BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in the Knightsbridge University BSc Programme in Applied Mathematics. The programme is designed to be completed within twenty-two months by a student devoting ten to twelve hours a week, working by distance learning.  

The Course currently consists of seven core modules (A through G), an elective module, and a Dissertation topic. The modules and a selection of sub-sections are: 

A. Mathematical Methods - I

Standard Functions and Techniques; Differentiation and its Applications; Integration and its Applications; The Calculus of Variations; Complex Numbers; Functions of a Complex Variable; First-Order Differential Equations; Second-Order Differential Equations; Partial Differential Equations.

B. Mathematical Methods - II

Matrices and Determinants; Linear Equations, Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors; Vector Analysis in Cartesian and Curved Co-ordinates; Infinite Series; Integral Transforms; Tensor Analysis.

C. Mathematical Methods - III

Sets; Boolean Algebra and Graph Theory; Difference Equations; Non-Linear Methods and Chaos Theory; The Gamma Function; Bessel Functions; Legendre Functions; Special Functions.

D. Applied Statistics

Probability and Probability Distributions; Sampling Distributions and Statistical Inference; Linear and Multiple Linear Regression; The Analysis of Categorical Data and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

E. Applied Numerical Methods

Interpolation; The Solution of Non-Linear Equations; Numerical Integration; Numerical Differentiation; Numerical Linear Algebra; The Computations of Matrix Eigenvalues; Curve Fitting to Data.

F. Probability Models and Applications

Probability Theory; Finite Probability Models and Random Sampling; Conditional Probability and Probabilistic Independence; Random Variables; Descriptive Properties of Distributions.

G. Mathematical Modelling

Methods Used in Mathematical Modelling; Modelling with Difference Equations; Continuum Models; Mechanics; Classical Models; Advanced Models.

H. Astrodynamics

The Relative Motions of Point Masses under their Mutual Gravitational Attractions - the N-Body and Two-Body Problems; The Specification of the Shape and Orientation of the Orbit in Space; Linear Orbit Theory. 

I. The Mathematical Modelling of Financial Derivative Products

Basic Option Theory; A Review of Partial Differential Equations and Numerical Methods; The Black-Scholes Formulae and Extensions of the Black-Scholes Analysis; American Options; Convertible Bonds.

J. The Spectral Analysis of Time Series

Some Preliminaries of Time Series Analysis; Models for Spectral Analysis - the Univariate Case; Sampling, Aliasing and Discrete Time Models; Digital Filters.  

Aims and objectives

The course is intended to give the student a broad introduction to applied mathematics, with an emphasis on mathematical modelling. Its main aim will be to show how mathematics is used by mathematicians, scientists and engineers to solve wide-ranging problems. The course would provide a good foundation for anyone wanting to take up research involving mathematical modelling.  

Methods of delivery

The delivery of the teaching for the Course is by distance learning. The material is designed to give you maximum flexibility as to the pace of learning. Course materials consist of topic lists, detailed directed reading from set texts and articles. The student will be submitting Progress Assessment Tests (PATs), Minor Assignments and Major Assignments for each module. 

Entry requirements

The usual minimum requirements for entry to the Course are as follows:

A first degree in a scientific discipline,

or,

Membership of a professional body whose qualifications may be deemed to be the equivalent of a degree.

Candidates will normally have attained the age of twenty-eight years and will be expected to show a proficiency in the English language.

Each application will be considered on its own merits, however, and admission to the course and all interpretations as to the eligibility for such admission remain at the discretion of the University. 

Supervision and cohorts

The University is aware of the need to provide first rate supervision to students, given the fact that they are working in a distance learning mode. Each cohort of students, joining the Course at a given entry point, will be allocated to a Supervisor who will be responsible for guiding students through the Course.

Aware of the fact that distance learning is usually a difficult and isolating experience, it is proposed that each cohort of students should receive a list of its peers. These will be people who are undergoing the same stresses and strains. They will be facing the same problems and the same assignment difficulties. Rather than feeling isolated, it is the University's hope that students will wish to join with others in a fellow feeling of a community. Unless an individual student wishes to maintain anonymity, members of each Cohort of students will be given a list of their peers, in the hope that the over all standard of their work, their performance on the Course and, above all, their experience as a student is enhanced.

©Copyright Knightsbridge University 2005. No part of this Course Outline, in part or in whole, may be reproduced, distributed or used for commercial purposes without the written consent of Knightsbridge University.