Applied Mathematics is the branch of Mathematics that is concerned with solving "real-life" problems arising in the context of research & development in the industry and in academia. It begins by casting the questions in a mathematical framework (a "model") and then uses various mathematical (and computational) tools to study the model. From that, we can make predictions, or infer some non-trivial properties of the real-life problem. 

The various mathematical tools used in Applied Mathematics include topics taught at the lower-division and upper division undergraduate level, such as ordinary and partial differential equations, linear algebra, probability theory, dynamical systems, numerical analysis, visualization, and many others. At the graduate level, applied mathematicians usually specialize in various sub-disciplines, including (but not limited to) mathematical finance, mathematical biology, control theory, fluid dynamics, numerical analysis, optimization, stochastic modeling, high-performance computing, etc.

Scientific Computing and Applied Mathematics are becoming integral components of any state-of-the-art quantitative investigation in biology and medicine, business, finance, engineering, Earth sciences, physics and astrophysics, chemistry, and many other related areas. A graduate degree in Scientific Computing and Applied Mathematics opens the doors to a variety of careers (e.g., research, teaching, finance, research and development in the industry, national research labs), as described in this informational page from SIAM.

Students pursuing a graduate degree in Applied Mathematics have a much higher chance of successfully securing interesting, well-paid careers than students with a B.S. only. This video describes the Scientific Computing and Applied Mathematics MS. program at UCSC, and possible career paths this could open the door to. 

The Next Generation Scholars in Applied Mathematics program is designed to help low-income students succesfully complete the SciCAM MS program, and launch them in their desired career. This video describes the Next Gen. SAM program and the holistic approach it takes in helping students realize their goals. 

For more information on the program, please contact Pascale Garaud (pgaraud@ucsc.edu).