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What is the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Florida Atlantic University?
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is the academic unit at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) that handles mathematics and statistics teaching, research and student support, housed within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. Its homepage works mainly as a hub: it points prospective and current students to degree programs, research areas, faculty, events and student organizations rather than serving as a single informational article.
What the department covers
- Academics: graduate and undergraduate study, plus a Math Boot Camp, certificates, math computer labs, a placement test, a Math Learning Center, course schedules, final exam information and office hours.
- Research: research centers, grants and research areas, alongside news about faculty and student work.
- People: faculty and staff, faculty advisors, affiliate faculty and graduate assistants.
- Student life and opportunities: the AMS, SIAM and AWM student chapters, Crypto Café, The Math Club, service-hour sign-ups and other student opportunities.
Who it is for
Current and prospective FAU students are the clearest audience: the placement test, boot camp and Math Learning Center pages matter most to someone deciding which course to start in or needing extra help. Prospective graduate students can look at research areas and faculty. Visitors interested in events, outreach or giving also have entry points through the news, calendar and "Make a Gift" links.
A practical next step
If you are choosing a course or checking whether you need the placement test, start with the Academics section and the Math Learning Center rather than the news items, which change often. If you are considering graduate study, scan the research areas first and then email a faculty member whose work matches your interests. The department sits inside the Schmidt College of Science, so program requirements and college-wide deadlines are worth checking there too.
For comparison, FAU's department is one of several Florida mathematics departments; you can see how another organizes its programs at Florida State University Department of Mathematics or University of Florida Department of Mathematics.
What undergraduate and graduate degree programs in mathematics and statistics does FAU offer?
FAU's Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers undergraduate and graduate paths, but the department homepage itself does not list the full roster of degree programs. It links to an "Academics" section with separate "Undergraduate" and "Graduate" pages, so the authoritative program list lives there rather than on the landing page.
What the homepage does confirm
- An undergraduate track exists, supported by a Math Boot Camp, certificates, math computer labs, a placement test, a Math Learning Center, and departmental course schedules with final exam and office hours information.
- A graduate track exists, with faculty, graduate assistants, research centers, grants and research areas listed under the department's research section.
- One specific graduate offering is highlighted: the Master of Science in Teaching degree is described as now being a fully online program.
- Student organizations include AMS, SIAM, AWM, Crypto Café and The Math Club, which indicates an active undergraduate-to-graduate community.
How to decide
If you are choosing between the two levels, use the department's own structure as your guide: the undergraduate pages cover placement, boot camp and lab support, which matter if you are entering from high school or transferring. The graduate pages connect to research centers, grants and faculty areas, which matter if you are looking for a thesis advisor or funded assistantship.
A concrete next step: open the Academics menu on FAU Department of Mathematics and Statistics and compare the undergraduate and graduate listings directly. If research fit is your priority, cross-check the "Research Areas" and "People" pages before applying, since the homepage shows faculty working in areas such as identifiability analysis and numerical analysis.
For broader university context, Florida Atlantic University hosts the central admissions and program catalog pages that carry official degree requirements.
How can I get help with math courses through the Math Learning Center or placement testing?
The department's homepage points to two distinct support paths: the Math Learning Center for ongoing course help, and the Placement Test route for determining which course level fits you. Use the Learning Center when you are already enrolled and struggling or want regular practice; use placement testing when you need to establish the right starting course or satisfy a prerequisite.
FAU Department of Mathematics and Statistics
How to choose between them
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| Enrolled in a math course and need tutoring, homework help or exam review | Math Learning Center |
| Unsure which math course to take, or need to demonstrate readiness | Placement Test |
| Preparing before the semester begins | Math Boot Camp, then the Learning Center once classes start |
| Looking for structured review of prerequisites | Placement Test guidance plus Boot Camp |
Practical next step
Open the department site and check the Math Learning Center page for its current hours and location, then check the Placement Test page for scheduling and what to bring. If you are not yet sure whether you need the test, ask your academic advisor first — the answer usually depends on your intended major and any prior credit.
A realistic example
A first-year student who placed into college algebra but feels shaky on factoring can attend the Learning Center weekly for the first month, while a transfer student with no transcripted math credit may need the placement test before registering at all. These are different problems with different fixes.
Decision criteria
- Already registered in a course? Use the Learning Center.
- Not yet registered, or your prerequisite is unclear? Placement testing comes first.
- Want to strengthen skills before either? Look at the Math Boot Camp listing.
- Need human guidance on course sequence? Contact a faculty advisor listed under People, or your college advisor.
The same department page also lists office hours, the departmental course schedule and final exam information, which are worth checking alongside the Learning Center so your help-seeking lines up with when instructors and tutors are actually available.
What research areas, grants, and centers are available in FAU's math and statistics department?
FAU's Department of Mathematics and Statistics organizes its research activity into three broad areas: research areas, research centers, and grants. The department's site presents these as separate sections, and its news items show the work in practice — faculty and students presenting at conferences such as the OAL-RAG mathematics conference at Louisiana State University, and student participation in FAU's annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The page also highlights a doctoral student from the University of Naples studying identifiability analysis and numerical analysis with a department professor, which points to applied and computational mathematics as active ground.
How to read the structure
- Research Areas and Research Centers are listed as distinct menu entries, so you can browse them independently.
- Grants is a separate section, meaning funded projects are tracked apart from the general research descriptions.
- News and events pages give the most concrete picture of what people are actually working on, since they name conferences, collaborators and student projects.
H3: Who this suits Prospective graduate students should start with Research Areas to find a supervisor whose interests match theirs, then check Grants to see which groups currently have funded projects — funded groups are more likely to have assistantship support. Undergraduates considering research can use the news items and the student activities listings (AMS, SIAM, AWM, Crypto Café, The Math Club) to find an entry point, since those pages show how students get involved before committing to a thesis or poster competition.
H3: A practical next step Pick two or three research areas that interest you, note the faculty names attached to them, then cross-check those names against the Grants and News sections to see whether the work is current. If a name appears in recent conference presentations or funded projects, that is a stronger signal of an active group than a static description alone.
For a broader view of the university and its science college context, see Florida Atlantic University.
What student organizations and activities like the Math Club, AWM, or Math Days can I join?
You can join several math-focused student groups and events at FAU, most of which are open to undergraduates and don't require you to be a math major.
Student organizations
- The Math Club — the department's general-interest club for anyone who enjoys math; the homepage explicitly invites students to join.
- AWM (Association for Women in Mathematics) Student Chapter — the FAU chapter has hosted events such as Florida Women in Math Day, a celebration of Emmy Noether.
- AMS (American Mathematical Society) and SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics) student chapters — listed under Student Activities, aimed at students interested in research and applied/industrial math.
- Crypto Café — a recurring gathering listed alongside the clubs, suited to students curious about cryptography and related topics.
Events and activities
- Math Days — a departmental event series listed under News & Events.
- Florida GeoGebra Conference 2026 — a conference tied to the department's outreach and teaching community.
- Undergraduate research showcases — FAU math students have presented at the university's Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, and Schmidt College of Science runs the Dr. Eric Shaw Excellence in Science Undergraduate Research Poster Competition (the page lists an October 22, 2026 event with an October 7, 2026 application deadline for eligible Science undergraduates and FAU High School researchers mentored by Science faculty).
- Conferences and travel — faculty and students have presented at external meetings such as the OAL-RAG mathematics conference at Louisiana State University.
Which one fits you
| If you want... | Start with |
|---|---|
| A low-commitment social/academic outlet | Math Club |
| Community and advocacy for women in math | AWM Student Chapter |
| Research or industry-oriented math | AMS, SIAM |
| A specific topic like cryptography | Crypto Café |
| Department-wide events and talks | Math Days, GeoGebra Conference |
Next step: check the department's Student Activities page and News & Events calendar for current meeting times and sign-ups, since the homepage lists the groups but not their schedules. If you're unsure where you fit, email a faculty advisor in the department or simply show up to a Math Club meeting — most chapters welcome new members at any point in the term.
What career paths and opportunities are available for mathematics and statistics graduates from FAU?
FAU's Department of Mathematics and Statistics points to several distinct routes: graduate study, teaching, industry and government analytics, and research-oriented work in fields such as cybersecurity. The department's own pages highlight student research presentations, a math club, and student chapters of professional societies, which are the kinds of activities that build a portfolio for those paths.
H3 Practical paths to consider
- Graduate study in mathematics or statistics. The department lists graduate and undergraduate programs, plus a math boot camp and certificates. A student aiming at a Ph.D. would use research presentations and faculty mentorship as the main stepping stones.
- Teaching mathematics. The Master of Science in Teaching degree is described as fully online, which suits current teachers or career-changers who need to keep working while qualifying.
- Statistics and data-heavy industry roles. Statistics training supports work in analytics, biostatistics, actuarial fields and research support. The department's research areas and computer labs are the relevant resources here.
- Cybersecurity and quantitative security work. FAU's recognition as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research signals an institutional strength that mathematics graduates can connect to, since cryptography and security analytics draw on algebra and probability.
- Research and academic outreach. Faculty and students presenting at conferences, and undergraduates participating in the university's research symposium, show a department that expects students to do original work rather than only coursework.
H3 How to choose between them
| Goal | Useful signal from the department | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. or research career | Conference presentations by faculty and students; research areas and grants | Approach faculty whose area matches yours and ask about undergraduate research |
| Teaching | Online Master of Science in Teaching | Check admission requirements and whether it fits your certification plans |
| Industry analytics | Statistics coursework, computer labs, certificates | Pair statistics with programming and a portfolio project |
| Cybersecurity | Cyber research center designation | Ask how math students enter that pipeline and which courses count |
For a concrete example: a student who enjoys probability but does not want a Ph.D. could combine statistics courses with the department's computing resources, join the math club or a student chapter to build contacts, and target analytics or actuarial roles. A student who wants to teach could use the online master's route while gaining classroom experience.
As a next step, compare the department's own program pages against the career you have in mind, then email a faculty advisor in that area with a specific question about coursework and research openings. Related programs at other institutions can also clarify differences: University of Florida Department of Mathematics and Florida State University Department of Statistics.
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