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.
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.
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.
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.
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.