Ranked in the top 20 math graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report, our faculty conduct more than $3.7 million in research each year for industry, the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. Our faculty of 35 includes three National Academy of Science members and two National Academy of Engineering members. The Department supports more than 50 graduate students.
Research News
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Seven graduate students received their Phd in mathematics at the 2017 Graduation Ceremony: Philip Andreae: [Advisor:Mark Stern] Analytic Torsion... read more about 2017 PhD Graduates » -
Students and faculty enjoyed a break before exams to share food and conversation at the annual math party on April 24, 2017. Those who competed in... read more about Annual Duke Math Party » -
Seth L. Warner, Math Professor Emeritus, died April 20, 2017. Seth joined the Duke faculty as a research instructor in mathematics... read more about Seth L. Warner, Math Professor Emeritus Dies » -
Graduate Student and new PhD, Hangjie (Jessie) Ji, was recognized by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) for her "outstanding... read more about SIAM Certificate Awarded to Hangjie Ji » -
Vinit Ranjan, Kelly Zhang, and Junmo Ryang are a group of prospective math majors who all met in high school at the North Carolina School of Science... read more about Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) » -
For centuries, mathematicians tried to solve problems by adding new values to the usual numbers. Now they’re investigating the unintended... read more about New Number Systems Seek Their Lost Primes: Prof. Lillian Pierce is featured in Quanta magazine »
Algebra refers to the use and manipulation of symbols, often with each representing some mathematical entity such as a quantity (think integer or... Read more about Algebra and Combinatorics »
Researchers at Duke use geometric methods to study: the geometry and arithmetic of algebraic varieties; the geometry of singularities; general... Read more about Geometry: Differential & Algebraic »
Mathematical research in physical modeling focuses on the formulation and analysis of mathematical representations of problems motivated by other... Read more about Physical Modeling »
Probability and Stochastic process is the study of randomness. It is at once a theoretical and abstract subject and one which is highly applied.... Read more about Probability »
Mathematical physics seeks to apply rigorous mathematical ideas to problems in physics, or problems inspired by physics. As such, it is a remarkably... Read more about Mathematical Physics »
A large number of signals is collected from a wide variety of physical and biological phenomena, and in a variety of forms, ranging from acoustics,... Read more about Signals, Images, and Data »
Computational Mathematics involves mathematical research in areas of science and engineering where computing plays a central and essential role.... Read more about Computational Mathematics »
In recent decades, an explosive synergy between biology and mathematics has greatly enriched and extended both fields. Indeed, given its ability to... Read more about Biological Modeling »
Topology is the study of shapes and spaces. What happens if one allows geometric objects to be stretched or squeezed but not broken? In fact there’s... Read more about Topology »
Number theory is the study of the integers (i.e. whole numbers) and related objects. Topics studied by number theorists include the problem of... Read more about Number Theory »
Partial differential equations (PDEs) are one of the most fundamental tools for describing continuum phenomena in the sciences and engineering. Early... Read more about PDE & Dynamical Systems »
Functions are representations of relations between sets, and in particular are useful for representing the changing states of a system: the velocity... Read more about Analysis »
Undergraduate Program
As a field of study, mathematics is unique. Known as “The Queen of the Sciences,” it is the purest form of quantitative analytical reasoning and thus has applications to almost every other science. In fact, many sciences rely so heavily on mathematics that their most important questions are, fundamentally, math problems.
Undergraduate News
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Students and faculty enjoyed a break before exams to share food and conversation at the annual math party on April 24, 2017. Those who competed in... read more about Annual Duke Math Party »
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Vinit Ranjan, Kelly Zhang, and Junmo Ryang are a group of prospective math majors who all met in high school at the North Carolina School of Science... read more about Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) »
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Kevin Murgas (Biomedical Engineering, Class 2017), started working on this project during a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in... read more about New Approach to Bone Remodeling » -
Spring Breakthrough is a risk-free opportunity for first- and second-year students to explore their intellectual interests. For five days during... read more about Math + Zombies + GOT = Spring Break » -
The Duke University Math Union (DUMU) is devoted to organizing and providing resources to students interested in mathematics. Throughout the year, we... read more about Duke University Mathematics Union (DUMU) » -
The Blue Devils may have lost in the Sweet 16 during March Madness 2016, but a Duke team crushed more than 500 other schools in the NCAA tournament... read more about Post-Game Roundup from the Brain Teaser Bowl »
Graduate News
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Seven graduate students received their Phd in mathematics at the 2017 Graduation Ceremony: Philip Andreae: [Advisor:Mark Stern] Analytic Torsion... read more about 2017 PhD Graduates »
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Seven graduate students received their Phd in mathematics at the 2017 Graduation Ceremony: Philip Andreae: [Advisor:Mark Stern] Analytic Torsion... read more about 2017 PhD Graduates »
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On Sunday April 23, the Duke mathematics department hosted the fourth Triangle Area Graduate Mathematics Conference (TAGMaC). The event was... read more about Triangle Area Graduate Mathematics Conference (TAGMac) » -
Graduate Student and new PhD, Hangjie (Jessie) Ji, was recognized by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) for her "outstanding... read more about SIAM Certificate Awarded to Hangjie Ji »
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SIAM is the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics. We formed this chapter to promote collaboration, interdisciplinary activities, and... read more about New SIAM Chapter at Duke Mathematics! » -
In a paper recently published in the SIAM Journal on Imaging Sciences... read more about Advanced Algorithm Improves Art Restoration Techniques »
Graduate Program
Major areas of research in the Duke Math Department include Algebra and Combinatorics, Algebraic Geometry, Analysis and Partial Differential Equations, Computational Math, Differential Geometry, Mathematical Physics, Number Theory, Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes, as well as the applications of mathematics to biology, the physical sciences, high-dimensional data, and the analysis of images. Other parts of these web pages list faculty by their specialization. That list includes postdocs and visitors. However, only the core mathematics faculty can supervise graduate students.
Courses, Plans & Placement
Whether you are planning to major or minor in math, fulfill your graduation requirements, or pick and choose courses that advance your career goals, there are math courses and people here to support you.
Featured Courses
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MATH89SWhat is democracy? How do we determine the "will of the people"? In this seminar, we will use mathematics and game theory to explore the meaning of... read course details for Game Theory and Democracy » -
MATH218Solving systems of linear equations, matrix factorizations and fundamental vector subspaces, orthogonality, least squares problems, eigenvalues and... read course details for Matrices and Vector Spaces »
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MATH240The course will consist of 3 or 4 concrete applications, for which precise mathematical questions will be formulated, and a mathematical framework... read course details for Introduction to Applied Mathematics: Modeling, Equations and Proofs »
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MATH305SDivisibility properties of integers, prime numbers, congruences, quadratic reciprocity, number-theoretic functions, simple continued fractions,... read course details for Number Theory »
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MATH403Topics in linear algebra beyond those in a first course. For example: principal component analysis and other decompositions (singular value, Cholesky... read course details for Advanced Linear Algebra »
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MATH477SIntroduction to techniques used in the construction, analysis, and evaluation of mathematical models. Individual modeling projects in biology,... read course details for Seminar in Mathematical Modeling with a Focus on Writing »
John J. Gergen Memorial Lectures
One to two times a year, the Math Department sponsors lectures named in honor of Professor John J. Gergen (1903-1967), former chairman of the department. These lecture feature the prominent mathematicians of our time.
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Did You Know?
Mathematical sciences are an important part of modern day technological innovation and development. Did you know that math drives the "knowledge economy," including internet startups, biotech, film production, computer games and individualized medicine? Mathematical sciences help us to understand the spread of flu, earthquakes and avalanches, political upheavals and national economic fluctuations, and much more.
Why Study Math?
Suppose you love mathematics, but ultimately see yourself pursuing a career as a doctor, lawyer, or in business. You should be aware that professional graduate schools in medicine, law, and business think mathematics is a great major because it develops analytical skills and the ability to work in a problem-solving environment. Their entrance tests support this bias, so the more math you know the better you will do on their exams.
About Duke Mathematics
The Duke Mathematics Department currently comprises 30 tenured and tenure track faculty, 5 teaching faculty, 27 postdocs, and 53 graduate students. We have about 98 undergraduate mathematics majors and 41 minors. The number of mathematics majors who graduated in 2014-15 was 48; 28 mathematics minors also graduated. The research interests of the department span significant areas of pure and applied mathematics. Each year the department sponsors the Gergen Lectures, given by distinguished speakers in the field.