Degrees and Requirements

It is your responsibility to be familiar with the requirements and policies of the University and the Department, as stated in the graduate school's Graduate Student Handbook and this handbook respectively. If you have questions about how these policies apply to your situation, you should bring it to the attention of your academic advisor.

You should be aware of the general structure of the program as explained below, including the required coursework and the system of qualifying examinations. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate each step in their degree program. Students must also be aware of the statute of limitations, as explained below and in the Graduate School Bulletin.

Degree Options

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers PhD programs in Mathematics and Statistics and MS programs in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. It also grants an MS degree in Mathematics, but this is usually only awarded as a step towards the PhD degree. Note that neither of the MS programs are primarily meant as preparation for a PhD program; a student who wishes to do a PhD after an MS in Applied Mathematics or Statistics must apply and be accepted to the PhD program like any other student. There is no formal distinction between pure and applied mathematics within the Mathematics PhD program.

A student who wishes to transfer from one degree option to another should notify the GPD as early as possible. Such a transfer requires the approval of the Graduate Admissions Committee, just as in the case of a new applicant, and may involve adjustments in the amount and/or duration of financial support as well as, in some cases, a formal application to the new program.

Degree Requirements

Formal degree requirements are given below. Coursework requirements may be waived by the GAC if in their judgment the student has taken acceptable equivalents elsewhere. In some cases, strong performance on one of the written exams can be accepted as a substitute for taking a course. In other cases it may be possible to substitute an alternative course for a required course. To request a waiver of a course requirement, students should contact the GPD directly, explaining the course to be waived, the alternative course to be taken, if any, and the justification for the request. The GPD will return a decision granting or denying the waiver, and a copy will be placed in the student’s file.

Students are reminded that in addition to Department requirements they must complete all degree requirements established by the Graduate School, as described in the Graduate School Handbook. Degree application forms for an MS or PhD can be found on the Graduate School website as well. The student must fill out the form and return it to the GPM for verification and signatures of the GPD and the Department Head. The GPM will then submit the form and a cover letter to the Office of Degree Requirements.

Follow the links below or use the menu for requirements specific to each degree.

Requirements for MS in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or Statistics

Requirements for the PhD in Mathematics or Statistics

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations is the maximum time allowed by the graduate school for completion of a degree.  A PhD student has six calendar years from entering into the graduate program to advance to candidacy (meaning passing the written and oral qualifying exams), after which the student has five years to complete the degree.  An MS student has four calendar years from starting the program to earn the degree. In exceptional circumstances, these limits may be extended with the approval of the GPD and the Dean of the Graduate School.  

Note that the department’s timeline that students are expected to follow to maintain satisfactory progress towards the degree is stricter than the statute of limitations.    All PhD students should

• Complete the written examinations by the start of their third semester (mathematics PhD) or fourth semester (statistics PhD).
• Complete the oral examination by the start of their sixth semester.
• Choose an official dissertation advisor (and notify the GPM about the choice) within one year after the completion of all exam requirements, or the start of the sixth semester, whichever comes last.
• Form a dissertation committee and submit a dissertation proposal (prospectus) to the Graduate School within 18 months after the completion of all exam requirements, or the start of the seventh semester, whichever comes last. 

If a student fails to satisfy any of these conditions, at the discretion of the GPD the student could be granted an extra semester to satisfy these requirements.

If a student fails to satisfy these requirements within the prescribed time period, the GAC in conjunction with the Department Head will review the student’s status and future financial support.