Math Camp
August 3–14, 2026 · SPEA 270
A two-week review that prepares incoming PhD students for the O’Neill quantitative sequence, organized into ten one-day modules. Modules 1–6 cover mathematics; modules 7–10 continue into probability and statistics. A third component — the computing workflow used throughout the program — runs alongside.
- Mathematics — modules 1–6: algebra, calculus, optimization, integration, and matrix algebra, with economic applications throughout.
- Probability & statistics — modules 7–10: probability, random variables, moments, distributions, and sampling distributions. Theory in the morning, computing in the afternoon.
- Workflow & coding — R,
data.table, project setup, and Git/GitHub. Set up your machine early.
Logistics
| Dates | August 3–14, 2026 |
| Location | SPEA 270 |
| Instructors | Alberto Ortega (alorte@iu.edu) · Coady Wing (cwing@iu.edu) |
| Syllabus | |
| Turn in work | Canvas — scanned problem sets, plus scripts when there’s code |
The daily rhythm
Each module is designed to take one day. SPEA 270 is reserved for you for both weeks — you are highly encouraged to work through camp together.
| 10:00 a.m. | Meet in SPEA 270; work through the module’s lecture notes together |
| Midday | Attempt the problem set on your own — honest attempts before looking anything up |
| 2:00 p.m. | Reconvene to compare answers and discuss, or do coding assignments |
| Evening | Review today’s material and read ahead for the next day’s module |
| Following day | Turn in your handwritten problem set — scan or photograph it and upload it to Canvas; if a problem set involves code, upload your scripts as well |
Problem sets are ungraded — they are where the learning happens. The final exam is in person, without AI tools, and is graded.
Alongside the modules, take a look at the Computing Setup and Git & Reproducible Work guides — getting your machine and workflow in shape during camp makes the start of the fall courses much smoother.
Schedule
| Module | Date | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon Aug 3 | Algebra & functions |
| 2 | Tue Aug 4 | Limits, continuity & derivatives |
| 3 | Wed Aug 5 | Optimization & the firm |
| 4 | Thu Aug 6 | Integration |
| 5 | Fri Aug 7 | Matrix algebra |
| 6 | Mon Aug 10 | Multivariable & constrained optimization |
| 7 | Tue Aug 11 | Probability & random variables |
| 8 | Wed Aug 12 | Expectation, variance & moments |
| 9 | Thu Aug 13 | Covariance, correlation & distributions |
| 10 | Fri Aug 14 | Sampling distributions, LLN & CLT |
Modules 7–10 run theory in the morning and computing in the afternoon; the afternoon decks and the R half of each problem set come from the Workflow & Coding track.