Mathematics

The University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa, is an exciting yet relaxed community of over 60,000 people located on the scenic Iowa River and served by most major airlines at the nearby Eastern Iowa Airport. The Mathematics Department provides a friendly and intellectually stimulating environment for the study of mathematics. The department provides support, guidance, and encouragement to help each student achieve his or her academic and professional goals. 

There are two distinct programs for graduate study in mathematics at the University of Iowa: the traditional program and the Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences (AMCS) program. The traditional program offers coursework and research in pure and applied mathematics leading to either an M.S. or Ph.D. degree, whereas the AMCS program allows the student to pursue in-depth studies of an allied scientific field while simultaneously studying graduate level mathematics leading to a Ph.D. in mathematics. A master's degree is not offered in the AMCS program.

Program I

Program I prepares students for further study of pure and applied mathematics and for employment in government and business. M.S. students in program I take several courses and pass two comprehensive examinations. Students must earn a grade of B-minus or higher in six of the courses and maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.75 in all mathematics courses taken for the degree.

Program I requires the following courses.

• Abstract Algebra I-II
• Introduction to Analysis I-II
• General Topology
• Introduction to Smooth Manifolds
• Nonlinear Dynamics with Numerical Methods
• Partial Differential Equations with Numerical Methods

The two comprehensive examinations are chosen from algebra, analysis, differential equations with numerical methods, and topology.

Program II

Program II is designed for secondary school teachers. Program II requirements are similar to those for programs I and III, but program II students complete two mathematics education courses and a minimum of 24 s.h. in Department of Mathematics courses. The following courses may be used to satisfy the program II mathematics course requirements.

• Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations
• Mathematics courses (prefix MATH) numbered 4000 or above

Students are encouraged to consult with the mathematics education faculty when planning their course of study.

Program III

Program III focuses on applied mathematics. Students in program III take several courses and pass two comprehensive examinations. Students must earn a grade of B-minus or higher in six of the courses and maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.75 in all mathematics courses taken for the M.S.

Program III requires the following courses.

• Introduction to Analysis I-II
• Nonlinear Dynamics with Numerical Methods
• Partial Differential Equations with Numerical Methods
• Numerical Analysis: Nonlinear Equations and Approximation Theory
• Numerical Analysis: Differential Equations and Linear Algebra

Both courses in group A, or two courses from group B:

Group A

• General Topology
• Introduction to Smooth Manifolds

Group B

• Discrete Mathematical Models
• Continuous Mathematical Models
• Optimization Techniques

The two comprehensive examinations are chosen from analysis, differential equations with numerical methods, numerical analysis, and topology.

Program IV

Program IV is designed for nondepartmental students working toward a Ph.D. in areas of study that require mathematical knowledge. The program has no specific required courses.

Students in program IV are considered to have passed the comprehensive examination for the master's degree in mathematics if they have maintained a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 in all mathematics courses taken for the M.S. in mathematics and have successfully completed the Ph.D. comprehensive examination in their area of study.

Students in program IV are assigned a mathematics advisor, who works with them and their major advisor to plan an appropriate curriculum for the M.S. in mathematics. A suitable program of study should be approved by a mathematics advisor before the student takes the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, and a member of the mathematics faculty should serve on the Ph.D. comprehensive examination committee.

Requirements

• Applicants must have completed work in an undergraduate program equivalent to the major in mathematics offered by the University of Iowa Department of Mathematics, with an undergraduate g.p.a. of at least 3.20. Relevance and difficulty of courses are considered when evaluating grades; grades of C or lower in mathematics courses must be balanced by grades of A. Individuals whose preparation does not meet this requirement may be admitted conditionally and are asked to take specific courses that cover deficiencies.
• You must first submit the online application to the Graduate College and pay the $60 application fee by credit card ($100 for international applicants).
• A statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• A set of your unofficial academic records/transcripts uploaded on your Admissions Profile. If you are admitted, official transcripts will be required before your enrollment.
• Applicants must score at least 155 on the quantitative section of the revised Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (700 on the old GRE). Applicants whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate their competence in English, normally by scoring at least 105 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Scholarships

• Global Education