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Expand Your Knowledge of Mathematics

So many industries need applied mathematicians. Just ask some of IUP’s MS in Data Science and Applied Mathematics graduates who are working now as analysts at “Big 4” accounting firms like Ernst & Young, or at online retailers like Wayfair, or even as data analysts for federal agencies like NASA and the USDA. At IUP, you’ll develop the analytical and critical problem-solving skills that are needed across these and many other industries. 

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The MS in Data Science and Applied Mathematics could also be perfect if you are:

  • A secondary mathematics or science teacher wanting to learn how mathematics and statistics are used to solve applied problems.
  • Considering entering a PhD program.
  • Want to become a faculty member in a two-year higher education institution.

Your skills can be used in many fields. Here are a few examples of real problems applied mathematicians work on:

  • Computational modeling of climate, agriculture, and natural phenomena
  • Creating statistical designs for clinical trials
  • Estimation of impacts on society
  • Modeling financial information
  • Modeling spread of infectious diseases
  • Optimization of utility and objectives under constraints

Benefits of Studying at IUP

  • Convenient scheduling: Classes are offered in the late afternoon and evening—ideal if you’re balancing a full-time job.
  • Flexible learning options: Attend courses in person or join via synchronous video conferencing, whichever fits your schedule best.

What You’ll Learn

A degree in Data Science and Applied Mathematics prepares students to transform data into meaningful insights and informed decisions. By integrating applied mathematics, statistics, and scientific computing, the program equips students with the skills to collect, analyze, and interpret complex data from diverse sources. Students gain an understanding of how AI works and experience in developing mathematical models and algorithms, applying machine learning techniques, and creating clear, compelling data visualizations.

With a strong emphasis on real-world applications, graduates are prepared to solve complex problems, communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences, and support data-driven decision-making across a broad range of fields, including business, healthcare, and engineering.

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Imagine Your Future

When you earn your MS in Data Science and Applied Mathematics at IUP, you are positioning yourself for a successful career. You’ll be ready to work in industries or pursue a PhD. Plus, you can tap into IUP’s strong alumni network.

Forbes Magazine has ranked applied mathematics as one of its “Best Master’s Degrees for Jobs,” thanks to high compensation and demand in a variety of industries. The rise of big data and analytics only adds to the number of opportunities available to new graduates.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of data scientists is projected to grow 34 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.” The rise of big data and analytics only adds to the number of opportunities available to new graduates.

Job Placements for IUP Applied Math Graduates

Recent graduates of our program have made their home at a number of top employers. With the right degree, you can achieve similar heights. You can also leverage our alumni network at prominent organizations to build your own career path.

  • Director, Information Data & Analytics Services, NASA
  • Mathematical Statistician, USDA
  • Senior Analyst, Data Science, LMI
  • Vice President, Data Science, Teladoc Health
  • Senior Manager, Ernst & Young
  • Manager of Integrated Analytics, UPMC Health Plan
  • Senior Performance Marketing Analyst, Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • Senior Analyst, Silicon Valley Bank
  • Energy Industry Analyst, Federal Energy Regulatory
  • Senior Data Scientist, Caterpillar, Inc.
  • Senior Director, Responsible AI, Highmark Health
  • Data Scientist, Availability
  • Enterprise Business Analysis Manager, S&T Bank
  • Decision Support Analyst, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

PhD Possibilities

In addition to propelling your career, the right math degree can also become a stepping stone to the right doctoral program. Mathematics-related leadership roles, as well as academic positions, typically require a PhD. Our graduates have been accepted to further mathematics studies at some of the most prestigious universities. 

The same can be true for you. When you earn your MS in Data Science and Applied Mathematics at IUP, you position yourself for a successful career and significant impact across industries and possibilities.

  • Central Michigan University
  • University of Cincinnati
  • Clemson University
  • Florida Institute of Technology
  • University of Kentucky
  • Penn State University
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Temple University

Classes and Requirements

The MS in Data Science and Applied Mathematics program requires you to have completed the following:

  • A calculus sequence.
  • Introductory courses in linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, and probability and statistics.
  • Computer programming skills are also recommended.

Thanks to our small classes, students receive individual attention from doctoral-level IUP faculty members. To make it easier to combine graduate school with your full-time job, classes are offered in the late afternoon and evening, both on the Indiana campus and synchronously online.

You’ll also have opportunities for practical experience in research and industry. As part of graduation requirements, you must complete either an internship or a thesis.

Admissions Information

The MS in Data Science and Applied Mathematics program welcomes your application.

  • Applications are reviewed throughout the year.
  • Admission decisions are made in the fall and spring semesters.

Admissions Criteria

You must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), and your undergraduate degree must be earned from a regionally accredited institution.

While it is preferred that your bachelor’s degree is in mathematics, computer science, or a closely related field, students from other disciplines can be successful in the program. Incoming students should have a background of coursework that includes:

  • Calculus sequence
  • Linear Algebra
  • Statistics
  • Basic computer programming
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Financial Support

Graduate Assistantships

Students can apply for assistantships and scholarships online. Assistantships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence rather than financial need. Assistantships may provide the student with a tuition waiver and/or a stipend. Duties may include tutoring, assisting faculty research, or providing statistical services to the university community as a consultant in the Applied Research Laboratory.

EXPANDS Scholarship Program

Learn more about the Experiential Pathways and Networks for Data Science (EXPANDS) Opportunities Scholarship Program. Each year, need-based scholarship funds can support new graduate students from the MS Data Science and Applied Mathematics program. Each scholarship recipient may receive up to $20,000 annually, depending on financial need.

Financial Aid

Visit the Office of Financial Aid for additional financial aid opportunities for students.

Thesis or Internship Options

As part of the program requirements, you must complete a three-credit thesis or a six-credit internship course.

Internship

Many students secure internship positions with well-known companies and government agencies across the nation. Some of them continue working for those companies after graduating. Here are samples of recent internship placements:

  • Lockheed Martin
  • S&T Bank
  • The Prudential
  • Ernst & Young
  • NASA, IV&V
  • U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
  • Punxsutawney Area Hospital
  • UPMC Health System
  • Bucyrus America
  • PA Power and Light Co.

Internship experience is valuable for any student considering a career in industry or government agencies. This real-world experience gives the applicant a significant advantage when looking for jobs in these settings. In addition, some companies and agencies use internships as vehicles for hiring. Seeing how students perform in the workplace over an extended period provides more valuable data than an interview. Students also benefit from the opportunity to see how data science, mathematics, and statistics are applied in the real world and from experiencing a real-world workplace.

Qualified graduate interns choose a faculty member from the Mathematical and Computer Sciences Department to be their faculty supervisor and register for three credit hours of MATH 698. Students work for a minimum of 6–15 weeks and complete all internship requirements.

Graduate students choosing an internship must meet the internship requirements, shown below.

Thesis

Students may choose a topic of interest in data science, applied mathematics, operations research, or a statistics-related area. Some students found their topics from course projects or discussions with faculty members.

Recent thesis topics include:

  • Open-Set Recognition in Computer Vision
  • Exploring Generated Music from a Song Seed: Taylor Swift’s Next Hit?
  • Immersed Boundary Modeling of Ratchet Pumps in a Viscoelastic Fluid
  • A Study in Sustainable Agriculture and Crop Growth using Gaussian Processes
  • Machine Learning Algorithms for Response Surface Design Analysis