Department of Mathematics
Master of Science in Mathematics and Statistics

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The Degree

Normally, there are 31 graduate credits required for the degree. There is no thesis requirement and there are no qualifying or comprehensive exams.

Each student must take four required courses and four elective courses in Mathematics and Statistics. These courses are at the heart of the program. All core and elective courses are three credits.

• The four required courses are Deterministic Mathematical Models (matrix models and differential equations), Numerical Methods (numerical analysis and simulation methods), Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics. These courses will be offered once every academic year. It is possible to substitute similar courses offered in Georgetown University's
  Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Biomathematics for the core courses in Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics.
• Elective courses include Stochastic processes, Signal Processing, Introduction to Financial Mathematics, Optimization, Partial Differential Equations, Regression Methods and Analysis of Variance, Categorical Data Analysis, Computer Intensive Methods in Statistics, Data Exploration and Data Mining, and others. These will be offered on a rotating schedule. There are also graduate courses offered by other departments at Georgetown University that may count as electives. This list and the course names are subject to change.

In addition, students have to take courses or course components that will expose them to applications of mathematics.

• Students must take one course in a nonmathematical science that will expose them to issues and methods in that area. These courses use mathematical modeling or use advanced statistical or mathematical techniques for data analysis. Examples include Population Genetics (Biology),  Clinical Trials  (Biostatistics), Information Warfare (Computer Science), and Machine Translation (Linguistics). This list changes every semester.
• Statistical Consulting Practicum or Applied Mathematics Clinic (2 credits total). Students will solve mathematical and statistical problems for clients from the Georgetown campus and from off-campus. An important aspect will be communication with clients.
• Internship (2 credits). Students are expected to spend a substantial amount of time (the equivalent of about four weeks) in a professional environment off campus that is related to their graduate training.
• Consulting credits may be substituted for the internship requirement, and prior or current work experience with quantitative work in a professional environment may be also be used to satisfy the internship or consulting requirement.

Entering students are expected to be familiar with single and multivariable calculus and with linear algebra. Additional mathematical experience at the undergraduate level is desired. This may include additional upper division courses in mathematics and statistics or suitable courses in economics, computer science, physics, engineering.

For students who have taken multivariable calculus and linear algebra before and who need to refresh some of their skills, one-credit bridge courses are offered during the summer session (mid-June through mid-August), depending on demand. Topics include Matrix Methods, Methods of Analysis, Methods of Discrete Mathematics, Elementary Methods of Statistics, and Computer Tools.