Program Offerings
• Bachelor of science degree in Applied and Computational Mathematics
• Minors: Mathematics and Computational Statistics
What is Applied and Computational Math?
Mathematics is a language and methodology for classifying, studying, and predicting patterns: patterns of quantity, of structure, of change, of logic. Applied mathematics is the use of mathematical language and methods to understand real-word phenomena and to solve real-world problems, while computational mathematics involves numerical and statistical methods better suited to computers to carry out.
Thus, an applied and computational mathematics degree gives students a firm understanding of mathematics and its applications to science and engineering in the 21st century. The degree provides students with a strong foundation of knowledge and skill in the core areas of analysis, differential equations, numerical methods and modeling. Students will also attain a basic understanding of probability, statistics, algebra and programming. The degree will prepare students to work in such areas as defense technology, business, robotics, public policy and biomedicine.
What does a mathematician do?
A mathematician is a problem solver. An applied mathematician uses mathematical theory and technique to critically analyze and solve problems in business, government, engineering and the social sciences.
Some duties that a mathematician might do in their career include:
• Analyze ways to schedule airline routes between cities
• Analyze the effects and safety of a new medication
• Analyze the aerodynamic characteristics of an experimental automobile
• Work in computer programming or software engineering
• Test weapons and defense systems
• Market research and big data
• Manage hedge funds or analyze financial markets
While an engineering or science degree focuses of developing theories and methods to solve a specific class of real-world issues and phenomena, mathematics provides a powerful method for posing and solving problems in general. As a result, a mathematics degree naturally complements an engineering degree: an engineering degree will get you a job; a mathematics degree will get you a promotion. As a result, mathematics is the most popular double major at SD Mines.
First-Year Courses
Computer science I & II
Calculus I & II
Composition
Course Curriculum
Link to Catalog
Internships and Co-ops
Through cooperative education (co-ops) and internships, School of Mines students have many opportunities to apply their education to "real world" work experiences. 77% of Mines graduates have at least one paid internship before they graduate, earning over $18 an hour. One example of a math student's internship was in Silicon Valley at imo.im, a startup company that was founded and funded by one of the first ten employees at Google.