Completion of studies, examinations and dissertation research normally requires three to five years beyond the bachelor's degree. During the first one or two years, students concentrate on coursework to acquire the background necessary for the doctoral comprehensive examinations.
The program of study must contain at least forty-two hours of graduate-level coursework (6000-level or above), with at least thirty-six of these in mathematics courses. Graduate-level work (other than thesis hours) used toward a master's degree may be counted toward this requirement.
Doctoral students must satisfy a minor requirement of nine additional credit hours of graduate or advanced undergraduate coursework taken entirely outside the School of Mathematics. A number of students have chosen to use their minor programs as the basis for an additional degree in another department while working on their mathematics degrees.
Prior to admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree, each student must satisfy the School's comprehensive examination requirement. The first phase is a written examination which students usually complete after their first year in the graduate program. The second phase is an oral examination in the student's proposed area of specialization. Research and the writing of the dissertation represent the final phase of the student's doctoral study. A final oral examination on the dissertation must be passed prior to the granting of the degree.
Curricular Requirements
There shall be required fifty-one credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree, with grades of C or better and a GPA of at least 3.0, consisting of:
Note: Work on a master's thesis may not be counted toward any of the fifty-one hours specified above, but coursework for the master's degree may be counted.
Comprehensive Examinations
The comprehensive examination is in two phases. The first phase is a two-part written examination covering Real Analysis and Linear and Abstract Algebra. The second phase is an oral specialty examination in the student's planned area of concentration. Generally, a student is expected to have studied the intended area of research but not necessarily begun dissertation research at the time of the oral examination.
The written examination will be administered twice each year, shortly after the beginning of the fall semester and at a time near the beginning of the spring semester. The result of the written examination is either pass or fail on each half. A syllabus is available along with some sample comprehensive examinations. The PhD Algorithms, Combinatorics, and Optimization (ACO) program administers its own comprehensive examination.
All students must adhere to the following rules and timetables, which may be extended by the graduate coordinator, but only at the time of matriculation and only when certified in writing. Modifications because of leaves from the program will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
After acceptance into the PhD Program in Mathematics, a student must pass the written examination no later than its fourth administration during the student's doctoral enrollment. A student in the Mathematics PhD program can pass each of the two parts of the written comprehensive exam in separate semesters, counting these separate passes towards the comprehensive exam requirement.
A student will be allowed to attempt the written portion of the comprehensive examination as many times as are consistent with the previous paragraph.
The graduate coordinator will be responsible for advising each new student at matriculation of these rules and procedures and the appropriate timetable for the written portion of the examination. The graduate coordinator will also be responsible for maintaining a study guide and list of recommended texts, as well as a file of previous examinations, to be used by students preparing for this written examination.
Oral Specialty Examination
All students entering in the PhD program will have to observe the rules below.
A student must pass the oral specialty examination within three years since first enrolling in the PhD program, and after having passed the written portion of the comprehensive exams. The examination will be given by a committee consisting of the student's dissertation advisor or probable advisor, two faculty members chosen by the advisor in consultation with the student, and a fourth member appointed by the School's graduate coordinator. The scope of the examination will be determined by the advisor and will be approved by the graduate coordinator. The examining committee shall either (1) pass the student or (2) fail the student. Within the time constraints of which above, the oral specialty examination may be attempted multiple times, though not more than twice in any given semester. The advisor is responsible for filling in the appropriate oral exams form and returning it to the graduate coordinator.
Dissertation and Oral Examination
A dissertation and a final oral examination are required. For details see the General Catalog and the details on our Oral Examinations page.
For the rules and regulations on how to properly format the PhD thesis, visit www.gradadmiss.gatech.edu.
Other Policies of the School of Mathematics Pertaining to the Graduate Degree Programs
- The departmental degree requirements supplement the Institute requirements as listed in the General Catalog. In particular, students are urged to read the grade point requirements for graduate students listed in the General Catalog.
- A student enrolled in the master's degree program in Mathematics who wishes to be admitted to the PhD program in Mathematics should direct his or her request to the departmental graduate coordinator. Such a request should be accompanied by: (1) three letters of recommendation two of which are from people in mathematics; (2) a statement of purpose; (3) most recent copies of transcripts. Students who have not passed at least one part of the written comprehensive exam are discouraged from requesting upgrade to the PhD level.