The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in both applied mathematics and statistics. The department has had an active graduate program in applied mathematics since 1970. It expanded to include a full graduate program in statistics in 1984. The strength of these programs lies in its graduate faculty, who are actively engaged in research in applications of mathematics and statistics in a wide variety of real-world problems, as well as in investigations of fundamental and theoretical questions. The faculty designs and implements courses and curricula with emphasis on innovative research directed toward practical applications, as mandated by the charter from the University System of Maryland Board of Regents.

Both the applied mathematics and statistics programs are intended for those students who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree and who have earned the equivalent of a bachelor's or master's degree in mathematics, statistics or in other mathematically oriented disciplines. Students who already hold a master's degree may apply and enter the doctoral program directly. The doctoral programs provide training suitable for employment in academia, industrial research and development organizations, as well as research-oriented government agencies. The master's degree programs provide training in applications of mathematics and statistics in areas suitable for employment in industry or government agencies. They also can serve as preparatory steps toward advancing to a doctoral program.

To serve students' varying range of backgrounds and goals, the department has instituted several tracks within its master's degree programs. Each track defines a set of well-focused graduation requirements. Students who intend to continue to the doctoral programs should consider the traditional tracks in applied mathematics or statistics. A student whose final goal is a master's degree should consider the industrial track in applied mathematics or the applications-oriented track in statistics. Most graduate courses are offered in the late afternoon or in the evening to enable the participation of those who hold full-time employment.

Individuals wishing to benefit from the department's course offerings without enrolling as degree-seeking students may do so by filing a non-degree seeking student application form. For students who do not already hold an undergraduate degree, a combined B.S./M.S. program leading to a master's degree in either applied mathematics or statistics is also offered by the department.

The department offers doctoral study in a broad spectrum of both classical and modern applied mathematics and statistics. Admission to this program presupposes a strong background in mathematics and/or statistics. Doctoral students continue with advanced study and dissertation research, with specialization in any of the departmental fields or in an interdisciplinary area. Particular emphasis is given to the following areas in statistics: Bayesian analysis, biostatistics, data mining, design of experiments, environmental statistics, nonparametric statistics, reliability, spatial statistics and image analysis, statistical decision theory and inference, survival analysis, time series analysis.

Tracks/Concentrations: 

Biostatistics (master’s)
Environmental (master’s)
Traditional (master’s)

Tracks/options toward the MS degree

To serve the students’ varying range of backgrounds and goals, the department has instituted several tracks/options within its master’s degree programs, as listed below. Each track defines a set of well-focused graduation requirements. Students who intend to continue to the doctoral programs should consider the traditional tracks in Applied Mathematics or Statistics. A student whose final goal is a master’s degree in statistics may consider the applications-oriented track in statistics. Most graduate courses are offered in the late afternoon or in the evening to enable the participation of those who hold full-time employment.

The MS degree program in Applied Mathematics

• Comprehensive examination option
• Thesis option

The MS degree program in Statistics

• Traditional track with comprehensive examination option
• Traditional track with thesis option
• Applications-oriented track: Environmental Statistics with comprehensive examination option
• Applications-oriented track: Environmental Statistics with thesis option
• Applications-oriented track: Biostatistics with comprehensive examination option
• Applications-oriented track: Biostatistics with thesis option

The comprehensive examination options require taking 30 credits of courses and passing a written comprehensive examination. The thesis options requires taking 24 credits of courses plus 6 credits of master’s thesis research. Please consult the Graduate Catalog for the details.

Program Admission Requirements

Applications for the master's and the doctoral programs must be made on prescribed forms, obtainable from the Graduate School's Web site, www.gradschool.umbc.edu/admissions. Admission to the two programs, applied mathematics and statistics, are made separately and are not interchangeable. The completed application packet must include: (a) completed application forms; (b) transcripts of college and university academic records; (c) three recommendation letters; (d) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the General Test; and (e) TOEFL score for international applicants whose native language is not English. All original application documents must be sent directly to the Graduate School, not the department. Requests for exemption from submitting some of the required documents may be considered if reasonable justification is given. Criteria for admission include:

1. A bachelor's degree with a grade point average higher than 3.0 out of 4.0
2. A sound background in mathematics and/or statistics
3. A GRE score in the 85th percentile in the quantitative section
4. A TOEFL score of at least 600 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test) or 100 (iBT) for international students

Applicants whose backgrounds are considered deficient occasionally may be admitted on provisional basis. In such cases, the department specifies conditions in the form of courses to be completed in a specified time before a recommendation for change to regular status is made.

Financial Assistance

Teaching and research assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Students also have the opportunity to obtain summer teaching at the university and summer internships in industry and government agencies.

Tuition fee-2 years$50,000

Total fee-2 years$80,000