About the Program

Graduate

The department has roughly 110 Ph.D. students, about two thirds in Pure Mathematics, one third in Applied Mathematics. The department offers courses in a wide variety of subjects. In addition to pursuing research under the supervision of the faculty, students have the opportunity to attend colloquia of general interest such as the Applied Mathematics Colloquium, the Pure Mathematics Colloquium and several lecture series Simons lectures, CDM, Clay, as well as specialized seminars.

Prospective students are invited to consult the graduate career timeline to see what to expect.

Degree Requirement Summary

  • Complete 11 one-semester graduate courses, exclusive of thesis (132 credit hours) with grades of A or B.
  • Pass an oral qualifying exam covering three distinct areas of mathematics. One area is treated in greater depth than the others and normally becomes the student's area of specialization.
  • Demonstrate a mathematical reading knowledge of at least one of the following languages: French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, or Chinese.
  • Complete an original thesis and an oral defense. The thesis is expected to represent research at a standard required for publication in a high-level research journal.

Financial Support

Financial support is guaranteed for four years to students making satisfactory progress. Students receive full tuition, a stipend, and individual health coverage. Support is in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships. Teaching assistants either teach recitation sections or grade papers for more advanced courses. Both jobs are paid at the same rate, and both require about 12 hours per week.

In academic year 2009-10 stipends for assistantships are $2408 per month for nine months (Sept 1--May 31) and include individual health coverage for 12 months. Some additional financial support is available during the summer. See summer support.

Students are encouraged to seek outside support, which reduces teaching and/or grading duties. Outside support sometimes exceeds the internal support level. If it does not, then it is supplemented up to the full internal support level.

Teacher Training

Graduate students are strongly encouraged to develop their teaching skills and establish teaching credentials. In order that they be as successful as possible, prospective teachers are required to participate in teacher training, including

  • Practice teaching under supervision of a recitation instructor. (Students must demonstrate proficiency in English before practice teaching.)
  • A teaching workshop (6 hours over 3 days) offered at the end of each semester.

In addition, early in the first semester of teaching, each TA is videotaped during a 50-minute class and receives a critique of his/her teaching performance. New instructors also participate in the teaching workshop and are videotaped.