4+1 pathway into SciCAM
Why join the 4+1 pathway?

If you are interested in completing the MS in Scientific Computing and Applied Mathematics, there are many advantages in joining the 4+1 pathway

  • Fast track application to graduate school: no GRE required, minimalist essays, and the fees are reimbursed if you join SciCAM. Winter start is also possible if you are planning on completing your BS in the Fall. 
  • Ideal preparation: The 4+1 program ensures that all students have taken the correct preparatory courses towards the MS.
  • A head start: Courses taken as undergraduates can also (sometimes) count towards your graduate degree, and enable you to take more advanced electives and/or start your thesis early. 
Who can join the 4+1 pathway?

The 4+1 pathway is ideally designed for students in the following majors:

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Computer Science 
  • Computer Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering 
  • Robotics
  • Mathematics (pure and computational concentrations)
  • Physics (all concentrations) 
  • Astrophysics

Students in other majors can also join the pathway provided they have taken the following lower division courses as undergraduates: 

  • Introduction to Linear Algebra (AM 10, or MATH 21, or PHYS 116A)
  • Ordinary Differential Equations (AM 20, or MATH 24, or PHYS 116A)
  • Multivariate Calculus (AM 30 or MATH 23A and MATH 23B)
  • Vector Calculus (AM 100 or MATH 23A and MATH 23B)
  • Introduction to programming (CSE 20 or equivalent)

 

    Apply to the 4+1 program
    Eligibility

    Students wishing to apply to the 4+1 pathway need to have a GPA of 3.3 or more, need to have completed lower-division requirements (3 quarters of Calculus, 1 quarter of Linear Algebra, 1 quarter of ODEs, and 1 quarter of programming) and to have either already taken at least 4 of the following pre-requisites, or have a study plan showing they can take them before the beginning of their MS year:

    • Mathematical methods requirement: AM 100 (this requirement is waived for Physics and Astrophysics majors, and for Mathematics majors provided they have taken MATH 107)
    • Computational proficiency requirement: AM 129 (this requirement is waived for BSOE majors, and can also be satisfied by taking AST 119)
    • Numerical analysis requirement: AM 147 (this requirement can also be satisfied by taking PHYS 115 or MATH 148)
    • Dynamical Systems requirement: AM 114 (this requirement can also be satisfied by taking MATH 106 or MATH 145)
    • Partial Differential Equations requirement: AM 112 (this requirement can also be satisfied by taking MATH 107)
    Application

    Timeline: Students must apply to the 4+1 pathway into SciCAM no later than December 1st of their senior year to be considered. However, earlier applications are strongly encouraged.  In particular, students interested in applying to the Next Gen. SAM program (which has an earlier deadline) must apply to the 4+1 program first.

    Application procedure: 

    • Students should set up an appointment with the 4+1 coordinator.
    Make an appointment
    • Prior to the meeting, students should download/print the application form, and complete it to the best of their ability. Students should also bring their latest self-reported transcript, if available. 
    Application form

    The meeting will take about 30 minutes, during which the student and the coordinator will establish a feasible study plan and verify the student's eligibility to be in the program.

    Once in the program, there is nothing else to do! Instructions for streamlined applications to the MS program will be emailed to the student. If the student decides not to apply to the MS, they do not need to do anything.