Southern Methodist University

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced coursework, research seminars and a substantial original research dissertation. Early in the programme students complete core graduate courses that typically include real and functional analysis, advanced numerical analysis, partial differential equations, dynamical systems, optimisation, stochastic processes and computational methods. Elective topics reflect faculty strengths and student interests and may cover areas such as scientific computing, inverse problems, computational fluid dynamics, machine learning for scientific applications, mathematical biology and financial mathematics.

Students participate in weekly research seminars and reading groups, and are expected to develop competence with mathematical software and programming languages commonly used in research (for example MATLAB, Python, C/C++ or equivalent scientific computing tools). After coursework, students undertake independent research under a primary advisor, culminating in a written dissertation and public defence. Many students also gain teaching experience through graduate teaching assistantships.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree in mathematics, applied mathematics or a closely related quantitative field is typically recommended. A strong background in undergraduate and graduate-level calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, real analysis and numerical methods is expected. Evidence of research potential is important—this can include previous research projects, publications, or a strong statement of research interests that aligns with departmental faculty.

• Academic transcripts demonstrating high performance in mathematics and related quantitative coursework.
• Letters of recommendation, normally from academic referees who can attest to your mathematical ability and research potential.
• A statement of purpose outlining research interests and potential faculty mentors within the department.
• A curriculum vitae detailing academic background, research experience and relevant programming or computational skills.
• International applicants will need to meet English language proficiency requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates of the PhD in Applied Mathematics pursue a range of pathways. Many enter academia as postdoctoral researchers and faculty in mathematics, engineering and computational science departments. Others move into research scientist roles in government laboratories and national research institutions.

Industry opportunities are broad: quantitative analytics and modelling positions in finance, data science and machine learning roles in technology firms, engineering modelling and simulation roles in energy and aerospace, and applied research and development in biotech and pharmaceutical companies. The programme’s emphasis on computational skills, modelling and interdisciplinary collaboration also prepares graduates for leadership roles in R&D and for entrepreneurial ventures that require advanced quantitative expertise.

Why study at Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University offers a supportive, research-intensive environment with a relatively small graduate cohort that enables close interaction with faculty mentors. The Department of Mathematics has active faculty working in a range of applied areas, providing opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with neighbouring departments such as engineering, computer science and statistics.

SMU’s location in Dallas gives students access to a large professional and industrial ecosystem, facilitating internships, collaborations and employment connections in finance, technology and engineering firms. The university provides computational resources and graduate support through teaching and research assistantships and internal fellowships, allowing students to focus on developing both theoretical and computational expertise in applied mathematics.