Graduate Certificate program in Mathematics and Statistics at Columbia University in the City of New York

"Applied mathematics deals with the use of mathematical concepts and techniques in various fields of science and engineering. Historically, mathematics was first applied with great success in astronomy and mechanics. Then it developed into a main tool of physics, other physical sciences, and engineering. It is now important in the biological, geological, and social sciences. With the coming of age of the computer, applied mathematics has transcended its traditional style and now assumes an even greater importance and a new vitality.

Compared with the pure mathematician, the applied mathematician is more interested in problems coming from other fields. Compared with the engineer and the physical scientist, he or she is more concerned with the formulation of problems and the nature of solutions. Compared with the computer scientist, he or she is more concerned with the accuracy of approximations and the interpretation of results. Needless to say, even in this age of specialization, the work of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers frequently overlaps. Applied mathematics, by its very nature, has occupied a central position in this interplay and has remained a field of fascination and excitement for active minds."