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Studies & Degrees in Applied Mathematics

Choose where you would like to study Applied Mathematics:

ArgentinaAustraliaAzerbaijanBelarusBrazilCanadaChinaFranceIndiaIrelandMexicoRussiaSouth AfricaSwazilandThe United KingdomThe United StatesUkraineVietnamVirgin Islands, U.S.Zimbabwe

Applied Mathematics is a branch of mathematics, which deals with mathematical methods that are usually used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Therefore, Applied Mathematics is an interdisciplinary subject, which covers a diverse range of scientific activities. It provides a broad qualitative and quantitative background for use in the above mentioned fields.

As an applied mathematician, there are a number of tasks you may perform and some are the analysis of processes from chemical, mining or agricultural industries by translating them into mathematical models; the development of models for financial markets and financial risk management; working on image and signal processing for astronomy, cartography, and medical and radar imaging; teaching others how to develop these models, and more.

Personal Qualities

Applied Mathematics appeals to people with a variety of different interests: some wish to study the degree in order to obtain a good quantitative background for use in a certain future career; others wish to have a better understanding of the basic mathematical aspects of other fields; or, you could be interested in the basic techniques and approaches in the subject itself. In any case, the base of this discipline is mathematics, and here are some qualities that may help:

  • Enjoy working with numbers
  • Have a love of problem-solving
  • Excellent analytical qualities
  • Imaginative and creative
  • Disciplined and perseverant
  • Be able to work both independently and as a part of a team

Study Options

You should be aware that universities may not be very consistent in the way that they group and label courses, programs, and degrees in applied mathematics. While at some schools, there is a single mathematics department, other institutions have separate departments for Applied Mathematics and Pure Mathematics. Most applied mathematics programs apply the knowledge and expertise of various departments and faculty. Some basic concepts explored are the theory of ordinary and partial differential equations, statistical sciences, probability and decision theory, operational analysis, optimization theory, the mechanics of solid materials and of fluids flows, numerical analysis, scientific computation, and the science of modern computer-based modeling. Furthermore, applied mathematics is often combined with another subject like biology, economics, or computer science. It is very important, when choosing a course of Applied Mathematics to carefully consider your future aims and goals. Whether you wish to pursue the subject at the graduate level; do you intend to later pursue a related area, after you have gained a good basis of applied mathematics at the undergraduate level; or do you wish to take a course in applied mathematics for general understanding and knowledge.

Career Options

Applied mathematicians, similarly to computational scientists work for federal and state governments, the military, financial services, scientific research and development services, and consulting services specializing in management, science, and technology. They can also find employment with software publishers, insurance companies, aerospace, pharmaceutical, and other manufacturing companies. A lot of other applied mathematicians also work in academia, teaching the next generation and developing innovations through their own research.

Graduate study in the same or other areas (engineering, planetary sciences, investment management) is a very common choice, too.