News & Events
New Bachelor's Degree in Applied Mathematics Prepares Graduates for Careers in the Financial, Information and Education Fields
Professor Natov
Are you someone who is good in math and wonder what kind of careers are possible for those who major in the subject? New York City College of Technology (City Tech) is launching a new bachelor of science degree program in applied mathematics designed to provide graduates with excellent employment opportunities in the financial or information industries as well as offer a pathway to a teaching career.
"The new program is yet another example of City Tech's commitment to making it possible for all associate degree students to continue in their studies here toward a baccalaureate degree," said Sonja Jackson, dean of curriculum & instruction. "Our baccalaureate degree programs are largely the reason that more and more students are transferring to City Tech from other colleges."
Fall 2003 registration figures support this. Students transferred into City Tech from other colleges in record numbers, with the enrollment of 820 transfer students -- the largest in the College's 57-year history -- and a 30 percent increase over fall 2001 figures. In addition, the freshman class brought a 57 percent increase in the number of students admitted into the College's 15 baccalaureate degree programs and options, swelling enrollment in these programs to 3,433 students, compared with 2,554 students in Fall 2002.
City Tech's new program in applied mathematics will accept students starting with the spring 2004 semester, according to Professor Jonathan Natov, program coordinator. Applied mathematicians create computer models using mathematics to analyze and solve problems that arise in business. Typical problems include how to maximize the amount of information that passes through a network, and how to set prices to maximize profit or predict the value of stocks at some future time.
"Students who are interested in working in the financial markets choose a course of study that combines courses in computer systems with applied mathematics," Natov explained. "Graduates from the financial science option will find jobs with titles such as financial analyst, quantitative analyst and risk analyst.
"Those who pursue the information science track take courses in telecommunications technology, electronics and applied mathematics," he added. "They can expect to find jobs as data analysts, telecommunications analysts or network analysts."
An important component of the new bachelor of science degree program is a two-semester internship. "We feel this work experience is crucial to beginning a successful career after graduation," Natov said. "It will ensure that our graduates are prepared to understand, apply and manage cutting-edge technology."
In addition to the internship, both applied mathematics options include calculus-based probability and statistics, numerical analysis, mathematical modeling, computer programming and specialized applied mathematics courses.
The students who have enrolled thus far in the applied mathematics degree program range in age from 18 to 55. A 55-year-old enrollee said he was "ecstatic" when he found out that City Tech was offering a new bachelor's program in applied mathematics. "I'm a construction engineer for the city and will be retiring in a few years," he explained. "At that point, I'd like to get a job teaching math at the junior high- or high school-level, and this program is a pathway to doing just that."
Maksud Lasker, 24, from the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn, said that he decided he wanted a career as a mathematician when he was a high school student in Bangladesh. "I have just finished an associate's degree in computer science at City Tech," he noted. "Now I can go on in my studies and become a bank actuary."
Students who already have an associate's degree from City Tech in liberal arts and sciences or computer science may transfer several credits towards the 120-credit bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics -- as many as 56 credits for computer science associate degree graduates.
The new bachelor's degree in applied mathematics joins a growing number of baccalaureate degree options available at City Tech, including architectural technology, career teacher education, communication design, computer systems, computer engineering technology, entertainment technology, facilities management, graphic arts production management, hospitality management, human services, legal assistant studies, travel and tourism, technology teacher education and telecommunications technology. In addition, new baccalaureate programs are being developed in such areas as health services administration, nursing, biomedical engineering technology and computer-aided engineering technology.
For more information about the bachelor degree program in applied mathematics, the public may contact Professor Natov at 718.260.5380 or e-mail him at jnatov@citytech.cuny.edu.
