Graduate Program
Divisions of Research within AMS
Graduate Program Overview
The Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics (AMS) prepares the next generation of mathematical and statistical scientists to be leaders in a world driven by increasingly complex technology and challenges. Our department is at the forefront of research in mathematical and statistical methods that are used to address the opportunities and challenges of the future.
AMS offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Computational and Applied Mathematics and Statistics. The department prides itself on being highly interdisciplinary with ties to on-campus and national research centers and laboratories.
Departmental Connections

Tea Time
Regular AMS Events
Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs

Kernel Club
Department Colloquium
Data Science
Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering
Program Placement

Post-graduation placement
Students in our program build a strong foundation in Numerical Methods, Scientific Computing, Mathematical Biology, Uncertainty Quantification, and Data Science. We have 100% placement rate for our graduates in a wide range of industries. There is continued applied research opportunities within the university and at major federal research facilities nearby, including NCAR, NREL, NOAA, and NIST. Graduates have joined the workforce in companies such as Google, Ball Aerospace, and Oracle. See a more comprehensive list here.
Admission Requirements
The AMS Graduate Committee reviews applications for admission for the Fall and Spring semesters only. Applicants must submit a completed application to the Graduate School by the posted admission deadlines in order to be considered for admission and funding.
We strongly encourage applicants to meet the Fall admission priority deadline of January 15th, if applying to a thesis-based degree and seeking funding. Fall admission decisions with funding decisions are typically determined by the end of January.
For information about the minimum requirements for admission to the MS and PhD programs please visit the Colorado School of Mines Graduate Admissions page.
To learn more about the graduate admission requirements for Applied Math and Statistics and the process for completing an online application, direct your questions to the Director of Graduate Studies, Soutir Bandyopadhyay, sbandyopadhyay@mines.edu.
PHD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Computational and Applied Mathematics
The Doctor of Philosophy requires 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. At least 24 of these hours must be thesis hours. Doctoral students must pass the comprehensive examination (a qualifying examination and thesis proposal), complete a satisfactory thesis, and successfully defend their thesis.
All PhD candidates pursuing CAM complete the following six courses, with two more required for specific students as noted:
- MATH 500 Linear Vector Spaces
- MATH 514 Applied Mathematics I
- MATH 515 Applied Mathematics II
- MATH 550 Numerical Solutions to PDEs
- MATH 551 Computational Linear Algebra
- SYGN 502 Introduction to Research Ethics *
- MATH 588 Introduction to Quantitative and Computational Research
- MATH 589 Applied Mathematics and Statistics Teaching Seminar **
* Required only for students receiving federal support.
** Required only for students employed by the department as graduate teaching assistants and student instructor/lecturers.
Statistics
The Doctor of Philosophy requires 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. At least 24 of these hours must be thesis hours. Doctoral students must pass the comprehensive examination (a qualifying examination and thesis proposal), complete a satisfactory thesis, and successfully defend their thesis.
All PhD candidates pursuing Statistics will complete the following six courses, with two more required for specific students as noted:
- MATH 500 Linear Vector Spaces
- MATH 531 Theory of Linear Models
- MATH 534 Mathematical Statistics I
- MATH 535 Mathematical Statistics II
- MATH 560 Introduction to Key Statistical Learning Methods I
- SYGN 502 Introduction to Research Ethics*
- MATH 588 Introduction to Quantitative and Computational Research
- MATH 589 Applied Mathematics and Statistics Teaching Seminar **
* Required only for students receiving federal support.
** Required only for students employed by the department as graduate teaching assistants and student instructor/lecturers.
Additionally, all PhD candidates pursuing Statistics will take at least two courses from the following list:
- MATH 532 Spatial Statistics
- MATH 536 Advanced Statistical Modeling
- MATH 537 Multivariate Analysis
- MATH 538 Stochastic Models
- MATH 539 Survival Analysis
- MATH 582 Statistics Practicum
CURRENT STUDENTS
All current AMS grad students have access to the AMS Graduate Program canvas site. This site consolidates important information and websites from across Mines, and should be your first stop for advising questions. On it, you will find detailed degree requirements, AMS course schedule, and answers to frequently asked questions like: What forms do I need to submit? When and how do I apply to graduate? What steps do I take to schedule my thesis/dissertation defense? And more…
New Student Information
Contact | Need help or have questions? Soutir Bandyopadhyay AMS Director of Graduate Studies 303-373-3677 sbandyopadhyay@mines.eduLisa Maddux AMS Department Manager Chauvenet Hall 141 303-273-3880 lmaddux@mines.edu amsgrad@mines.edu |
New Student Orientation | All current students have access to the AMS Graduate Program CANVAS page. Check there for important updates, including New Student Orientation details. |
Mailboxes | All current graduate students have a mailbox in Chauvenet Hall 145. |
Graduate Student Listserv | All current students are subscribed to the AMS Graduate Student Listserv. Watch for important messages from the department! |
Degree Requirements | Degree requirements can be found in the Graduate Catalog. |
Resources and Information
Quick Reference Guide for Graduate Students | The Office of Graduate Studies maintains an online information resource you should familiarize yourself with. This includes useful information such as admissions, degree requirements, registration requirements, contracts, financial aid, etc. |
Forms | The Registrar’s office creates and maintains graduate student forms. All forms need to be filled out electronically and submitted here for signatures and approval. Please allow up to 2 weeks for processing. |
Graduate Bulletin | The Graduate Catalog provides academic policies and program requirements. This is an important resource for all students. |
Department Seminars | Department seminars are held regularly throughout the academic year. Watch emails and the AMS Newsletter for announcements! |
Academic Calendar | The Academic Calendar provides important deadline information enforced by Mines. |
Graduate Student Government | Mines Graduate Student Government offers many resources to students. Connect with leaders on campus and take advantage of the resources offered. |
Registration Policy | Please be sure you are following the registration policy outlined within the Graduate Bulletin. The registration policies provides a quick reference. |
Funded Student Requirements | If you are a funded student on an RA or TA contract, you must complete several university ethics and training requirements. See the Funded Student Requirements document. |
MEGN503 | All thesis-based students (MS Thesis and PhD) must register for the appropriate Research Division section of MEGN503 every semester until they have completed all degree requirements (excluding defense). Non-thesis students should not register for MENG503. However, students interested in doing research are encouraged to select a Research Division section and attend their scheduled class meetings. |
400-Level | Graduate students can apply 9 credits of 400-level courses toward their degree requirements. To register, you must email the Registrar at registrar@mines.edu to have the prerequisite requirement overridden. |
Fellowships | The fellowship and grant list provides information on outside fellowships applicable to students by program. |
Move to Thesis-Based Degree | How do I move to an MS-Thesis or PhD? To move to a thesis-based degree program, you need to find a permanent advisor willing to support your research interests and to support you financially. You should look into the professors in the department to understand what they research to identify where the best fit might be. Then contact the professors you are interested in working with to discuss potential research and funding opportunities. Be sure to meet with the Graduate Program Manager to discuss policies and forms required to change degree levels. |
Contact Information

Soutir Bandyopadhyay
Director of Graduate Studies – AMS
303-373-3677
sbandyopadhyay@mines.edu

Lisa Maddux
Department Manager – AMS
Chauvenet Hall 147
303-273-2752
lmaddux@mines.edu
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