FAQ

Generally, admission to our graduate programs in mathematics requires an undergraduate degree in mathematics from an accredited four-year college or university. For our statistical sciences program, students with degrees in statistics or other disciplines will be considered provided they have adequate undergraduate training in mathematics (multivariate calculus, linear algebra), computing (including familiarity with one or more programming languages, e.g., R, MATLAB, Python) and upper-division probability and statistics (equivalent to math 151/152 at the Claremont Colleges). For our program in computational and applied math, students with undergraduate degrees in engineering, the sciences, economics, etc. will also be considered, provided that they have completed multivariate/vector calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and numerical methods (including programming languages, such as MATLAB) as part of their undergraduate studies.

GRE scores are required for PhD applicants and are optional for Master’s applicants.

In the PhD program, the students are allowed to transfer up to 24 semester units of relevant coursework from another graduate program. At the master’s level, CGU allows the transfer of up to six semester units for its 36-unit programs (the IMS master’s programs are 32 units; thus typically up to four units can be transferred).

The Institute of Mathematical Sciences has five core faculty members. The total number of math faculty in all seven Claremont Colleges is approximately 60, many of whom teach courses that are open to graduate students and are willing to advise doctoral student research.

The master’s programs are based on 32 units (eight courses) of graduate coursework. The PhD programs require 72 units of coursework, passing of a qualifying exam, completing the research tools requirements, and successful oral presentations of the thesis proposal and the thesis defense.

We offer specialization in various areas of pure math, in computational and applied math, in statistical sciences, in financial engineering, in industrial and engineering applied math, and in computational sciences.

Yes. Offered jointly by IMS and the Drucker School of Management, the Financial Engineering program gives our FE students an exclusive opportunity to participate in an exchange program at the University of Lausanne in the beautiful country of Switzerland. Known for its banking system and situated at the heart of Europe, Switzerland offers our students the opportunity to participate in financial forums and engage in stimulating financial discussions, with both world-renowned faculty and seasoned professionals. Classes offered in the exchange program are comparable to those offered at CGU. They include Asset Pricing, Econometrics, International Finance, Probability, Stochastic Processes, Applied Corporate Finance, and Derivatives.

PhD applicants to the Engineering and Industrial Applied Mathematics degree conducted jointly with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) must submit a CGU application and supporting documents to the CGU Admission Office.

Applicants must also complete the CSULB online application (without supporting documents) available at: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply.

Please do not mail paper CSULB applications to CGU.

For more information, contact Violet Luxton, assistant director of admissions.

There is no typical student at IMS. Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some come to CGU immediately upon completion of their undergraduate degrees in mathematics or statistics as full-time students. Others have a few or many years of work experience and may be continuing their graduate studies here on a part-time basis. In our joint doctoral programs, we have students whose training is in the engineering or science disciplines. We have a diverse student body with respect to gender, age, national origin and ethnicity.

Some graduates continue research and teaching careers as postdocs or faculty at various colleges or universities. Others join the workforce, in national research labs or technology companies, as data scientists, software engineers, computational scientists, members of technical staff, or technical project managers.

The graduate math program was established in the late 1960s and has been graduating both master’s and doctoral students since the 1970s. We have over 600 alumni who are employed in academia and industry.