Degrees and Programs of Study
The Department of Mathematics offers programs of study that lead both to Ph.D. and M.M.S. degrees. The department plans to admit students to the following programs and tracks. See our Admissions Page [1] for detailed application instructions.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) [1]
The traditional doctoral program of the department currently comprises about 110 students pursuing a Ph.D. degree. Active areas of study and research include algebra and number theory, algebraic and differential geometry, topology, combinatorics and group theory, representation theory, logic, probability theory, classical and modern analysis, dynamical systems and ergodic theory, applied mathematics, mathematical biology, ordinary and partial differential equations, scientific computing, and actuarial science. We expect to admit between 15 and 20 students each year. Expected time to degree is five to six years depending on initial preparations.
Both in 2009 and 2010 the number of Ph.D.'s we graduated exceeded 20 each year - see our list of Ph.D. dissertations [2]. Graduates move on to competitive post-doctoral positions major research universities, faculty positions in colleges across the United States, as well as leadership position in the public and private sector, including, for example, NSA, software industry, or actuarial employment.
Master in Mathematical Sciences (M.M.S.)
The department expects to admit about a dozen students into specialization tracks of its masters program. There are currently 15 students in the M.M.S. program and we expect to admit six for each specialization each year. The expected time to degree is two years. We currently offer the following specializations:
Mathematical Biosciences [2]
The curriculum for the mathematical biosciences track has been developed in collaboration with other units at Ohio State including the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI) [3], the College of Biological Sciences, and the Medical Center. Students will participate in MBI activities such as summer research programs and colloquia, and complete a thesis in their second year under the supervision of mathematics faculty working in math biology. Emphasis is on continuous modeling, differential equations, and numerical analysis. Prospective careers are in bio-medical research and industry, employment in the public sector such as with HHS/CDC or in education as well as advanced academic pursuits along the interface of mathematics and biology.
Mathematics for Educators [3]
This specialization mainly serves current and future educators in mathematics. It aims to equip its students with a strong background in the core areas of mathematics at the post-baccalaureate level. The curriculum also includes a year-long course on the Communication of Mathematics that has been specially designed with the Department of Teaching & Learning in the School of Education and Human Ecology. Hands-on pedagogical skills are further developed in a teacher preparation training course as well as teaching assistants in a large variety of class room settings within the vast Ohio State course offerings. Graduates are well positioned to move into doctoral programs in mathematics education, faculty employment in community colleges, leadership positions in school districts, as well as roles in the private sector that rely on the communication of mathematics.
Computational Sciences [3]
Demands on high performance computing are rapidly rising in many areas that deal with the analysis of complex systems. Among them are structural and material sciences, atmospheric sciences and fluid dynamics, environmental and eco-systems, complex economic, finance, and social systems, numerical and statistical analysis, computational physical sciences (physics, chemistry, geology, etc), mathematical biosciences, cryptography, digital imagining, and parallel computing. The increase in complexity and needs for more efficient computational methods in these applications presents many unique mathematical challenges. The Computational Science track aims to address these challenges and equip its MMS graduates with the required skills in mathematics, numerical analysis, computational methods, as well as foundational knowledge in an applied science in which these skills are utilized. Supporting the program is the tremendous array of resources and departments available at Ohio State University, particularly the College of Engineering [4] but also many other units and centers on campus.
An additional M.M.S. specializations in Mathematical Finance is planned for the coming years. A generic M.S. degree outside of these specializations is open to students who have been admitted with Ph.D.-degree intent.
Scientific and Educational Resources
Faculty
There are currently 65 regular mathematics faculty on the Columbus campus as well as several branch campus faculty who teach graduate courses and direct graduate theses. Their contact information and research areas can be found on the Graduate Faculty List [4] as well as our directory [4]. Prospective as well as current students are invited to contact them for more information about their research.
Faculty are active in about every area of mathematics and groups collaborate within the department as well as with groups from other departments on campus. Many are leaders within their research areas - in both the recent and coming International Congress of Mathematics the department was represented with at least three speakers. The Ohio State research program in mathematics is ranked 15th among public universities in the United States (NRC`95).
Courses & Seminars
The graduate curriculum of the department includes courses starting at the preparatory master's level leading up to advanced research topics courses in all major areas of mathematics. The available courses can be found on our Graduate Course List [4] which also lists several syllabi, as well as the University Bulletin [4] with brief descriptions. Syllabi of our "core courses" at the introductory Ph.D.-level can be found here [Array]. Course offerings each year with instructors can be looked up on our Proposed Course Lists [4].
Besides the new Master level sequences we also recently revised the course curriculum in topology/geometry. At any time graduate students can sign up for independent study, reading and research courses with one of our many regular faculty members.
In addition there are many regular research seminars and colloquia in the department - see our calendar [4]. Among them are also seminars and working groups organized by graduate students, for example, in number theory, algebraic geometry, and ergodic theory. In addition, the Invitation to Mathematics [5] lecture series serves as a student colloquium in which faculty expose beginning graduate students to research areas in mathematics and possible thesis topics.
All supported graduate students have their own desks in shared office spaces, including access to well maintained desktop computers in each office and wireless access throughout the department. Students and faculty with more serious computing needs have access to university high performance computers as well as computing classes.
The Science & Engineering Library [8] contains more than 350,000 volumes and currently receives more than 2,750 serial titles. It is integrated in the campus wide library system [9] and part of the OhioLink [10] system which gives students and faculty access to 48 million library items and 12 thousand journals. Additionally, the Interlibrary Services [11] allows to have any articles and book chapters scanned and emailed regardless of local availability. Thus essentially any scholarly material is accessible or can be conveniently delivered.
Documents and Additional Information
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Contact Information
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Thomas Kerler Vice-Chair of Graduate Studies Department of Mathematics The Ohio State University 231 W 18th Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43210 |
Graduate Coordinator Office: MA 102 Phone: (614) 292-6274 Fax: (614) 292-0167 Email: grad-info@math.osu.edu [20] (for applicants and other inquiries) grad-office@math.osu.edu [21] (for students currently in our program) |