MasterScholar North Carolina Math Camp Recently Updated

The MasterScholar North Carolina Math Camp (NCMC) is a two-week summer program led by Duke University faculty, offering high school students the chance to explore advanced mathematics. Recommended by MIT as an alternative to the PRIMES program, NCMC provides top-tier instruction while fostering independent research and teamwork skills in a world-class academic setting.

The North Carolina Math Camp emphasizes the development of students' critical thinking abilities through interactive, project-based learning. Professors and teaching assistants from Duke University guide students to approach challenging, complex mathematical problems through a carefully designed curriculum. In addition, every student completes a research paper based on a topic chosen from their courses.

Students who complete the program are awarded a certificate of completion and a project evaluation letter signed by a Duke University professor. These outcomes serve as competitive differentiating credentials for students to include in their future college applications.

The North Carolina Math Camp is highly selective. Applicants are expected to have a strong background in high school-level math and a passion for exploring higher-level mathematics.

Program Highlights:

• Highly selective program, geared towards students seeking advanced studies in mathematics
• Designed and taught by professors from the Duke University Department of Mathematics
• Camp counselors are Duke undergraduate math majors and graduate students
• Curriculum focused on project-based learning, independent research, and critical thinking
• Opportunity to connect with other high-achieving students from around the world
• Includes fun, engaging extracurricular activities to help students build relationships
• Competitive outcomes for the college admissions process: research paper, program completion certificate, and project evaluation letter

Program Outcomes:

• Certificate of Completion
• Mathematical Research Paper
• Program Evaluation Letter from NCMC Faculty

Session 1: Survey of Mathematics 
(Knowledge of calculus is recommended, but not required.)

Themes:

1. From Number Theory and Special Relativity to Game Theory
2. Applications to Economics

Subjects Covered:

Number Theory - Group Theory - RSA Encryption - Game Theory - Estimating Pi - Complex Numbers - Quaternions - Topology of Surfaces - Introduction to Differential Geometry - Collective Decision Making - Survey of Calculus - Applications to Economics - Statistics and the Central Limit Theorem - Special Relativity

Session 2: Survey of Advanced Mathematics 
(Knowledge of calculus is required. Knowledge of multivariable calculus is recommended, but not required.)

Themes:

1. From the Generalized Stokes Theorem to Ordinary Differential Equations
2. Partial Differential Equations, Including an Introduction to General Relativity

Subjects Covered:

Survey of Multivariable Calculus - Advanced Applications to Economics - Differential Forms - Fourier series - Ordinary Differential Equations - Partial Differential Equations - Complex Analysis - Fractals - Discussion of Lie Groups - Introduction to Geometric Analysis - Calibrations and the Simons Cone - Geometric Flows - Introduction to General Relativity

Program Fees: $6,500

Program Fees Cover: Tuition, course materials, field trip costs, and housing and meals at Saint Mary's School

Program Fees Do Not Cover: transportation to/from Saint Mary's School for the start and end of the program, laptops, international student travel health insurance (required for international students), and airport pick-up/drop-off (optional for all students)