Florida Tech’s low faculty-to-student ratio ensures personalized guidance and mentorship. Faculty bring deep expertise in applied mathematics, computational methods and statistics, actively engaging in research and guiding dissertation projects to prepare students for cutting-edge scholarship and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
Applied Mathematics, Ph.D.
What is Applied Mathematics?
Get a Master's in Applied Mathematics
The Applied Mathematics Graduate Certificate
Earn an Ed.S. in Applied Mathematics
The Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics
Advance knowledge through independent research in applied mathematics.
The Ph.D. in applied mathematics emphasizes rigorous theoretical foundations alongside computational and applied approaches.
Students conduct original research on complex problems spanning science, engineering, medicine and technology, developing and extending advanced mathematical methods to address real-world systems and interdisciplinary challenges. Through a flexible program of study and close faculty mentorship, doctoral students shape their coursework and research around their scholarly interests.
The applied mathematics program fosters intellectual independence, analytical depth and methodological rigor, preparing graduates for academic positions and advanced research roles in industry and government.
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Top 5.8%
World University Ranking
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The Center for World University Rankings
Why Choose Florida Tech for Applied Mathematics?
Florida Tech offers a flexible, research-driven environment with close faculty mentorship and sustained engagement in advanced theoretical, computational and applied research. The university’s computational infrastructure and location within a high-technology research corridor enable collaboration across science and engineering disciplines.
The Ph.D. in applied mathematics offers a flexible curriculum, allowing students to tailor coursework and research to their academic interests and career objectives. Extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration prepare graduates for careers in academia, research institutions and industry.
Florida Tech provides exceptional resources for doctoral research in applied mathematics. Students have access to dedicated mathematics labs equipped with advanced software, including Wolfram Mathematica, MATLAB, R, Sage and IBM SPSS, as well as the university’s high-performance computing cluster for large-scale simulations and intensive computations essential to cutting-edge research.
Academic units at Florida Tech may offer graduate student assistantships to full-time, degree-seeking graduate students on a competitive basis.
Teaching Assistants (TAs) support faculty in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, including tasks such as grading, tutoring and conducting office hours. First-time TAs attend a teaching assistant seminar to prepare for their responsibilities.
Research Assistants (RAs) collaborate with faculty on projects funded by government agencies, private sponsors and university research funds.
For current information about assistantships, please contact the Department of Mathematics and Systems Engineering.
Florida Tech’s location on Florida’s Space Coast provides a unique environment for doctoral research in applied mathematics. The region hosts high-tech industries, research institutions and aerospace organizations, including NASA-Kennedy Space Center, offering opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and applied research.
The 130-acre campus is ideally situated for students engaging with real-world scientific and engineering challenges while pursuing advanced mathematical research in a technology-driven community.
Florida Tech offers a safe and welcoming campus environment that supports advanced research alongside personal well-being. The campus includes extensive green spaces, such as the Joy and Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden, along with facilities like the Holzer Health Center and Clemente Center for health, fitness and stress management.
Located minutes from the Indian River Lagoon and 72 miles of Atlantic beaches, the university combines access to outdoor recreation with proximity to industry and government organizations that contribute to research collaboration and career development.
Graduate students from around the world come together at Florida Tech in a campus community that fosters international collaboration and innovation. This environment encourages students to work across cultures and perspectives, preparing them for research and professional settings around the globe.
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) supports international students throughout their academic journey, providing guidance on immigration matters, serving as a liaison with sponsoring agencies and foreign governments, and sharing information about campus and community resources.
Applicants typically hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in mathematics or a related discipline.
For more information, please see our graduate admission requirements.
Careers in Applied Mathematics
The Ph.D. in applied mathematics emphasizes rigorous training in computational methods, modeling and applied research. Graduates pursue research careers in academia, industry and government, applying advanced mathematical analysis in settings that include government laboratories, aerospace and engineering firms, financial institutions, healthcare and biotech companies, consulting organizations and universities.
Career paths for applied mathematics Ph.D. graduates include:
- Computational scientist
- Quantitative analyst ("quant")
- Data scientist or machine learning engineer
- Operations research analyst
- Actuary, risk analyst or financial analyst
- Bioinformatics specialist
- Materials science analyst
- Energy analyst or climatologist
- Logistician, defense analyst or public policy analyst
- Mathematician or statistician
- Cryptographer or cryptanalyst
Note: Employment data reflect positions commonly associated with this field. Many Ph.D. graduates go on to academic, leadership and advanced research, technical and analytical roles not captured here.
Florida Tech Career Services helps students, alumni and employers connect through career planning, job search support and recruitment resources.
For information on job outlook, pay and working conditions in this field and related fields in the United States, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Advanced Degree Options
Explore Doctoral Research
The dissertation is the centerpiece of the Ph.D., advancing applied mathematics through original research that integrates rigorous theory with real-world applications.
Students develop new mathematical approaches, algorithms and computational tools while engaging in interdisciplinary research, and gain experience communicating complex ideas through seminars, collaborative projects and conference presentations.
Browse recent dissertations in the Florida Tech Scholarship Repository.
Explore the Applied Mathematics, Ph.D., Curriculum
The Applied Mathematics, Ph.D., Curriculum
The Ph.D. in applied mathematics curriculum combines advanced mathematical theory with flexibility to tailor coursework to individual research interests.
Core areas include real analysis, partial differential equations and numerical methods, with opportunities for specialized study in nonlinear analysis, stochastic analysis, optimization, scientific computing, control theory, mathematical biology and mathematical physics.
Students complete coursework, comprehensive examinations and research milestones culminating in a dissertation.
The program provides both breadth and depth, preparing graduates for careers in academia, research institutions and industry, while engaging in interdisciplinary applied mathematics research.
The Ph.D. in applied mathematics requires a minimum of 72 semester credit hours beyond a bachelor’s degree or 42 semester credit hours beyond a master’s degree.
Check the catalog for a description of all courses. Check the catalog for detailed degree requirements.
Advanced Research in Applied Mathematics
Applied mathematics research at Florida Tech spans a wide range of theoretical and applied topics.
Doctoral students work closely with faculty on problems involving differential equations, optimization, stochastic analysis, numerical methods and scientific computing, with applications across engineering, physical sciences, biomedical systems and environmental modeling.
Research often combines mathematical analysis with computational methods, allowing students to develop new theory, design algorithms and apply advanced models to real-world systems.
Through seminars, collaborative projects and conference presentations, students gain the experience needed to communicate complex ideas effectively and contribute meaningfully to the applied mathematics research community.
Learn more about Applied Mathematics at Florida Tech on the Mathematics and Systems Engineering website.
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