surpassing course material, or research papers, or could work on some original research.
- What are the journal clubs?
- Journal clubs vary according to each topic and club. Some journal clubs are organized by faculty. Generally, it is a way for students to further explore a topic of interest (such as fluid dynamics, numerical analysis, or mathematical biology) by reading journal articles and/or presenting findings to your group. Please contact the faculty or student in charge of each club to find out further details.