Mathematics and Statistics Programs

MASTER OF ARTS in
STATISTICS and APPLIED MATHEMATICS

MASTER OF ARTS in PURE MATHEMATICS:

Admission Requirements
The general college admission requirements must be satisfied. These include the Graduate Record Examination and two letters of recommendation. The Department’s requirements are flexible. They are intended to encourage students without a prior specialization in mathematics to pursue a degree in mathematics.

Degree Requirements
Ten courses, 30 credits, chosen as described below
Four comprehensive examinations
Language competency

Core Curriculum (15 credits, 5 courses)
Algebra Core: MATH 721 Modern Algebra I and either MATH 722 Modern Algebra II or MATH 725 Linear Algebra

Analysis Core: MATH 746 Theory of Functions of a Real Variable I and either MATH 747 Theory of Functions of a Real Variable II or MATH 742 Theory of Functions of a Complex Variable

Geometry and Topology Core: MATH 750 Calculus on Manifolds or MATH 751 Topology

Electives (15 credits, 5 courses)
Fifteen credits in mathematics and statistics to constitute a cohesive program. The student’s selection of elective courses must have advisor approval. 600-level courses are intended as preparation. Due to the rotation schedule, no 700 level course may be available to a student. A limited number of 600-level courses may be used as electives. This is to ensure that students graduate in a timely fashion.

Comprehensive Examinations
Students must complete comprehensive examinations in four areas of mathematics during their final semester. Examinations in algebra and analysis are required, and the other two topics can be selected with an advisor's approval. A failed examination may be repeated. After two failures the student must have the approval of a committee formed by the department chair to review the case. The student may be allowed to repeat the exam or may be required to leave the program.

Language Examination
Students must exhibit a working knowledge of a foreign language by translating a mathematical passage into English.

For further information on the MA in Pure Mathematics, please contact Professor John Loustau: jloustau@msn.com.

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MASTER OF ARTS in STATISTICS and APPLIED MATHEMATICS:

Admission Requirements
The general college admission requirements must be satisfied. These include the Graduate Record Examination and two letters of recommendation. In addition, the Department requires one semester of Linear Algebra (MATH 260) and one semester of Multivariate Calculus (MATH 250). The Department’s requirements are minimal. They are intended to encourage students without a previous specialization in mathematics to pursue a degree in statistics and applied mathematics.

Four program sequences (Track IV pending Senate approval) are available for the MA in Statistics and Applied Mathematics - Track I: Statistics, Track II: Applied Mathematics, Track III: Bioinformatics and Track IV: Financial Engineering.

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Track I: STATISTICS

Degree Requirements
Thirty credits (10 courses)*, chosen as described below:

Core Curriculum** (15 credits, 5 courses)
1. STAT 701 Advanced Probability I
2. STAT 702 Advanced Probability II
3. STAT 703 Mathematical Statistics
4. STAT 706 General Linear Models I
5. STAT 707 General Linear Models II

Electives (12 credits, 4 courses)
Twelve credits in statistics, computer science, mathematics, or relevant areas of application, selected to constitute a cohesive program. Typically, these courses are at the MATH 700 and/or STAT 700 level. Electives must be approved by the Graduate Statistics and Applied Math Advisor.

Project (3 credits, 1 course)
STAT 790 Case Seminar
The student, guided by a member of the faculty, prepares a project in statistics. The student presents the results to faculty and students in a seminar during the student’s final semester. This replaces the comprehensive examination requirement.

Students must exhibit a working knowledge of two useful computer languages or data analysis packages. This replaces the foreign language requirement.

For further information on the MA in Statistics, please contact Professor Edward Binkowski: ebinkows@hunter.cuny.edu.

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Track II: APPLIED MATHEMATICS

Degree Requirements
Thirty credits (10 courses)*, chosen as described below:

Core Curriculum** (15 credits, 5 courses)
1. MATH 601 Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences
2. MATH 746 Theory of Functions of a Real Variable I
3. STAT 701 Advanced Probability I
4. STAT 702 Advanced Probability II
5. STAT 706 General Linear Models I

Suggested electives are:
MATH 642 Introduction to Theory of Functions of a Complex Variable
MATH 654 Dynamical Systems and Chaos
MATH 685 Numerical Methods
MATH 747 Theory of Functions of a Real Variable II
MATH 785 Advanced Numerical Methods
STAT 703 Mathematical Statistics
STAT 707 General Linear Models II
STAT 715 Time Series Analysis
STAT 722 Theory of Games
STAT 726 Theory of Models and Sampling
STAT 786 Visualization for Statistics and Applied Mathematics
STAT 787 Statistical Models for Spatial Data

Project (3 credits, 1 course)
STAT 790 Case Seminar
The student, guided by a member of the faculty, prepares a project in applied mathematics. The student presents the results to faculty and students in a seminar during the student’s final semester. This replaces the comprehensive examination requirement.

Students must exhibit a working knowledge of two useful computer languages or data analysis packages. This replaces the foreign language requirement.

For further information on the MA in Applied Mathematics, please contact Professor John Loustau: jloustau@msn.com.

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Track III: BIOINFORMATICS

Additional Admission Requirements
The Bioinformatics track allows students with career plans in the biomedical sciences and without a previous specialization in mathematics to pursue a degree in statistics and applied mathematics. In addition to the above departmental requirements for admission to the MA program in Statistics and Applied Mathematics, it is required that the student have an adequate undergraduate training in biological sciences, chemistry, or related fields, as well as strong computer programming skills. The following track requirements, or their equivalents, are the minimal requirements that the student must meet in order to enter the Bioinformatics track:
1. One semester of introductory biology (BIOL 100 or equivalent)
2. One year of general chemistry (CHEM 102-105 or equivalent)
3. One semester of organic chemistry (CHEM 222 or equivalent)
4. One semester of biological chemistry (BIOL 300 or equivalent)
5. Familiarity with UNIX and database programming (CSCI 132-232 or equivalent)

Degree Requirements
Thirty credits (10 courses)*, from courses chosen as follows:

Core Curriculum** (15 credits, 5 courses)
1. STAT 701 Probability
2. STAT 703 Mathematical Statistics
3. STAT 706 General Linear Models I
4. STAT 716 Data Analysis -or- STAT 717 Multivariate Analysis
5. STAT 739 Bayesian Statistics

Electives (12 credits, 4 courses)
Four graduate courses in biology, chemistry, or related fields. Those must constitute a cohesive curriculum in bioinformatics, and must be approved by the Graduate Bioinformatics Advisor.

Suggested electives in the natural sciences are:
ANTH 790 Biological Anthropology
ANTH 793 Human Evolutionary Genetics
BIOL 700.05 Genetics
BIOL 710.13 Molecular Biology Lecture
BIOL 750.03 Developmental Biology
BIOL 790.49 Computational Molecular Biology
CHEM 698.03 Chemical Genomics

Project (3 credits, 1 course)
STAT 790 Case Seminar. The student, guided by a member of the faculty, prepares a project in bioinformatics. The student presents the results to faculty and students in a seminar during the student's final semester. This replaces the comprehensive examination requirement.

Students must exhibit a working knowledge of two useful computer languages or data analysis packages. This replaces the foreign language requirement.

For further information on the MA in Bioinformatics, please contact Professor Makram Talih: makram.talih@hunter.cuny.edu.

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Track IV: FINANCIAL ENGINEERING (pending Senate approval)

Degree Requirements
Thirty credits (10 courses)* from courses chosen as follows:

Core Curriculum** (24 credits, 8 courses)
1. STAT 701, 702 Probability
2. STAT 780 Introduction to Trading Strategies
3. STAT 761 Advanced Concepts in Financial Markets
4. STAT 717 Multivariate Analysis
5. MATH 685 Numerical Methods 1
6. STAT 786 Visualization for Statistics and Applied Mathematics
7. MATH 642 Introduction to Functions of a Complex Variable

Electives (3 credits, 1 course)
Three credits in statistics, mathematics, economics or relevant areas of application, selected to constitute a cohesive program. Typically, these courses are at the MATH 700 and/or STAT 700 level. Electives must be approved by the Graduate Statistics and Applied Math Advisor. Students are urged to extend their preparation beyond the minimal requirement.

Suggested electives are:
ECO 760 Financial Economics
ECO 762 Corporate Finance
MATH 601 Mathematical Methods for Physics
MATH 645 Real Analysis II
MATH 654 Dynamical Systems and Chaos
MATH 747 Theory of Functions of a Real Variable II
MATH 785 Advanced Numerical Methods
STAT 706 General Linear Models I
STAT 707 General Linear Models II
STAT 716 Data Analysis
STAT 715 Time Series Analysis
STAT 722 Theory of Games
STAT 726 Theory and Methods of Sampling
STAT 739 Bayesian Statistics
STAT 787 Spatial Statistics

Project (3 credits, 1 course)
STAT 790 Case Seminar.
The student, guided by a member of the faculty, prepares a project in applied mathematics. The student presents the results to faculty and students in a seminar during the student’s final semester. This replaces the comprehensive examination requirement.

Students must exhibit a working knowledge of two useful computer languages or data analysis packages. This replaces the foreign language requirement.

For further information on the MA in Financial Engineering, please contact Professor John Loustau: jloustau@msn.com.
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*The 30 credits (10 courses) must be approved by an advisor and constitute a concentration.
**Courses already taken as an undergraduate will satisfy specific course requirements but are not included in the 30 credit (10 course) total.