Overview of the Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. program is designed for students who are interested in performing high-level mathematical research. IMPORTANT NOTE: Beginning in August 2008, incoming Ph.D. students will be expected to take the new system of qualifying examinations. Under the new system, each Ph.D. student will be required to finish qualifying exams by the end of his/her first year in the Ph.D. program. A description of the new system will be available soon. After that, the Ph.D. student selects a thesis adviser and forms a doctoral committee. The doctoral committee administers the comprehensive examination and offers counsel to the student as his or her research progresses. The crucial requirement for the Ph.D. degree is that the student must complete a doctoral thesis consisting of high-quality, original research in some area of mathematics.