Applied Mathematics and Computational Science PhD Program
Program Mission:
The mission of the PhD Program in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science is to develop independent researchers who advance knowledge in mathematical modeling, computational methods, and interdisciplinary applications to proactively contribute to the broader community by addressing complex scientific and technological challenges.
Program Goals:
Graduates of the program will:
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Produce original, complex, and high-impact research in applied mathematics and computational science.
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Communicate and collaborate effectively within the global research community.
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Demonstrate independence, creativity, and ethical responsibility in advancing knowledge.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Knowledge and Understanding
Graduates will be able to:
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K1: Demonstrate a deep, critical understanding of complex concepts in applied mathematics, numerical analysis, and computational science.
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K2: Analyze and synthesize current research literature to identify gaps and formulate significant research questions.
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K3: Develop an advanced understanding the state of the art in at least one specialized area of applied mathematics or computational science.
Skills
Graduates will be able to:
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S1: Conduct independent, original, and advanced research that contributes new knowledge to the field.
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S2: Develop and analyze mathematical models and computational algorithms for complex, open-ended problems.
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S3: Use advanced computational tools, programming languages, and high-performance computing resources to implement and test research ideas.
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S4: Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present them at international conferences.
Values, Autonomy, and Responsibility
Graduates will be able to:
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V1: Conduct research with integrity, following the highest standards of academic and professional ethics.
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V2: Exercise autonomy in planning, executing, and disseminating research.
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V3: Mentor and guide junior researchers or students in mathematical and computational research.
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V4: Collaborate effectively with experts from mathematics, computing, and application domains.
PhD Course Requirements
Students entering the PhD Program must complete the requirements below:
- At least four 300-level courses* (12 credits).
- Graduate Seminar (non-credit)
- Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)
The Academic Advisor may request the completion of additional courses. Courses taken while pursuing the KAUST MS degree cannot be counted towards the PhD course requirements. Courses must be technical courses and cannot be substituted with Research, Internship, or Broadening Courses to fulfill degree requirements.
* Two courses (6 credits) must be AMCS courses.
Graduate Seminar (non-credit)
Students must register for AMCS 398 and receive a Satisfactory grade for two Semesters during their PhD. The Graduate Seminar requirement cannot be waived for students who completed the Graduate Seminar as part of their MS at KAUST. These students must take it again.
Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)
All students must complete the Winter Enrichment Program (
WE 100) for credit at least once during their studies at KAUST. Students who have previously completed WEP will be exempt from this requirement in their future studies.
PhD Candidacy
In addition to the coursework requirements, students must successfully complete the required PhD candidacy milestones to progress toward PhD candidate status. These milestones are as follows:
- A subject-based qualifier
- PhD Proposal Defense
Once students have advanced to candidacy, students are designated as PhD or Doctoral Candidates.
Qualifying Exam
The purpose of the qualifier is to test the student's knowledge of the subject matter within the field of study. It is offered twice a year. Students have up to two attempts to pass the qualifier. All PhD students must successfully pass the qualifier by the end of the third semester after commencing the PhD program. The qualifier consists of three written subject exams: one in each of the core courses of AM, CSE, or DS.
| Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) Track |
| AMCS 231 |
Applied Partial Differential Equations |
| AMCS 251 |
Numerical Linear Algebra
|
| STAT 220 |
Probability and Statistics |
| Or |
| AMCS 241/STAT 250 |
Stochastic Processes |
The choice of qualifier must be approved by the Advisor and Program Chair and communicated to the GPSA within the first month of the Semester in which the student intends to complete the requirement. Students have two attempts to take each exam; in the second attempt the student only needs to retake the exam(s) that were failed in the first attempt.
Students in the CSE track can replace one of the three qualifiers with a CSE-related qualifier in another program. Students on the DS track can replace one of the three qualifiers with a related qualifier in another program. If the overall grade of a course determines the passing grade in that qualifier for the other program, the student must score 70% or more in the final exam (in addition to satisfying all other requirements for that program) to obtain credit for the corresponding AMCS qualifier.
The qualifier is offered twice a year: during the final exams of the Fall Semester and immediately after the final exams of the Spring Semester. The Fall Semester qualifier is the final exam of each of the above-mentioned courses. The Spring Semester exam is a three-hour exam per subject prepared by the Faculty representative. Students are encouraged to take all three qualifiers in their first semester of the PhD program. For MS students, the exams taken while enrolled for the first time in Core Courses during the MS do not count towards the number of attempts, but successful completion (score at or above 70% in the final exam) will fulfill the corresponding qualifier requirement.
Dissertation
For more details on the Qualifying Exam results, Dissertation Proposal Defense and committee formation, Proposal Defense results, Petition to Defend the Dissertation and committee formation, Dissertation Defense results, Dissertation document, and Dissertation archiving, please refer to the Policy page.