Applied Mathematics at Montclair State

Applied Mathematics (MS)

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Applied Mathematics (MS) – STEM Designated Degree Program

The MS Applied Mathematics program provides students with foundational abilities in applied mathematics as well as in-depth specialized knowledge and skills in support of their specific goals. The training that students will receive in this program prepares them for a variety of career goals, including employment in a wide range of industries for which the analytic capacities of applied mathematics are highly sought after, or for the academically ambitious student, further study in a doctoral program. In addition, the program will be very useful to extend the development of secondary school teachers who wish to develop competencies in these increasingly exciting areas of mathematics.

Our program in Applied Mathematics was formulated to primarily train students for a post-MS career in industry (but with flexibility to train students interested in further graduate studies at the doctoral level or to teach at the secondary level). The proposed program will be the only graduate program in Applied Mathematics in New Jersey that includes three culminating options from which students can choose:  an internship, a capstone project, or a thesis. For students seeking an opportunity to carry out applied mathematics work with an employer and engage in projects taking place in that organization, the internship may be the best option.  

Beyond course offerings, students are required to participate in one of three possible culminating experiences (internship, capstone, thesis). In-depth research experience along with the knowledge gained from communicating the results through a written project report/thesis and oral presentation/defense will be invaluable to students.

The MS Applied Mathematics program will meet the needs of a broad array of students seeking careers in industry and research that uses quantitative methods, as well as in education. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 33% growth in jobs in mathematics between 2016 and 2026 (”much faster than the national average of 7%”), with an MS degree as the typical entry-level degree.

Graduates of the program can find employment in a wide variety of industries including aerospace corporations, analytics and forecasting organizations, chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturers, communications services providers, computer information and software firms, energy systems firms, financial industry, insurance companies, and medical device companies, to name just a few.

According to Burning Glass Technologies’ Real-Time Job Market Analytics Software, there were approximately 1.2 million US job postings in 2017 for a selection of applied mathematics occupations with an average advertised salary of $85,000, and  approximately 125,000 job postings  in the “NY-NJ-PA” Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in 2017 with an average advertised salary of $96,000. In addition, there were approximately 8,000 US job postings and 400 job postings in the NY-NJ-PA MSA in 2017 for a mathematics secondary teacher.

Along with the Applied Mathematics (MS) degree, the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics also offers the following options for graduate study: Statistics (MS).

Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.

Admission Requirements

The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.

To be eligible for admission into this program, a student must have completed the following six undergraduate courses with a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale:

  • Single-Variable Calculus (equivalent to the Montclair State University courses AMAT 120 and AMAT 220)
  • Multivariable and Vector Calculus (equivalent to the Montclair State University course MATH 222)
  • Linear Algebra (equivalent to the Montclair State University course AMAT 240)
  • Probability (equivalent to the Montclair State University course AMAT 345)
  • Ordinary Differential Equations (equivalent to the Montclair State University course AMAT 350)
Application Checklist

In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific program of interest.

  • Application Deadline: Rolling admission.
  • Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.

The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Applied Mathematics (MS) program:

  • Transcript: One from each college attended.
  • Essays/Personal Statement: Please write an integrated essay providing a response to each of the following questions.
    • What are your goals for graduate study and your future career?
    • In what ways do your academic background and your professional experiences provide evidence of your potential for success in the program you selected and in your eventual career?
    • Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
    • Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two
  • Resume: Required
  • Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
Curriculum

This program is 30 semester hours. For more information, please visit Applied Mathematics (MS) program listing in the University Catalog
Contact

If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869

If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Applied Mathematics (MS) Program Coordinator:

Program Coordinator: Jiayin Wang
Office:Center for Computing and Information Science 227D
Email: wangji@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-3330