Mathematics

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The Department of Mathematics has designed its major to give students an understanding of the several areas of mathematics. The program of study allows students to use electives to prepare themselves for a specific field, whether in industry, teaching or advanced graduate research. The faculty is engaged in a wide variety of research activities and offers courses in many areas. The department offers the BS, BA and minor in mathematics; BS and BA in applied and computational mathematics; BS in mathematics/economics; minor in mathematical finance and minor in statistics; progressive degree programs in mathematics; MS in applied mathematics; MS in mathematical finance; MS in statistics; MA in mathematics; MA in applied mathematics; MS in computational molecular biology; PhD in applied mathematics; and PhD in mathematics.

Kaprielian Hall 104
(213) 740-2400
FAX: (213) 740-2424
Email: mathinfo@dornsife.usc.edu

Chair: Eric M. Friedlander, PhD

Faculty

University Professor and USC Associates Chair in Natural Sciences and Professor of Biological Sciences, Computer Science and Mathematics: Michael S. Waterman, PhD (Biological Sciences)

Dean’s Professor of Mathematics: Eric M. Friedlander, PhD

Gabilan Distinguished Professorship in Science and Engineering and Professor of Mathematics: Susan M. Montgomery, PhD*

Seeley G. Mudd Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics: Shanghua Teng, PhD (Computer Science)

Professors: Kenneth Alexander, PhD; Richard Arratia, PhD; Aravind Asok, PhD; Jay Bartroff, PhD; Peter Baxendale, PhD; Francis Bonahon, PhD*; Susan Friedlander, PhD; Jason Fulman, PhD; Larry Goldstein, PhD; Robert Guralnick, PhD*; Nicolai T.A. Haydn, PhD; Edmond A. Jonckheere, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering); Sheldon Kamienny, PhD; Igor Kukavica, PhD; Aaron Lauda, PhD; Sergey Lototsky, PhD; Jin Ma, PhD; Fedor Malikov, PhD; Remigijus Mikulevicius, PhD; Paul K. Newton, PhD (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering); Gary Rosen, PhD; Robert J. Sacker, PhD; Fengzhu Sun, PhD (Biological Sciences); Chunming Wang, PhD; Jianfeng Zhang, PhD; Mohammed Ziane, PhD

Associate Professors: Juhi Jang, PhD; Greta Panova, PhD

Assistant Professors: Sami Assaf, PhD; Yu Deng, PhD; Sheel Ganatra, PhD; Stanislav Minsker, PhD

Professor (Teaching): Cymra Haskell, PhD

Associate Professor (Teaching): David Crombecque, PhD

Assistant Professors (Teaching): Nathaniel Emerson, PhD; Guillermo Reyes Souto, PhD; Neelesh Tiruvilumala, PhD

Assistant Professors (RTPC): Nivedita Bhashar, PhD; Nathaniel Bottman, PhD; Tommaso Cremaschi, PhD; Qi Feng, PhD; Yuan Gao, PhD; Steven Heilman, PhD; Andrew Manion, PhD; Aaron Mazel-Gee, PhD; Mohamed Ndaoud, Phd; Wojciech Ozanski, PhD; Brendan Pawlowski, PhD; Qingtang Su, PhD; Haitian Yue, PhD

Lecturers: Cindy Blois, PhD; Guillaume Dreyer, PhD; Michael Hall, PhD; Ricardo Mancera, PhD; Felicia Tabing, PhD; Paul Tokorcheck, PhD

Professors Emeritus: Charles Lanski, PhD; Wlodek Proskurowski, PhD; Alan Schumitzky, PhD

*Recipient of university-wide or college teaching award.

Undergraduate Degrees

Advanced Placement Examinations in Mathematics

The university grants 4 units of credit in mathematics for scores of 4 or 5.

Grade Point Average Requirements

For each undergraduate degree an overall GPA of 2.0 in all upper-division courses taken for the degree is required. In addition, any upper-division course specifically listed as required must be passed with a grade of C (2.0) or better (e.g., MATH 410 , MATH 425a , MATH 425b and MATH 471 for the BS degree).

Minor in Mathematical Finance

This interdisciplinary minor was created for students in business, economics and mathematics, whose majors already require some of the introductory course work. Students in other programs are welcome but should expect the minor to require more units than it does for students in these programs. For more information, see Mathematical Finance .

Honors Program in Mathematics

Admission to the Program

The honors program is available for mathematics majors. A student must apply to the department for admission. A minimum grade point average of 3.5 is required in the first two years of university work as well as in the lower-division mathematics courses MATH 125 , MATH 126 or MATH 127 , MATH 225 and MATH 226 or MATH 227 .

Requirements

The students must complete all requirements for the degree program in which they are enrolled. MATH 410 , MATH 425a , MATH 425b and MATH 471 are required. The remaining courses at the 400 level or higher must be acceptable for the BS degree.

In addition, students in the honors program must register for at least 4 units of MATH 490x Directed Research . The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 in all courses at the 400 level or higher.

Language

Those students intending to go on to graduate school should satisfy the language requirement in French, German or Russian.

Progressive Degree Programs in Mathematics

Outstanding undergraduate students may apply for a master’s degree in any area for which their major is relevant. If accepted into the master’s degree program, the student may work simultaneously toward their bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. To apply for a master’s degree, a student must have completed at least 64 units, but fewer than 96 units, toward their major. The application requires two letters of recommendation from USC faculty, at least one of whom must be in the department of the student’s major. For more information on progressive degree programs, see the Progressive Degree section in Undergraduate Degree Programs .

Graduate Degrees

Admission Requirements

All applicants must take the Graduate Record Examinations General Test.

Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics and in Applied Mathematics

A substantial undergraduate background in mathematics which includes one year of real analysis (MATH 425a /MATH 425b ), one semester of abstract algebra (MATH 410 ) and one semester of upper-division linear algebra (MATH 471 ) is required.

Master of Science in Applied Mathematics, in Statistics and in Computational Molecular Biology

A substantial undergraduate background in mathematics that includes one semester of real analysis or advanced calculus and one semester of linear algebra is required.

Regular admission pending completion during the first year of graduate studies of prerequisite undergraduate mathematics may be considered for applicants who otherwise qualify for the program.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and The Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Master of Science in Mathematical Finance

See Mathematical Finance .

Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

Combined Major

Mathematics/Economics (BS)

Minor

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Courses

Mathematics

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