Ph.D. Programs

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics

The program requires a minimum of 90 hours of graduate credit (i.e., 60 hours beyond the Master’s degree). Students must earn a master's degree in mathematics or a closely related area before starting the PhD program.

Program Requirements

1. Students who are pursuing a Ph.D. in Mathematics must take eight of the twelve courses listed below. These eight courses must be selected so as to include at least two year- long sequences: Algebra: MATH 7330-7340, or MATH 7350; Analysis: MATH 7650- 7660; Complex Analysis: MATH 6610-7620; Topology: MATH 6510- 7520; Partial Differential Equations: MATH 7120 - 7130; Probability: MATH 7410 -7420.
2. There are two major examinations in the Ph.D. program: the Qualifying Exam and the Preliminary Exam. The Qualifying Exam consists of two four-hour written tests, in two sequences of the student’s choice from the following: Algebra MATH 7330 - 7340, or MATH 7350; Real Analysis MATH 7650-7660; Complex Analysis  MATH 6610-7620; Topology  MATH 6510-7520; Partial Differential Equations  MATH 7120-7130; and Probability  MATH 7410-7420. After passing the Qualifying Exam, the Preliminary Exam is administered by the student’s Preliminary Committee. The Preliminary Exam consists of a written report and an oral exam. It is highly recommended that the topic of the Preliminary Exam is closely related to the student’s dissertation research.
3. Ph.D. candidates must write an original dissertation, which is, in the judgment of the dissertation committee, of publishable quality. A student is granted the degree after she or he have passed the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation, obtained the dissertation approval from the dissertation committee, and the dissertation has been accepted from the Graduate College.

Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics

The program requires a minimum of 90 hours of graduate credit (i.e., 60 hours beyond the Master’s degree). Students must earn a master's degree in statistics, mathematics, or a closely related area before starting the PhD program.

Program Requirements

1. Students pursuing a Ph.D. in Statistics must take the following courses: MATH 6570, 6650, 7410, 7450, 7460, 7550, 7560, 7570 and five electives from: MATH 6440, 6450, 6460, 6470, 6480, 6490, 6710, 6720, 7400, 7420, 7430, 7580, 7590 and any other approved MATH 6000+ or STAT 6000+ letter-grade topic courses approved by the graduate coordinator. Students must receive a B or better in MATH 6570, 7410, 7450, 7460, 7550, 7560 and 7570.
2. There are two major examinations in the Ph.D. program: the Qualifying Exam and the Preliminary Exam. The Qualifying Exam consists of two written exams, each covering a two course sequence of the student’s choice from among the following: probability (7410, 7420), estimation and testing hypotheses (7450, 7460), linear models (7570-7590), computational statistics (6570-7580), and statistics and data science techniques (7550-7560). After passing the Qualifying Exam, the Preliminary Exam is administered by the student’s Preliminary Exam Committee. The Preliminary Exam consists of a written report and an oral exam. It is highly recommended that the topic of the Preliminary Exam is closely related to the student’s dissertation research.
3. Ph.D. candidates must write an original dissertation, which is, in the judgment of the dissertation committee, of publishable quality. A student is granted the degree after she or he has passed the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation, obtained the dissertation approval from the dissertation committee, and the dissertation has been accepted from the Graduate College.

Doctor of Philosophy in Data Science

The PhD in Data Science is an interdisciplinary program offered jointly by the Department of Applied Statistics and Operations Research, the Department of Computer Science, and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.  Read more about the PhD in Data Science.

Learning outcomes   

Learning outcomes for PhD in Mathematics

1. Graduates of the program will be able to effectively explain, integrate, and apply critical concepts in mathematics.
2. Graduates of the program will be able to clearly communicate mathematical ideas orally and in writing.
3. Graduates of the program will be able to use appropriate technology to successfully make progress on a wide variety of mathematical tasks.
4. Graduates of the program will be able to read, understand, critique, and extend published articles.
5. Graduates of the program will conduct original research in mathematics and write a dissertation of publishable quality.

Learning outcomes for PhD in Statistics

1. Graduates of the program will be able to effectively explain, integrate, and apply critical concepts in statistics.
2. Graduates of the program will be able to clearly communicate statistical ideas orally and in writing.
3. Graduates of the program will be able to use appropriate technology to successfully make progress on a wide variety of statistical tasks.
4. Graduates of the program will be able to read, understand, critique, and extend published articles.
5. Graduates of the program will conduct original research in mathematics and write a dissertation of publishable quality.

Graduate Courses

Please access graduate courses online at the Class & Course Information page.  Graduate courses offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics use the prefix MATH.