Elective Qualifying Exam
2/2/17
PhD students must pass an elective qualifying exam. This exam is
prepared by their recently selected PhD advisor, generally on based upon
coursework and/or reading done in preparation of the dissertation
research. This exam is the gateway to PhD Candidacy. The exam is
generally customized to the students preparation. A second examiner may
contribute to the exam or they may simply verify that everything was on
the up-and-up. Students should apply for this exam as soon as possible
after passing two core qualifying exams. The syllabus must be approved
by the program director on semester prior to the exam.
Oral Progress Evaluations
2/2/17
We are now asking that doctoral candidates give an oral presentation to
their committee of the problem(s) under investigation. This offers
students the chance to practice presenting their work, as well as
allowing the committee the opportunity to familiarize themselves with
the research. This will also aid the Graduate Committee in confirming
that a PhD candidate is making adequate progress. Those who are not may
receive a warning, lose their teaching assistantship, or be removed from
the program. Note that university also requires a GPA of at least 3.0 to
maintain good standing.
Student Success
2/2/17
Of late, I have been preparing a report on the graduate program. Here
is some data on student success. In the Spring of 2013, we had 21
Master’s students in the program. Of these 21 students, 17 completed an
M.A. as of August 2016 and 4 left the program with no degree. In the
Spring of 2013, we had 36 Ph.D. students in the program. As of November
2016, of these 36 students, 13 have completed a Ph.D. in mathematics, 4
completed a Ph.D. in mathematics in Statistics, 11 remain students in
good standing and are expected to graduate, 2 earned a Master’s degree
and transferred to other Ph.D. programs, 1 earned a Master’s degree and
left the program for a career, and 5 left the program with no degree.
In addition, Ph.D. students who have graduated in the past 7 years
collectively wrote over 50 papers as students or based upon their
Dissertation.
Masters degree: Thesis vs. Qualifying exam
1/31/17
Masters students may complete their degree by either passing a core
qualifying exam at the appropriate level or by writing a thesis. Both
are fine options, but here I would like to tout the benefits of the
thesis option for those aiming for a Masters as their highest degree. A
thesis requires at least a year, but it may not take longer than
studying for and taking a qual twice. You will meet frequently with an
advisor who will help keep your progress on track (assuming you come
prepared, as is your responsibility). In this sense success is more
predictable. You will learn to use the tools of mathematics, such as
LaTeX for typesetting, MathSciNet for literature search, and perhaps a
computer algebra system for computation. You advisor will help to
polish your mathematical writing (through revision after revision) to a
high standard. You will learn the practice of mathematics as you write
and defend a Masters thesis. You will experience that there is more to
math than taking classes and exams.
The same qualifying exam is offered
to both Masters and PhD aspirants. The number of problems solved
successfully distinguishes a pass at the corresponding level. The
Masters pass allows a student who had intended to get a PhD to exit with
a degree. Those aiming for a PhD must approach their coursework with
greater intensity from day one than those aiming for a Masters.
Colloquia and Seminars
1/31/17
The regular Friday colloquia offers the opportunity to meet experts in
various fields of mathematics. A well-designed colloquium will offer
something for everyone in its first half before progressing into more
advanced material.
Graduate students should attend regularly to broaden
their perspective on mathematics. Many mathematics departments hold
this expectation. Cookies and coffee are served beforehand. Graduate
students should also attend departmental seminars (currently offered in
analysis and discrete math). They provide the opportunity to learn what
faculty and their students are working on. They also provide a venue to
present your work later in your program. Students may participate in
the discrete mathematics seminar on an S/U basis to fulfill the
requirements for maintaining the teaching assistantship.
Courses
8/20/16
New students, your first goal is to complete your core sequences
(two of algebra, analysis, topology), upon which the qualifying
exams are based. Be aware of other course requirements of your degree.
See the department homepage and the graduate catalog.
Students who have completed core and elective sequences requirements
are strongly encouraged to continue taking classes when appropriate.
You will never have a better opportunity to learn something new.
Those who wish to teach can prepare themselves to teach a broader
range of courses. Those who wish to research should try to increase
types of questions that they can tackle and the the tools that they
have available. Those who wish to work in industry should bear in mind
that the problems do not care where the solutions come from.
Qualifying Exams
8/20/16
It will soon be time for the Fall qualifying exams. I recommend that
you prepare by doing problems, just like you will do on the exams.
Use problems to confirm your understanding and diagnose your deficiencies.
Focus your review on the material that gives you problems; confront the
material that you would otherwise push aside.
I encourage students taking the Fall exams to set aside the remaining
Saturday mornings from 9:00am to noon to do old exams. Use this to
practice the full range of problem, identify problem areas, and get
yourself use to the circumstances.You can find recent exams on the department
website.
Job Search
8/20/16
Do you see yourself in an academic position at this time next year? If so,
it may be time to start preparing your applications. Speak with your advisor
about what you need to do. September and October are the time to prepare
(and revise) your curriculum vita, a teaching statement, and a research statement,
as well as ask for letters of recommendation. The first round of applications are
due in November and December. Far fewer openings are listed in the Spring.
Interested students should create an account on
MathJobs.org , which collects many
(but not all) openings in mathematics and allows online applications for most.
Professional Societies
9/6/16
Student Organizations
9/6/16
The undergraduate math club is a student chapter of the MAA. It meets every other
Friday afternoon for pizza and a talk. Graduate students are welcome and encouraged
to attend.
The AMS has a program for
Graduate student chapters . I would like to encourage our
students to form one. It offers $500 for activities. For example, MOSI has been asking
the department to help with Pi day, which several AMS student chapters do at their own
institutions. Such a chapter could host round tables on job search, qual prep, short
faculty introductions (potential advisors), or hear from fellow graduate students.
The suggested deadline is October 1.
Conferences
9/6/16
The AMS regular holds sectional and joint meetings, which graduate students are
encouraged to attend. The joint meetings of the MAA, AMS, SIAM and others will be
in Atlanta the first week of January 2017. Job seekers are encouraged to sign up
for the job fair. Each December (this year on the second), the Florida section of
the MAA holds its Suncoast conference in the area and early the next year (Feb. 17 and 18).
the MAA-FTYCMA will hold a meeting at the State College of Florida.
There will be an AMS meeting in Orlando in September 2017. Students might consider
carpooling. In addition many conferences offer funding for graduate students.
I encourage students to consider attending when appropriate to present and meet people.