A minor is offered in applied mathematics. Declaration of a minor is open to any student enrolled at CU Boulder, regardless of college or school. 

The minor in applied mathematics was developed to provide in-depth training in mathematical techniques and computational methods well beyond the training usually received by science and engineering majors. The minor currently offers three tracks: general emphasis, scientific computing and mathematical software, or probability and statistics. The goals of each track are to introduce students to more advanced mathematical techniques and problem-solving strategies. Such skills are becoming increasingly important for students who expect to participate in areas requiring analysis or modeling of real world situations.

The department also offers a minor in statistics which was developed to provide in-depth training in statistical methods and techniques well beyond the training usually received by science and engineering majors. The ability to understand, visualize and analyze data is becoming an increasingly important skill in many disparate fields. This minor offers undergraduate students from any major the opportunity to develop their statistical knowledge.

Requirements

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for the applied math minor are two semesters of calculus and computing experience, as provided by  APPM 1650CSCI 1300, CSCI 2275 or CHEN 1310.

Residency

A minimum of 20 credits at the 2000 level and above is required. At least three APPM or STAT courses, two of which must be at the 3000 level or above, need to be taken on the Boulder campus. No more than 9 credits may be applied from transfer work; of those, no more than 6 credits may be 3000 level or above.

Minimum Grades

A cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better is required in the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for this minor. Each individual course that is counted towards these degree requirements must be passed with a grade of C- or better.

Required Courses and Credits

Course Requirements20
APPM 2350Calculus 3 for Engineers4
or MATH 2400 Calculus 3
APPM 2360Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra4
APPM 3310Matrix Methods and Applications3
Choose one area of emphasis:
General Emphasis:
Choose two of the following three courses:
Methods in Applied Mathematics: Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems
Methods in Applied Mathematics: Complex Variables and Applications
Numerical Methods and Scientific Computing
One 3-credit upper division APPM or STAT course at the 3000 or 4000 level
Scientific Computation Emphasis:
Scientific Computing in Matlab 1
Algorithms and Data Structures in Python
Numerical Methods and Scientific Computing
and Numerical Differential Equations
Probability and Statistics Emphasis: 2
APPM 3570Applied Probability3
One of the following sequences:
Statistical Methods and Application I
and Statistical Methods and Applications II
Markov Processes, Queues, and Monte Carlo Simulations
and Introduction to Mathematical Statistics

Plan(s) of Study

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
APPM 1350 Calculus 1 for Engineers 4
APPM 1650
Python for Math and Data Science Applications
or Computer Science 1: Starting Computing
or Programming and Data Structures
or Aerospace Computing and Engineering Applications
3
 Credit Hours7
Spring Semester
APPM 1360 Calculus 2 for Engineers 4
 Credit Hours4
Year Two
Fall Semester
APPM 2350 Calculus 3 for Engineers 4
 Credit Hours4
Spring Semester
APPM 2360 Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra 4
 Credit Hours4
Year Three
Fall Semester
APPM 3310 Matrix Methods and Applications 3
 Credit Hours3
Spring Semester
One of the following for 3 credit hours: 3
General Emphasis:  
Numerical Methods and Scientific Computing
or Methods in Applied Mathematics: Complex Variables and Applications
 
Scientific Computing Emphasis  
Scientific Computing in Matlab 1
or Algorithms and Data Structures in Python
 
Probability and Statistics Emphasis  
Applied Probability
or Applied Probability
 
 Credit Hours3
Year Four
Fall Semester
Course based on Minor Track: 3
General Emphasis  
Methods in Applied Mathematics: Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems  
Scientific Computation Emphasis  
Numerical Methods and Scientific Computing  
Probability and Statistics (Choose ONE)  
Statistical Methods and Application I  
Introduction to Mathematical Statistics  
 Credit Hours3
Spring Semester
Course based on Minor Track 3
General Emphasis  
ONE 3-credit APPM or STAT course at the 3000 or 4000 level
 
Scientific Computation  
APPM 4610 Numerical Differential Equations 3
Probability and Statistics  
If STAT 4000 was taken in the Fall:  
Statistical Methods and Applications II  
If STAT 4520 was taken in Fall:  
Markov Processes, Queues, and Monte Carlo Simulations  
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours34