Graduate Programs

What degrees are offered?

You can obtain several different graduate degrees in our program:

Our Ph.D & M.S. degrees follow a standard graduate program. Read below to learn more about our Applied Mathematics & Statistics masters programs.

M.S. in Applied Mathematics

This program emphasizes mathematics for science and engineering and examines applications through seminars and case studies. This will prepare you for either a Ph.D. degree or employment in industry or government. Students should have taken the following courses:

  • Introduction to Probability and Statistics
  • Linear Algebra
  • Numerical Methods
  • Analytical Methods
  • Proficiency in a Programming Language

M.S. in Statistics

This program combines theory and application. The program has the two-fold purpose of:

  1. Preparing the student to enter commercial, governmental and other areas which rely on statistical information and
  2. Preparing the student to continue in pursuit of a more advanced degree.

Students in statistics will be trained in:

  • Data collection
  • Editing and presentation of large data sets
  • Analyses of these sets and the mathematical foundations upon which all of these areas are based

Am I Qualified for Tulane's Program?

Students in our graduate programs typically majored in math or another science, such as engineering or physics.

There is no specific minimum GRE score for admission into the M.S. and PhD programs. All aspects of the graduate application, including GRE scores and GPA, are evaluated as a whole.

If you lack a strong foundation in math, you may still qualify for our program. All incoming graduate students work with faculty to determine if additional background courses should be taken. This ensures that they will be prepared for more advanced degree courses.

What are the requirements for the degree programs?

All students working toward graduate degrees must satisfy the general requirements as listed by the SSE. View specific requirements.

What do I need to apply here?

  • An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • At least three letters of recommendation from people who can evaluate your academic potential
  • The GRE Test is not required as part of the graduate application for any program.
  • If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant is recommended (not required) to apply any form of English proficiency test.
  • An application form

Tulane has an Online Application Form which allows you to apply electronically. If you have trouble please contact our Director of Graduate Admission, Victor Moll.

What are tuition rates and is financial aid available?

MS Programs
Our MS programs are tuition-based. For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition is $2,027 per credit hour (excluding required fees). For more details, please visit the Tuition and Fees Information page. At present, we do not offer any stipends or scholarships for entering MS students. Additionally, there is no application fee for the MS programs see Program deadlines for specific application deadlines. For further information, please visit SSE Applications for Admissions.

Ph.D. Program
Most Ph.D. students receive tuition waivers and teaching assistantships, which now include a stipend of approximately $26,500. Teaching assistants are responsible for up to 15 hours of work per week. This may involve grading, running recitations for two sections of undergraduate courses, or teaching one section of an undergraduate class independently.
Not all Ph.D. students will be required to teach for two (or more) semesters; teaching assignments depend on the department’s needs. Some Ph.D. students receive research assistant (RA) support for all five years of their program, allowing them to focus solely on research without teaching responsibilities.
Ph.D. students who are U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding, such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). More information can be found at NSF GRFP. Non-U.S. Citizens can explore various funding opportunities from several fields. For more details, please visit Immigrants Rising.

What courses are offered?

We offer courses in Applied Mathematics, Differential Geometry, Probability and Statistics, Scientific Computation, Theoretical Computer Science, Algebra, Topology, and Analysis.

More elementary courses are also available in most areas, so that some students can first improve the level of their mathematical backgrounds and prepare for the degree courses.

In addition to our standard courses, we often offer special topics courses and seminars primarily in the areas in which the faculty will direct Ph.D. dissertations.

View our Standard Graduate Courses

 

What research is the faculty doing?

All our faculty are active in research; during the past five years our regular faculty of 24 have published some 300 research articles and several books. We direct theses in very diverse areas of Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics.

In addition to regular faculty, the department maintains regular postdoctoral positions and benefits from frequent visits by researchers in many areas of mathematics.

Read about our faculty research interests

Read about our research & participating faculty

What should I expect when I start the program?

The incoming graduate student is advised by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Mathematics Department. The Committee, in consultation with the students, determines appropriate first courses for each student, according to the student's preparation and interests. Throughout the program, the Committee continues to help the students plan their studies and realize their mathematical interests.

In addition, with 24 faculty and about the same number of graduate students, a new graduate student is soon familiar with everyone and feels at home.

Read about our grad students

What resources does the department have?

Library

The department also has its own library, the A. H. Clifford Mathematics Research Library, housing some 21,000 bound volumes and subscribing to 288 journals devoted to all areas of mathematics and applications.

Technology

All faculty, graduate students and staff in the department have either a PC running either Windows, Mac OS X, or some version of UNIX, depending on their preference. In addition, the members of the scientific computing group have high-end SUN or Silicon Graphics workstations. There is also a small lab containing Silicon Graphics workstations for the use of students working in scientific computing. The department has a Linux-based server that supports its own email system and the departmental web pages. The entire system is part of the university's 100mb/sec network with connections to Internet-II and to the commercial Internet.

What’s it like to live in New Orleans?

The Mathematics Department is housed in the upper floors of Gibson Hall, a stone structure built in 1894. Tulane University is located in America's most exciting and most visited city.

Our department is on St. Charles Avenue, across from Audubon Park, in a quiet residential area full of majestic oak trees and fine old antebellum homes. The iconic streetcars (soon to be restored) provide an easy ride to the picturesque French Quarter.

New Orleans has a rich cultural life, with a symphony orchestra, operas, ballets, plays, a noted art museum, many art galleries, excellent jazz, a major jazz festival and many other events. During Mardi Gras (40 days before Easter) the town fills with parades and revelry.

New Orleans is also famous for its cuisine; it boasts a number of great restaurants, and many more with inexpensive good meals.