http://www.usf.edu

| Prospective Students | Our Students | Visitors | Faculty & Staff | Alumni & Parents | Business & Community | Campuses |

USF Home > College of Arts and Sciences > Department of Mathematics & Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics Website College of Arts and Sciences Home

The Ph.D. in Mathematics

The information provided below gives an overview of the requirements for the Ph.D. in Mathematics. More detailed information can be found on pp. 199-200 of the Graduate Course Catalog.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the Ph.D. Program in Mathematics at the University of South Florida should satisfy the following requirements:

  • Either:
    • A Master's degree or equivalent in mathematical sciences or a related area; or
    • A Bachelor's degree or equivalent in mathematical sciences or a related area with a strong record of undergraduate/graduate mathematics courses
  • Minimum score of 650 on the Quantitative portion of the GRE General Test
  • Minimum GPA of 3.5 (on a scale of 4.0) in undergraduate/graduate Mathematics courses

Note: At the discretion of the Graduate Admissions Committee, Ph.D. applicants may be recommended for admission to the Master's Program provisionally.

Coursework Requirements

The general requirement to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics is satisfactory completion of 90 hours of Mathematics graduate coursework at the 5000-level or higher.

The Core course sequences are:

  • Algebra
    • MAS 5107 — Advanced Linear Algebra
    • MAS 5311 — Algebra I
    • MAS 5312 — Algebra II
  • Analysis
    • MAA 5306 — Introduction to Real Analysis
    • MAA 5307 — Real Analysis I
    • MAA 6616 — Real Analysis II
  • Mathematical Statistics
    • STA 5326 — Mathematical Statistics I
    • STA 6326 — Mathematical Statistics II
  • Topology
    • MTG 5316 — Topology I
    • MTG 5317 — Topology II

For a list of the Elective course sequences, please consult the Mathematics Graduate Program Director or refer to p. 199 of the Graduate Course Catalog.

Requirements for Ph.D. Candidacy

  • Passing two Core Qualifying Exams at the Ph.D. level within 13 months of entering the Ph.D. program. Each exam can be retaken once. Material covered on the Core Qualifying Exams is outlined in Syllabi.
  • Passing an Elective Qualifying Exam within 25 months of entering the Ph.D. program.

Requirements for Ph.D. Degree

The following are in addition to the above requirements for Ph.D. Candidacy:

  • At least 90 hours of coursework, or a Master's degree in Mathematics and an additional 60 hours of coursework.
  • At least 3-5 years of study.
  • Completion of four (4) course sequences among the Core and Elective Sequences, with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0 in each sequence. Note: Passing a Core Qualifying Exam is considered equivalent to completing the corresponding Core Sequence.
  • At least 16 hours of MAT 7980 — Dissertation. (At least 6 hours of MAT 7980 must be taken during each previous 12-month period.)
  • External Examiner or formally accepted paper based on the Dissertation.
  • Final Oral Examination.
  • Final Submission of Dissertation.

Suggested Ph.D. Course Program

The course program shown below is only a suggestion. Please consult the Graduate Program Director or your Advisor for other possibilities that may better fit your background and interests. The Graduate Program Coordinator can help you with all necessary paperwork.

How to read the following list:

  • Core Sequence A-I, B-I, C-I means the first course listed in a core sequence; Core Sequence A-II, B-II, C-II means the second course. For example, for the Topology Core Sequence, Core Sequence A-I and A-II represent MTG 5316 — Topology I and MTG 5317 — Topology II, respectively.
  • Exception: MAS 5107 (Advanced Linear Algebra) is listed separately from the Core Sequences, but it is part of the Algebra Core Sequence: MAS 5107 — Advanced Linear Algebra, MAS 5311 — Algebra I, and MAS 5312 — Algebra II).
  • Similarly, the Analysis Sequence consists of: MAA 5306 — Introduction to Real Analysis, MAA 5307 — Real Analysis I, and MAA 6616 — Real Analysis II.

Algebra I/II can be taken as part of Core Sequence A-I/II, Core Sequence B-I/II, or Core Sequence C-I/II.

Similarly, Elective Sequence A-I means the first course in an elective sequence, and Elective # means an elective course which may or may not be part of an elective sequence. Electives may be offered as “Selected Topics Courses” (MAT 5932, MAT 6932).

Year 1

Fall

  • Core Sequence A-I (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Core Sequence B-I (3 cr. hrs.)
  • MAS 5107 — Advanced Linear Algebra (3 cr. hrs.)
  • International Students only: A course emphasizing spoken English

Spring

  • Core Sequence A-II (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Core Sequence B-II (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Elective 1 (3 cr. hrs.)

Core Qualifying Exam A in May

Summer

  • Elective 2 (3 cr. hrs.) (if offered)
  • Elective 3 (3 cr. hrs.) (if offered)

Year 2

Fall

Core Qualifying Exam B in September

  • Elective Sequence A-I (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Core Sequence C-I (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Language (3 cr. hrs.)

Spring

Core Qualifying Exam A in January, if you did not take it in May.

Note: If you pass both Core Qualifying Exams, A and B, at the Ph.D. level (which is required for Ph.D. candidacy), and satisfy the Language Requirement, then you should apply for the third, Elective Qualifying, Exam.

Note that the syllabus of the Elective exam must be approved by the Graduate Program Director at least one semester prior to taking the exam.

  • Elective Sequence A-II (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Core Sequence C-II (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Seminar-Colloquium Course* (3 cr. hrs.)

Note: The requirement of taking four sequences is now satisfied.

*The courses MAT 6908 (Independent Study) and MAT 6939 (Graduate Seminar) can be taken with approval from the Graduate Program Director, and, for MAT 6939, the Seminar Organizer. However, credit hours from MAT 6908 and MAT 6939 that are earned prior to passing two Core Qualifying Exams at the Ph.D. level cannot count toward the M.A. or Ph.D. degree.

Elective Qualifying Exam in May

Note:

  1. Passing one of the Core Qualifying Exams at either the M.A. or Ph.D. level, and passing the above-listed courses with a GPA of at least 3.0, qualifies for an M.A. degree (non-thesis option). (The thesis option is described at Math M.A.) It also allows you to enter the Ph.D. program.
  2. If you pass three exams at the Ph.D. level, then you can apply for Ph.D. candidacy.
  3. If Electives are not offered in your area of interest, then you can take Independent Study courses (MAT 6908) for the Elective Qualifying Exam.

Complete the paperwork for the thesis committee. See the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Summer

  • Elective 4 (3 cr. hrs.) (if offered)
  • Elective 5 (3 cr. hrs.) (if offered)

Year 3

Fall

  • Elective 6 (3 cr. hrs.)
  • MAT 7980 (Dissertation) (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Seminar-Colloquium Course (3 cr. hrs.)

Spring

  • Elective 7 (3 cr. hrs.)
  • MAT 7980 (Dissertation) (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Seminar-Colloquium Course (3 cr. hrs.)

Summer

  • Elective 8 (3 cr. hrs.) (if offered)
  • MAT 7980 (Dissertation) (3 cr. hrs.)

Year 4

Fall

Apply for graduation.

Apply for extension of Teaching Assistantship, if necessary.

  • MAT 7980 (Dissertation) (6 cr. hrs.)
  • Seminar-Colloquium course (3 cr. hrs.)

Spring

Apply for Oral Dissertation Defense.

  • MAT 7980 (Dissertation) (9 cr. hrs.)

Note: This satisfies the University requirement to take 90 cr. hrs. This also satisfies the requirement of taking at least 6 hrs. of Dissertation during the three semesters prior to graduation.