Our undergraduate curriculum includes options in mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, and mathematics teaching. A wide variety of courses are offered in small classes providing individual attention for each student. Study abroad opportunities are available at many of MSU's International Partner Institutions and, in particular, the Department has an affiliation with the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Exeter in Exeter, United Kingdom. Undergraduate research opportunities abound at MSU and faculty-student teams tackle many exciting problems. Recent undergraduate research projects have included:

• Correspondence Between the Spatial Position of the Hair and its Plane of Motion on the Cercus of the Cricket Acheta Domestica - LeeAnn Roberts (2006)
• Petrov-Galerkin Finite Element Methods for Elliptic Interface Problems - Andrew Dugdale (2006)
• Reproducibility of the Spatial Pattern of Hairs across the Population of the Crickets Acheta Domestica - Samantha Dooley (2006)
• Modeling the Hantavirus Infection in Deer Mice - Matt Welch (2005-2006)
• Global Convergence for NCR Gene Regulation Models - Bovard Tiberi (2005)
• Evaluating Statistical Methods to Test Spatial Association - Cale Davis (2005)
• Montana Taoism - Scott Hyslop (2005)
• NCR Gene Regulation in Yeast - Christopher Mischaikow (2004-2005)
• EPR and ENDOR Analysis and Characterization of Defect Structures in Lithium Niobate and Lithium Tantalite - Robert Petersen (2004-2005)
• Modeling the Olfactory System of a Locust - Collette Campion (2003-2004)
• Geometric Criterion for Pisot Numbers - Shaun Ceci (2004-2005)
• Clustering via Normalized Cut Using Annealing of the Information Distortion - Collette Campion (2003-2004)
• Realizations of Gravitational Wave Astronomy - Seth Timpano (2003-2004)
• Modeling the Response of a Cricket Afferent Neuron to Wind Stimuli - Eric Siegfried (2003-2004)
• Quantitative Methods for Monitoring Weed Biocontrol Impact - Cale Davis (2003-2004)
• Optimal Design of Mountain Bike Suspension Systems - Chris Dagel (2003-2004)
• Reconstruction of Attractors from Time Series Representations of Integrate-and-Fire Neurons - Matt Holzer (2003-2004)
• Physiological Consequences and Parental Roles in Eating Disorders - Cheryl Hitzeroth (2003-2004)
• Information Distortion and Normalized Cut - Colette Campion (2003-2004)
• Phase Locking in Integrate-and-Fire Neurons with Interspike Interval Threshold Modulation - Matt Holzer (2002-2003)
• Information-Theoretical Models of Cricket Cercal Sensory Systems - Kristina Ferris (2002)
• Mathematical Economic Models of the Financial Markets - Christi Freeman (2001-2002)
• Assessment of Mathematical Logic: Abstract Patterns and Familiar Contexts - Kay Kirkpatrick (2001-2002)
• Noncommutative Shilov Boundary of Operator Spaces - Kay Kirkpatrick (2001-2002)
• Modeling HIV Infection Dynamics with Delay Equations - Kay Kirkpatrick (2000)
• Multi-Order Slitless EUV Spectrograph (MOSES)
• Competition Model for Viral Inhibition of HIV
• Forced Van der Pol Equation
• Dimension Groups and Orbit Equivalence
• Modeling of Biofilm Growth
• Modeling of Neuron Response to Wind Stimuli
• Neuroinformatics Tools for Understanding Complex Neural Systems
• Absolute and Relative Refractory Periods for Integrate-and-Fire Neurons
• Reliability of Neurons and Phase Locking

The Department offers programs of graduate study leading to Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in mathematics, mathematics education or statistics; Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in mathematics or statistics; and either a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree or a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree with an emphasis on mathematics education.

The graduate program in mathematics focuses on modern applied mathematics including computational mathematics, dynamical systems, global analysis, inverse and ill-posed problems, mathematical biology, numerical analysis, ordinary and partial differential equations, and topology. Programs may include interdisciplinary involvement in engineering or other sciences.

The graduate program in statistics encompasses a broad range of applied and theoretical topics including linear, nonlinear, and mixed models, experimental design and response surface methodology, multivariate statistics, biostatistics, spatial statistics, statistical education, and statistical quality control. The program of a graduate student in statistics may include an interdisciplinary component in areas such as ecology or biofilm engineering.

We are a Department of 28 faculty members with research/teaching interests spanning mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics and mathematics education. Interdisciplinary projects are common and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas between scientists of various backgrounds. Considerable joint research has been conducted with various research centers, such as the Agricultural Experiment Station, the Center for Computational Biology, the Center for Biofilm Engineering, the Center for Research on Chronic Health Conditions in Rural Dwellers, the WWAMI Medical Program, the Big Sky Institute of Science and Natural History, the Solar Physics Group, the U.S. Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, and the Western Transportation Institute.

Founded in 1893 as Montana's land grant college, MSU-Bozeman is a comprehensive, multipurpose university integrating programs of instruction, research, and public service. Our campus is located in the heart of the Gallatin Valley, a rich farm land of scenic grandeur in mountainous southwest Montana at an altitude of 4,500 feet and just 90 miles from Yellowstone National Park. (See Directions to Campus)

Over 12,000 students attend MSU-Bozeman, approximately one-tenth at the graduate level. Montana residents comprise 75% of the student population. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 51 fields with many different options, master's degrees in 40 fields, and doctoral degrees in 14 fields. These students are served by 715 full-time and 267 part-time faculty. For more information see ABOUT MSU.

The campus covers 1,170 acres and includes 45 major buildings, which you can see on our campus map. The Department of Mathematical Sciences is located in Wilson Hall. For a closer look at our spectacular location, see the aerial photo (179K) of our campus.

Southwestern Montana, with its network of rivers and streams and its mountain lakes, is a paradise for people who enjoy outdoor recreation. Because of its location in the Rocky Mountains, hiking, climbing, back-packing, white water canoeing and kayaking, trout fishing, hunting, camping and alpine and nordic skiing are popular activities. The alpine ski areas are located within a short drive of Bozeman. Bridger Bowl is 18 miles from campus and Big Sky is 40 miles away. Nordic skiers can take advantage of the groomed trails of Bozeman's Lindley Park, Bohart Ranch Cross-Country Ski Center (located near Bridger Bowl), Lone Mountain Ranch (located near Big Sky) or the many ungroomed trails and slopes in the mountains surrounding the Gallatin Valley. Several of America's blue ribbon trout streams are within minutes of the campus and provide outstanding fishing year round. Montana is a hunter's and photographer's paradise with pheasant, duck, grouse and turkey for the shotgunner and every kind of big game animal within a half-hour drive. Excellent camping close to campus may be found in Hyalite Canyon, just outside Bozeman (in the Gallatin National Forest), and in Yellowstone National Park, a 90-minute drive from Bozeman. Even more information and links are available on our outdoor activities page.

Annual precipitation in Bozeman is 18.61 inches, and much of it arrives as snow. We receive an annual average of 83.5 inches of snow in Bozeman and much more at the nearby ski areas.

Our graduates have been very successful in obtaining academic/industry positions. A partial listing of some of the recent employers of our graduate students is Recent employers page