Each year the MS in Mathematics with Option in Mathematical Finance (MSMF) program admits approximately fifty students (including non-degree, part-time, and dual-degree students). Some of these students have worked for two or more years in industry and want to take the opportunity over the summer to refresh their mathematical background or fill in gaps in their knowledge which were not apparent to the Admissions Committee at the time of application review. This year, following the practice at other top programs (including the University of Chicago, University of California-Berkeley, Princeton and others), we will facilitate incoming students who would like to review prerequisite course content over the summer on a self-study and self-testing basis.

Course materials will be gathered by the Coordinator with the assistance of a current graduate student. The majority of students accessing the content will be international, as those students generally do not have the opportunity to take summer school courses at a local university or college. Students residing within the United States may also access the content, though they will be required to take summer school classes (at Rutgers or elsewhere) if that was an admission condition. Students participating in the summer preparation course may be asked to pay a nominal fee for this service.

Responsibilities

The goal of the project is to ensure that students have the material they need to review topics consistent with the level and content of master's degree program prerequisite courses as well as one or two selected recommended courses prior to the start of their graduate program:

  • Linear Algebra (with MATLAB)
  • Multivariable Calculus
  • Ordinary Differential Equations
  • Partial Differential Equations
  • Probability Theory (calculus based)
  • C++ Programming
  • Numerical Analysis (with MATLAB)

A few students must fill an admission condition &mdash pass a final exam in one or two of the prerequisite courses with grade B or better by the end of August, if they are unable to take the courses in Summer School. They may use the project material to prepare themselves for those exams. The Coordinator will

  1. Request permission from instructors to use their course materials.
  2. Streamline course material and create manageable, standard course packages suitable for self-study and inclusion on Sakai, ensuring intellectual property recognition with Sakai password protection and attaching content ownership and copyright labeling.
  3. Ensure Sakai course web pages are made available to incoming students, with
    1. Generic (text-independent or multi-text) syllabi,
    2. Online and library references (including Rutgers e-books),
    3. Sample exams,
    4. Sample homework assignments,
    5. Exam and homework solutions.
  4. Create initial and final proficiency self-tests.
  5. Coordinate with the Undergraduate Office in administering any end-of-summer proficiency exams required to meet an admission condition.
  6. Coordinate with the Director and Administrator of the Mathematical Finance Master's Program.

A course assistant will be provided to help with routine tasks, including provision of missing exam or homework solutions, monitor student email, and manage the Sakai course pages. Prequisite course content will be made available for the duration of the summer session.

Requirements

A PhD in Mathematics, experience in teaching undergraduate mathematics courses, and facility with web course management systems such as Sakai or Blackboard.

Compensation

Comparable to other summer school faculty teaching opportunities and scaled according to qualifications, experience and time availability.

Applications and Further Information

Please send your curriculum vitae (or resume) and any questions to the Mathematical Finance Master's Program Director by email to feehan (at) rci.rutgers.edu.