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PhD Program
All applicants for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy with a major in mathematics are urged first to study the general University requirements for this degree and to plan their programs so that all those requirements are fulfilled in the proper order and at the proper times. Listed below are the major steps in earning this degree. Specific requirements of the Mathematics Department are included.
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School; see Admission, Regular. Doctoral applicants must have completed a master's degree in mathematics or reached an equivalent level of advancement. The Department Graduate Committee may make exceptions to this rule in cases where unusual ability has been demonstrated. Admission to the doctoral program will be granted only to those whose records indicate an ability to succeed in advanced study and research.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: Candidates for the doctoral degree must complete ninety credits in course work beyond the bachelor's degree, including thirty credits of dissertation direction. The thirty credit dissertation registration requirement is fulfilled in one of two ways: 1) Students who have accumulated credits in the course numbered 9999 (Doctoral Dissertation Research and Direction) register for a total of thirty credits in 9999; or 2) Students who have not accumulated any credits in the course numbered 9999 and who attain Candidacy after Summer semester 2001 register for the courses 9991, 9992, 9993, and 9994 (Doctoral Dissertation Research and Direction I, II, III, and IV, respectively), in consecutive academic year semesters. Additional specific requirements for this degree in mathematics are as follows:
Preliminary Examinations: There are two two-hour written tests, covering undergraduate level material in analysis and algebra (from a sophisticated point of view). A student who is admitted to the Ph.D. program must take the Preliminary Examination within the first two scheduled examination sessions after the date of admission. Any delay in taking the examinations must be approved in advance by the Graduate Committee. Here is
some information about the exams.
Language Examination: Students are expected to show proficiency, at the
level of translating mathematical literature, in one modern language other
than English. Examiners and exam format will be determined on an individual
basis by the Graduate Committee. The language exam must be in one of the
following: French, German, Russian, or Chinese. The examination must be
passed before completion of the written qualifying examinations.
Course Requirements: In addition to the examinations described above, before advancement to candidacy every student in the Ph.D. program must complete each of the following four courses with a grade of 'B' or better: MAT 7400, 7500, 7600, and 6600.
QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS consist of two sections, a written and an oral examination. A student must begin the written qualifying examination by the end of the third year in the Ph.D. program, and must pass all parts of the examination by the end of the fourth year in the Ph.D. program. All parts of the examination must be passed before a student can advance to Candidacy Status.
Written Qualifying Examinations: These consist of two 3-hour parts, a major and a minor area exam. The examination committee will give the student a list of topics in the student's area of specialization. These topics should both reflect the student's particular research interest and be of sufficient breadth to cover the entire area. The committee will also designate a minor area on which the student will be examined. The minor area is to be supportive of the major area but sufficiently different to avoid compromising the diversity of the total two-part exam.
Oral Qualifying Examinations: By University regulations, after passing the written Qualifying Examinations, a student must take an oral Qualifying Examination within thirty days after certification of passing the written exam. The oral examination committee consists of the written examination committee, and a representative of the Graduate Committee. The oral examination will normally cover material similar to that of the written examinations, but may also include material outside the written examination areas which is deemed relevant to the student's research work.
Defense of Dissertation: Candidates must pass a final oral examination covering their research after the candidate's adviser has approved the completed dissertation.
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