Graduate Study

The University of Louisville Department of Mathematics is a research-oriented department that prides itself on delivering first-rate graduate instruction. With over twenty-five full-time faculty members, graduate students have the opportunity to take courses that cover a wide spectrum of mathematics and its applications.

Graduate students conduct original research, gain a mastery of a wide spectrum of applied mathematics, and learn practical applications of skills developed within our program. This program offers a blend of advanced mathematical and statistical knowledge with the experience to apply that knowledge. Students completing the program have a unique perspective from which they can see the whole of mathematics integrated with applied and industrial needs. A broad and rigorous mathematical core combined with customized application electives and an industrial internship prepares students with life-long career skills in teaching, research and industry. Many of our graduates have followed industrial careers working at companies like Aegon, Fifth-Third Bank, Humana, Mercer and WellPoint; others have pursued academic careers as faculty for regional colleges and universities such as Bellarmine University, Centre College, Manchester University, Marion College, University of Louisville Department of Biostatistics, and the University of Tennessee at Martin.

For more information on our graduate programs, please contact:

Ryan Gill
Professor and Assistant Chair
502.852.2729
ryan.gill@louisville.edu

248 Natural Sciences Bldg.

Ph.D. in Applied and Industrial Mathematics

Starting in Fall 2002, the Department of Mathematics began offering a Ph.D. degree in applied and industrial mathematics. This program offers a blend of advanced mathematical and statistical knowledge with the experience to apply that knowledge. Students completing the program have a unique perspective from which they can see the whole of mathematics integrated with applied and industrial needs.  A broad and rigorous mathematical core combined with customized application electives and an industrial internship prepares students with life-long career skills in teaching, research and industry. Many of our graduates have followed industrial careers working at companies like Aegon, Fifth-Third Bank, Humana, Mercer and WellPoint; others have pursued academic careers as faculty for regional colleges and universities such as Bellarmine University, Centre College, Manchester University, Marion College, University of Louisville Department of Biostatistics, and the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Master of Arts in Mathematics

The Master of Arts degree at the University of Louisville offers intensive training in mathematics, statistics, and actuarial mathematics.  The program emphasizes applications in research and industry, with flexibility to focus on a wide range of topics.  Up to twelve of the thirty hours of course work required for the degree may be taken in an approved minor, such as computer science, physics or secondary education. An industrial internship is a unique option available to integrate into a student's program.  Graduates have pursued careers in industry, government, and academia as teachers, mathematicians, actuaries, statisticians, systems analysts, and faculty at the secondary or junior college level.

Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Both the Ph.D. and M.A. degrees allow a student to design a program of study containing subjects from outside the Department of Mathematics. In this way, classes from areas such as biostatistics, physics and engineering can be part of the program. Arrangements can also be made for interdisciplinary M.S. degrees.  The department also works with Biostatics and Decision Science to offer the Dual Ph.D. in Applied and Industrial Mathematics and Master of Science in Biostatistics-Decision Science.

Actuarial Science

The Department offers courses and review sessions on the material required for most of the examinations leading to an Associateship of the Society of Actuaries. These courses can be taken as part of a degree program or on a post-baccalaureate basis. Internships with a local insurance company are also available.

Research Opportunities

Graduate students in our programs have the opportunity to work with faculty who are active scholars in a wide variety of mathematics and it applications. The department has particular strengths in Analysis, Algebra, Differential Equations, Discrete Math, Dynamical Systems, Financial Mathematics, Functional Equations, Logic, Set Theory, Probability, Statistics, and Topology. The Department maintains an active colloquium series with talks given by visiting mathematicians, statisticians and scientists. The Mathematics Department also runs a very successful Actuarial Program.

Click here for a full list of faculty and their research interests.

Click here for a sample of dissertations completed by graduate students.

Graduate Assistantship Resources

The Department offers Graduate Teaching Assistantships that include healthcare coverage. Teaching Assistants receive tuition remission and are required to enroll in at least nine credit hours of graduate course work each regular semester. From time to time Research Assistantships supported by research grants to faculty are also available.

First year Teaching Assistants are responsible for meeting six hours weekly with recitations of a combined-section course for which a professor has primary instructional responsibility. The Teaching Assistant serves as a discussion leader and administers and grades quizzes from the recitation meetings as well as helping to proctor and grade the major exams.

Second year students receive an enhanced stipend and normally teach two sections of a three-credit-hour course in which they have primary responsibility for lecturing, testing and assigning grades. Second year assistantships are ordinarily available to any first year Teaching Assistants who have made satisfactory progress toward their degrees.

Assistantships are normally awarded in April, but late applications will be considered, if positions are still available.

Math Department Graduate Teaching Assistant information.

Graduate Student Orientation Handbook

Math Club

Graduate students are encouraged to join the Math Club.  It holds weekly meetings to discuss mathematics, classes, career opportunities etc. Special events are arranged for Mathematics Awareness Week each April.

Facilities

The University of Louisville library system has holdings of about 1.2 million volumes and has subscriptions to over 200 mathematics journals.

The University of Louisville Computer Center is equipped with a variety of computers ranging from microcomputer labs and UNIX-based RISC workstations to a large IBM mainframe. Students use these computer facilities as an aid in learning such mathematics as statistics and numerical analysis. The Department has two microcomputer labs and many scattered workstations connected to the University TCP/IP network and the Internet.

Theses and Advising Resources

Onlne Forms related to Theses, Advising Committees, and Dissertation Scheduling

Graduate Catalog

UofL Mathematics Graduate Study -  Application Instructions & Frequently Asked Questions

The University of Louisville Department of Mathematics is a research oriented department that prides itself on delivering first-rate graduate instruction. There are a broad range of courses and ample opportunities to interact with faculty. The Department also maintains an active colloquium series with talks given by visiting mathematicians, statisticians and scientists.

Apply online at this location:

Apply now

For more information see The UofL Graduate Catalog.

Complete applications require the following:

  1. Complete application form along with paid application fee.
  2. Cover letter to math department including any information you believe will help process your application. Please indicate in this letter whether you are interested in a GTA position, for example.
  3. Transcripts (an official copy for each undergraduate institution attended. UofL transcripts are automatically submitted).
  4. Letters of recommendation (at least two, preferably three).
  5. Recent (within three years) GRE scores (only the general exam is required) .
  6. All applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit official TOEFL scores of 79 or higher on the internet-based test, 213 or higher on the computer-based test, or 550 or higher on the paper-based test for verification of English proficiency. English proficiency can also be met by submitting official IELTS scores of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam.

For full consideration please submit complete applications by...

  • Spring admission deadline: November 1st.
  • Fall admission deadline: March 1st.

Late applications will be considered.

For answers to many Frequently Asked Questions about applying to our graduate program:

Some of the most common questions:

How can I check the status of my application?

The status of your application can be checked online via ULink, found on ULink. Ulink (University of Louisville Information Network) is a University website that integrates a number of student services including the offices of Student Financial Aid, Registrar, and Bursar. Once you have logged in, click student services and then view my graduate application status.

How will I be notified when a decision has been made?

We will try to send an official letter of admission via regular mail or email, but you should check the status of your application on ULink to determine whether a decision has been made. Typically, you will receive official notification 4-6 weeks after the program's application deadline.

How do I apply for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)?

Include a cover letter with your application and indicate whether you would like to be considered for a GTA. These assistantships are awarded by the department to the most competitive applicants that have expressed interest. Naturally variable funding restricts the number of available assistantships. The Graduate Teaching Assistantships include healthcare coverage. Teaching Assistants receive tuition remission and are required to enroll in at least nine credit hours of graduate course work each regular semester.

Are GRE scores required? Where do I send them? Is the GRE Math Subject Test required?

The general Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required. Test registration and information about the exam can be found at www.gre.org. Please instruct the Educational Testing Service to forward test results to:

University of Louisville
Office of Graduate Admissions
105 Houchens Bldg
Louisville, Kentucky, 40292

The University of Louisville institution code for score reporting is 1838. The GRE Math Subject Test is optional.

Transcripts?

Official transcripts showing ALL degrees awarded and ALL undergraduate and graduate work completed at EVERY accredited college/university previously attended must be furnished by the degree-seeking applicant. Students that submit transcripts with degrees "in progress" may be admitted "PROVISIONALLY".  In this case they must submit final transcripts (before the end of their first semester at UofL) showing the successful completion of these degrees.

All transcripts that are not in English must be translated verbatim into English and must be notarized. International applicants please have transcripts evaluated by a credential evaluation service such as World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org).

How do I apply to the dual Masters of Science (MS) in Biostatistics-Decision Science and Ph.D. in Applied and Industrial Mathematics?

Dual degrees in Biostatistics-Decision Science and Applied and Industrial Mathematics are offered by the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Public Health and Information Sciences. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a Ph.D. in Applied and Industrial Mathematics and an MS in Biostatistics-Decision Science.

To be admitted to this dual degree program, students are required to apply to and be accepted by both the Department of Mathematics and the Biostatistics-Decision Science Program. Please include letters with applications to both the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics stating the intent to take advantage of the dual degree program, and stating interest in the Biostatistics or the Decision Science concentration. Students must also submit, to each program, all materials (e.g. GRE scores, transcipts, etc) necessary to complete respective applications.