|
General points
St Andrews has a modular degree structure organised
over a two semester year. A standard first year programme offers
the opportunity to take up to three different subjects and keep open a
wide range of degree combinations. Therefore, there is a lot of
choice for those that are undecided about the kind of degree they wish
to pursue. Most entrant students will be encouraged to take
at least two subjects in order to keep open more than one route to a
degree.
Mathematics and Statistics offers a "fast track" for its MMath
programme which enables the well-qualified entrant to progress through
the module system at a slightly greater pace whilst maintaining some
flexibility in first year.
One of the big advantages of being a student at St Andrews is the
flexibility of the structure so that if your interests (or aspirations)
change over the next year, or so, you are not locked into a programme
that may not be to your taste.
|
Core modules
Like school level mathematics, the degree programmes in Mathematics and
Statistics are build around a core of basic material. In first
year all students take (at some stage) module MT1002 (Mathematics),
which not only provides a good grounding in many key areas but for many
will provide a chance to refresh familiar material (eg complex numbers,
matrices, vectors, differential equations, etc). For the well
qualified (who take this module in semester 1) this should not be a
challenging course and gives students chance to acclimatise to the way
we work. The core level 2 module is MT2001 (Mathematics) which is
more challenging and includes calculus in several variables, linear
algebra and Fourier series. At level 3 the core modules are
Complex Analysis, Differential Equations, and Linear Mathematics.
In addition, all students are required to complete a final year
dissertation and take one computational module. Other than these
requirements, students can choose from options from the three main
areas of mathematical science: Applied, Pure or Statistics.
|
Specialist options
In the early years of your degree course you can sample the various
areas of mathematical science on offer and choose to specialise in one
if you so wish. Alternatively, you might prefer to take a mix
from across the range. The choice is entirely yours and you will
be guided through the modular system (and the requirements) by an
Adviser of Studies. At this stage of your career you do not need
to concern yourself with the details as all entrant students to
mathematics or statistics will have access to everything we
offer. As a guide to the kind of specialist topics on offer in
years 3 and 4 here are a sample (where some are for MMath students only):
PURE |
APPLIED |
STATISTICS |
|
Fractal Geometry
|
Asymptotic Analysis |
Bayesian Inference |
Graph Theory |
Classical mechanics |
Forecasting |
Group Theory |
Dynamical Systems |
Modelling Ecological Dynamics |
History of Mathematics |
Financial Mathematics |
Population Genetics |
Lie Algebra |
Fluid Mechanics |
Stochastic & Spatial Processes |
Real Analysis |
Linear & Non-linear Waves |
Estimating Animal Abundance |
Rings & Fields |
Solar Theory |
|
Semigroups |
|
|
Symbolic Computation |
|
|
|
|