Indiana University Mathematics

What is DRP?

The Indiana University Math Directed Reading Program (DRP) offers enthusiastic, highly-motivated undergraduate math majors the opportunity to learn advanced math topics in a structured, research-like environment. Participants spend a semester on an independent math project under the supervision of a graduate student mentor. Projects often take one of the following forms:

• An introduction to a subject not covered by the departmental coursework.
• An in-depth reading of a particular theorem or set of theorems.
• A more advanced treatment of a standard subject.

Expectations

Participants in the Directed Reading Program should be enthusiastic about learning advanced math. The only set prerequisite in terms of coursework is completion of the calculus series. Participants have the following responsibilities:

• Meet with your mentor once per week for at least an hour.
• Devote at least four hours outside of your meeting to your project each week.
• Give a 15-minute presentation summarizing your work at the end of the semester.

Past reading projects

Past participants have completed projects on a variety of mathematical topics including:

• "Proving Euclidean Geometry by Gröbner Bases"
• "Low-dimensional musical pitch and chord spaces"
• "Playing games with numbers"

You can learn more by exploring the full list of past projects.

Below are some links to Directed Reading Programs at other institutions, many of which have extensive lists of past projects.

• The University of California, Berkeley
• University of Chicago
• University of Connecticut
• The University of Maryland
• Massachusetts Institute for Technology
• Rutgers University
• The University of Texas at Austin
• Yale University

Apply to be a participant!

Are you an undergraduate math major at IU? Are you

• excited to learn more advanced mathematics?
• prepared to devote the required time and effort to a DRP project?
• finished with the calculus sequence?

If so, you can apply to be a participant in the IU Math DRP!

• Deadline: Sunday, January 14!

Apply to be a mentor!

Are you a graduate student in math at IU? Are you

• interested in sharing your passion for math with undergraduate math majors?
• willing to devote at least one hour per week to a DRP project?
• finished with your Tier II?

If so, you can apply to be a mentor in the IU Math DRP!

• Deadline: Friday, December 15 (last day of the semester)!

For more information, view the Fall 2023 Program Description.