Opportunities in mathematics

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There are many ways math students can get involved, share their interests with others, and put their skills to work. Following are some of the opportunities available to you. Click on a topic to expand it. Also be sure to check out our Careers page.

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Math Club

The Math Club aims to develops competent, aggressive mathematical leaders. Members strive to create more interest and understanding in the intelligent choice of mathematical occupations and to strengthen the confidence of young men and women in themselves and their work.

Meetings for the 2010-2011 academic year are held in Jonas 168 on alternate Wednesdays at 5 PM.

National and regional organizations

There are a number of national organizations students may wish to participate in. Listed below are the names of a few, with links to their webpages for students. If you have questions on joining one of these organizations or participating in their programs or activities, talk to a faculty member.

In the past Math Club members have received deals on MAA membership and have participated in MAA conferences and activities. If you are interested, please see Dr. Swenson for details.

Student research opportunities

Are you interested in how research in mathematics is done?

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) are programs hosted by universities that welcome students across the country for a few weeks during the summer. During an REU, students are introduced to active research problems and work with each other and faculty members to arrive at solutions, which are often written up in research papers and/or presented at conferences. Many REUs offer a stipend and funding for travel and lodging. Deadlines for applying for an REU typically fall during the first few months of the calendar year. For more information, check out the following links:

Is an REU for you?
This article, which appeared in the Mathematical Association of America's magazine Horizons, describes REUs and profiles several different REUs from around the country.
Research Experience for Undergraduates Summer Programs
This page, hosted by the American Mathematical Society, lists REU programs and contact information for more information.
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): For Students
This page, hosted by the National Science Foundation, lists REU programs receiving NSF funding, contact information for more information, and the branches of math that the research problems for the REU are expected to come from.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates and REU Program Sites
These pages are hosted by the Mathematical Association of America and also list the locations and topics of REU programs (the pages appears to be a little dated, but you might find some useful information).

In addition to summer programs, interested students are encouraged to talk with a math department faculty member about doing research during the school year and/or pursuing a minor in mathematics research.

Internships for mathematics students

Looking to gain experience or boost your résumé? Do an internship! Listed below are a number of opportunities that mathematics students may wish to consider, listed roughly in order of the application deadline.

NASA-DUSEL Research Center for Probing the Earth’s Interior
Summer 2010 Undergraduate Research Opportunity: Physics & Earth Science

Click to see the program announcement and application form. Application deadline: February 26, 2010.
Los Alamos National Labs

See http://www.lanl.gov/education/undergrad/internships.shtml for more information. Application deadline: the end of February.
Lawrence Livermore National Lab

See https://internships.llnl.gov for more information. Application deadline: April 1, 2010 (though applications received by 1/31/10 receive the fullest consideration for the summer).
U.S. Census Bureau

See http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/ for more information on being a census taker. Interviewing takes place mainly during the spring.
U.S. Department of Commerce

See the internship announcement and program website for more information. Application deadline: April 30, 2010.
National Security Agency (NSA) Director's Summer Program

See http://www.nsa.gov/careers/opportunities_4_u/students/
undergraduate/dsp.shtml for more details. Application deadline for Summer 2011: October 15, 2010.
Boeing internships

See http://www.boeing.com/employment/collegecareers/
search_jobs.html for more details.
Goldman Sachs

Summer Analysts Internships for undergraduate degree candidates. See http://www2.goldmansachs.com/careers/your-career/positions/intern/index.html for more information.
Metron

See http://apply.metsci.com/careers/jobs/index.asp?fuseaction=listings for more information.
Raytheon

See http://rayjobs.com/campus/index.cfm?Tool=CoopInternJobs for more information.
NASA

See http://usrp.usra.edu/about/ for more information. Application deadline: January 22, 2010.
Department of Energy - Argonne National Laboratory

See an overview at http://www.dep.anl.gov/p_undergrad/summer.htm. Application deadline: February 1, 2010.

More on this topic will be posted shortly.

Graduate school in mathematics and related fields

Have you ever thought about going to graduate school in mathematics? Shown below are answers to some common questions.

Why should I attend graduate school in mathematics?

To learn more mathematics, particularly in the areas you were most interested in as an undergraduate, and to learn about new research being done today.
To get a more satisfying and higher paying job. According to a National Science Foundation report, recent bachelor's degree graduates in math and statistics had a mean salary of $37000, while recent master's degree graduates had a mean salary of $60000.
To further refine your goals and skills for a career in a field that you love.
To have an opportunity to teach mathematics at a college level. Most community colleges require at least a master's degree of their teachers; most 4-year universities require a PhD.
Because you are uncertain about what to do after earning your undergraduate degree. As a general rule, education opens doors.
Because you enjoy academia and aren't quite ready to enter the job market.

What will a graduate degree cost?

That depends, but in a lot of cases the answer is nothing at all (you can even make a profit!). Many universities offer their math graduate students tuition waivers, insurance, and a modest salary in the form of a teaching assistantship. (For information on what is offered at a particular school, contact their math department, or see the report prepared by the AMS.) Being a TA usually entails teaching one or more sections of a low-level math class each semester, for a total time commitment of about 10 to 20 hours a week. Alternatively, graduate students can apply for research assistantships, in which you get paid to do research with a professor.

How long will it take?

Master's degrees typically take 1 to 3 years.
Most PhD students take between 4 and 8 years, depending on their preparation and whether they first completed a master's degree; the mean time for completion of a PhD degree in mathematics is 6.8 years (according to a 2006 report by the National Science Foundation).

How can I prepare?