Purpose of the Program
This Program offers two Masters degrees, an MS in Applied Mathematics and an MA in MCD Biology. This is a three-year interdisciplinary Program. The Department of Applied Mathematics will be the primary program.

The goal of the Program is to produce well-trained applied mathematics students who are capable of making serious contributions leading to advancements in molecular biology. Such students will be well educated in computational sciences, statistics, probability, and molecular biology.

Admission to the Program
Students are expected to meet all requirements for admission to the graduate program in the Department of Applied Mathematics and possess a basic science background suitable for pursuit of this dual degree. Students are also expected to meet minimum requirements for admission to the graduate program in MCD Biology.  Adequate undergraduate preparation consists of successful completion of basic courses on cell and molecular biology. Any student deemed deficient in either area will be required to take Cell Biology (MCDB 3120) and Molecular Biology (MCDB 3500) after enrollment.

Students will be required to apply to both programs, with APPM the primary one.  Subject to joint recommendation and approval by APPM and MCDB, incoming students will be admitted to this Dual Degree Program as a regular part of the Applied Mathematics recruitment process.

At the current time, a major code has not been established for the Dual Degree Program.  Therefore, interested students should apply to the Applied Mathematics Program and indicate their interest in the joint degree on their application.

The student will be expected to start the programs simultaneously, except in unusual cases when clearly nothing would be compromised. Continuation of the student beyond the first year is subject to approval by APPM and MCDB.

Curriculum
The required curriculum in Applied Mathematics includes the following 7 three-credit courses: Methods of Applied Mathematics: Partial Differential and Integral Equations (APPM 5470), Numerical Analysis I and II (APPM 5600 and 5610), Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (APPM 5520), Statistical Applications Software and Methods (APPM 5580), Numerical Methods for Unconstrained Optimization (CSCI 6676), and Open Topics in Applied Mathematics (APPM 7400). APPM 7400 for this Program would be a 3-credit course focusing on a basic study of the principles of genetics and oral student presentations on thesis research, including fielding questions, responding to critiques, and presenting background information.

This package of 21 credits provides the necessary background in general applied mathematics, computational mathematics, and statistics/probability for students to address challenging problems at the interface of applied mathematics and biology. This preparation is appropriate for either an academic or commercial setting, especially in the emerging area of bioinformatics.

In MCD Biology, the core curriculum in this Program consists of 21 credits as follows. A student takes three 3-credit courses, usually in the second year: Cell Structure and Function (MCDB 5210), Gene Expression (MCDB 5230), and Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology (MCDB 5250). In the third year, a student takes either Molecular Genetics (MCDB 5220), or Cell Signaling and Developmental Regulation (CHEM/MCDB 5426). In either case, the student also takes one 3-credit graduate elective in MCDB and 6 credits of Master's Thesis (MCDB 6950; see below). The graduate elective course can be the other of the two required courses mentioned above.

Master's Prelim and Thesis and Requirements
Twenty-one credits of core courses are required within each Department. The proposed MCDB courses would fulfill the current APPM requirement of an outside sequence and election of a third course. Similarly, the APPM courses would serve as outside and elective courses to fulfill MCDB requirements.

The Master’s degree requirements for the APPM MS will be fulfilled by the non-thesis (Plan II) option. The requirements for a thesis (Plan I) program will apply to the MCDB master’s degree.  Thesis hours count only toward MCDB’s degree. A student must pass the MCDB Prelim (made up of the exams in MCDB 5210/5230). The student must also successfully complete 6 credits of MCDB 6950 by writing a Master's thesis on original research in an area at the interface between Applied Mathematics and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.

The Graduate Chairs of both departments must approve successful completion of their respective degree requirements before either degree is confirmed.

Leaving the Program
A student will be terminated from the dual degree program if they are terminated from either individual program. The student may petition the APPM Graduate Committee to remain in the APPM program if he/she was terminated from the MCDB program.