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Math in Moscow (MiM) is a one-semester study abroad program for North American and European undergraduates held at the Independent University of Moscow (IUM) in Moscow, Russia. The program consists mainly of math courses that are taught in English. The program was first offered in 2001,[1] and since 2008 has been run jointly by the Independent University of Moscow, Moscow Center for Continuous Mathematical Education, and the Higher School of Economics (HSE).

The program has hosted over 200 participants, including students from Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Harvey Mudd, Berkeley, Cornell, Yale, Wesleyan, McGill, Toronto, and Montreal.[2][3]

Features

The MiM semester lasts fifteen weeks with fourteen weeks of teaching and one week of exams.[4] Math courses are lectured by professors of the Independent University of Moscow and the Math Department of National Research University Higher School of Economics. The cultural elements of the program include organized trips to Saint Petersburg and to the Golden Ring towns of Vladimir and Suzdal.[5] Students live in the dormitory of the Higher School of Economics.

Each semester the American Mathematical Society offers up to five "Math in Moscow" scholarships provided by the National Science Foundation to US undergraduates,[6][7] and the Canadian Mathematical Society offers one or two NSERC scholarships to Canadian students.[8]

The program is often reviewed favorably by North American students and their departments.[9][10][11]

Curriculum

The primary curriculum is entirely mathematical, drawing from every major field of mathematics. All courses are taught jointly with the Higher School of Economics, and are often attended by students from the HSE master's program. Likewise, Math in Moscow participants may attend open lectures and seminars at the Higher School of Economics. The Math in Moscow courses are formally divided into three groups according to the expected prerequisites, however admitted students may choose to attend whichever and as many courses as they wish. An incoming aptitude exam is administered to assist in advising students' course selections.[12]

All courses expect at least a semester each of analysis and linear algebra as prerequisites. Courses at the first level require no more than this basic formal background, but are generally more intensive than their equivalents at North American universities, often taught from first-year graduate texts and presenting material typically covered only at a graduate level; intermediate courses correspond to senior-level offerings at scientifically-focused American and Canadian institutions; and advanced courses are graduate-level.[13]

Elementary Courses
Intermediate courses
Advanced courses

In addition to the mathematical curriculum, students are offered electives in Russian literature, Russia history, history of mathematics and science, and Russian language.

Course structure

The courses deviate in structure from standard courses in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The Russian pedagogical tradition emphasizes developing the active participation of students. Classes are designed to encourage dialogues between the students and the teacher, which is more easily achieved in the program's small classes of two to ten students. Each math course runs three hours once a week. Roughly speaking, classes devote an hour and a half of lecture and an hour and a half of exercises, although structure varies from course to course. Students may choose any number of courses, in practice between three and six from the mathematical curriculum. Courses are run jointly with the Higher School of Economics M.Sc program. Most of the Math in Moscow courses are given at the building of the Independent University of Moscow, located in the center of Moscow near the historic Arbat, some take place in the building of the Higher School of Economics. [14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Yu. S. Ilyashenko and A. B. Sossinsky: The Independent University of Moscow, EMS Newsletter, March 2010, p.42 http://www.ems-ph.org/journals/newsletter/pdf/2010-03-75.pdf
  2. ^ The list of the MiM alumni http://www.mccme.ru/mathinmoscow/index.php?page=22
  3. ^ The list of home universities http://www.mccme.ru/mathinmoscow/index.php?page=24
  4. ^ MiM schedule http://www.mccme.ru/mathinmoscow/index.php?page=9
  5. ^ MiM picasa photoalbums https://plus.google.com/photos/101813577580794585847/albums
  6. ^ The AMS scholarships page http://www.ams.org/programs/travel-grants/mimoscow
  7. ^ Notices of the AMS, January 2012 http://www.ams.org/notices/201202/rtx120200328p.pdf
  8. ^ The CMS page about Math in Moscow scholarships http://cms.math.ca/Scholarships/Moscow/Moscow_appl.pdf
  9. ^ A note about an UNC student http://www.unco.edu/news/releases.aspx?id=1229
  10. ^ FIU news http://news.fiu.edu/2009/10/life-in-moscow-for-fiu-math-students/6818
  11. ^ The report of an MIT student "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2012-03-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ List and contents of MiM courses http://www.mccme.ru/mathinmoscow/index.php?page=10
  13. ^ Paul D. Humke, Yulij Ilyashenko, and Serge Tabachnikov, "Bringing Eastern European Mathematical Traditions to North American Students," p. 3 http://www.ams.org/notices/200310/comm-humke.pdf
  14. ^ IUM contacts http://ium.mccme.ru/english/contact.html
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