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The Graduate Programs

 


The complete Graduate Catalog, 2007-2008, is available online through the Graduate School's web site.

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Coordinator of Graduate Studies

Dr. Anna Kaminska (Mathematics)
kaminska@memphis.edu

Dr. Lih-Yuan Deng (Statistics)
lihdeng@memphis.edu

Dr. Anna Bargaliotti (Teaching of Math)
brggltti@memphis.edu


Assistant to the Chair

Deborah F. Wilson
dfwilson@memphis.edu

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Program Application

To access admissions applications please choose from the following:

Domestic students International students

For Graduate assistantship applications, students may download Graduate assistantship Application form in MSWord .doc format here.

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I. The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with a major in Mathematics.

The areas of concentration for the M.S. degree are Applied Mathematics, Teaching of Mathematics, Mathematics, Statistics, and Bioinformatics. Within the M.S. degree, students may complete up to twelve semester hours in a collateral area approved by their adviser.

The areas of concentration for the Doctor of Philosophy degree are Applied Statistics and Mathematics.

II. M.S. Degree Program

Program Prerequisites

  1. GRE scores
  2. Two letters of recommendation
  3. A minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL, or 210 on the computer-based TOEFL, (for students whose native language is not English)
  4. An undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

Program Requirements

  1. At least 30-34 semester hours of course work
  2. At least 24 semester hours at the 7000 level
  3. A passing grade on a written comprehensive examination or an acceptable thesis

Each of the concentration areas has additional program prerequisites and requirements, which are given below.

Applied Mathematics Concentration

A. Prerequisite:

An undergraduate degree with a major in mathematics or equivalent training. Students should have some background in differential equations and linear algebra. Students whose major was in a related field but not mathematics will be considered on a c ase-by-case basis.

B. Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of at least 33 semester hours of graduate course work in a program approved by the department.
  2. Satisfactory completion of at least 21 semester hours of graduate course work in mathematics. This course work should include training in real and complex analysis, ordinary and partial differential equations, mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, and calculus of variations. MATH 6350-6351 or equivalent is required. In addition this program must include at least one additional two-course sequence, typically MATH 6391-6392, 7375-7376, or 7393-7395.
  3. Sensible alternative programs, depending on the student’s motivation and goals, may be considered.

Mathematics Concentration

A. Prerequisite

An undergraduate degree with a major in mathematics or equivalent training.

B. Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of 33 semester hours of graduate course work in a program approved by the department
  2. Satisfactory completion of at least 21 semester hours of graduate course work in mathematics (A typical program will include at least two of the following two course sequences: MATH 7350-7351, 7261-7262, 7411-7361)
  3. A passing grade on the Master's Exam in Mathematics or satisfactory completion of a thesis

The Master's Exam in Mathematics consists of a two-hour exam on Basic Areas which is taken by all the students and a second two-hour exam which is either on Applied Mathematics or on two topics chosen by the student from a list of Optional Areas. The exam is offered each Fall and Spring semesters.

Master's Exam in Mathematics: Basic Exam. The basic exam covers the following list of topics: Introduction to Real Analysis (MATH 6350 and Math 6351), Abstract Algebra (MATH 6261), Linear Algebra (MATH 6242), and Topology (MATH 6411).

Master's Exam in Mathematics: Optional Areas. Two topics may be chosen from, but are not limited to, the following list: Algebraic Theory I (MATH 7261), Algebraic Theory II (MATH 7262), Combinatorics (MATH 7235), Applied Graph Theory (MATH 7236), Real Variables I (MATH 7350), Real Variables II (MATH 7351), Complex Analysis (MATH 7361), Calculus of Variations (MATH 7371), Topology (MATH 7411), Modeling and Computation (MATH 7721).

Statistics Concentration

A. Prerequisites

Three semesters of calculus and one semester of linear algebra

B. Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of 30 semester hours of graduate course work with a thesis or 33 semester hours of graduate course work without a thesis in a program approved by the department.

2. Satisfactory completion of the following courses: MATH 7642, 7643, 7647, 7654, 7685, 7762, and either MATH 7645 or MATH 7657, either MATH 7660 or MATH 7670. Graduate students in the Department of Mathematical Sciences may not receive credit for both MATH 6637 and MATH 7643.

Teaching of Mathematics Concentration

A: Prerequisite:

In addition to the general prerequisites for the MS Degree program, students will be required to have an undergraduate degree in mathematics or the equivalent.

B. Requirements:

  1. Satisfactory completion of at least 33 semester hours of graduate course work in a program approved by the department.
    1. Core courses required for all students are: MATH 6151, MATH 7171, MATH 7174, MATH 7281; MATH 7282; MATH 7381; MATH 7282; MATH 7681; either ICL 7500 or ICL 7503.
       
    2. Elective courses must be approved by the department. Sample electives include: MATH 6242; MATH 6361; MATH 6411; MATH 7237; MATH 7996; ICL 7500; ICL 7503; ICL 7508.
       
  2. At least 27 hours must be at the 7000 or 8000 level and a minimum of 24 hours must be mathematics coursework (MATH 7996 does not count toward this requirement).
     
  3. Students may choose a thesis or non-thesis option.
     
    1. Thesis Option - Each student must submit a thesis acceptable to the student’s advisory committee. The thesis can be based on work done for Math 7996. A student may take 3-6 credit-hours in Math 7996; however, only 3 hours may be applied to the degree requirement. Students must complete a research project, submit a written thesis describing the research, orally present and defend the thesis before a faculty committee. Students are also required to earn a passing grade on a comprehensive written examination. The oral defense of the thesis will encompass material learned during course work and will count as the comprehensive examination.
       
    2. Non-thesis Option - Pass a final written and oral comprehensive examination which will be administered by the student’s Advisory Committee during the final semester of residence. The content for the comprehensive written examination will be based on the core curriculum of the program.

III. Ph.D. Degree Programs

Program Prerequisites

  1. GRE scores
  2. Three letters of recommendation
  3. A score of at least 550 on the TOEFL, or 210 on the computer-based TOEFL, (for students whose native language is not English)
  4. An undergraduate degree in an appropriate discipline with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent preparation

Program Requirements

  1. A passing grade on a qualifying examination prior to the end of the first 13 months of study in the program
  2. At least two consecutive semesters of residence as a full-time student
  3. At least 72 credit hours of graduate course work beyond the bachelor's degree with a maximum of 15 hours from dissertation work
  4. At least 42 semester hours in 7000 or 8000 level courses, with a minimum of 18 semester hours at the 8000 level
  5. A passing grade on a comprehensive examination
  6. Completion of an acceptable dissertation
  7. Each student must obtain approval of a program of study prior to the end of the first full year of study in the program
  8. Satisfactory completion of concentration requirements which are described below:

Mathematics Concentration

A. The Qualifying Exam in Mathematics may serve both as a Master's Exam and a Ph.D. Qualifier. The qualifying exam is offered twice a year and consists of three three-hour topical examinations. Two of these exams are in Analysis and Algebra. The third is divided between Topology and one other area chosen from a list of options. The scope of each topical exam is indicated by appropriate course numbers and by a body of material found in a standard textbook. The three parts will be administered within a two week period. The table of periodically offered courses should be used to help construct a program of study to prepare for this exam. The following rules apply to the mathematics Ph.D. qualifying exam.

  1. All three parts of the exam must be passed within one 13-month period.
  2. All three parts of the exam must be taken the first time the student sits for the exam.
  3. If the students fails one of three parts of the exam, he/she may retake that part once, provided that the second attempt falls within the 13-month period during which the student must pass all exams. Students are permitted to retake failed parts of the exam individually, if they choose to do so. Permission to retake a part of the exam after failing it twice may only be granted by the graduate programs committee. Such permission is only rarely given.
  4. New students admitted to the mathematics Ph.D. program must begin taking the exam within thirteen months of the start of their enrollment in the program.

Ph.D. Qualifying Exam in Mathematics: Core Areas (mandatory)

Ph.D. Qualifying Exam in Mathematics: Optional Area

The optional area may be chosen from, but not limited to, the following list of topics: Complex Analysis (MATH 7361), Differential Equations (MATH 7393 or 7395), Discrete Mathematics (MATH 7235 or 7236), Numerical Analysis (MATH 7721), and Optimization (Math 7371 or 7391).

B. The Comprehensive Examination is an oral exam required of all Ph.D. students. Students are recommended to take this exam within eighteen months of passing the Qualifying Exam. The exam begins with a presentation by the student on a topic within his or her specialty. Following that, the floor is open to the examining committee to ask questions about the topic and any other areas they deem relevant. The topic is selected by the student and approved by the student's advisor and by a committee of graduate faculty members, selected by the student. It is not required to retake the Comprehensive Exam should the area in which the student will write the dissertation change.

D. Dissertation. An acceptable dissertation consists of original work in mathematics which makes a significant contribution to a mathematical sub-discipline (such as Functional Analysis, Dynamical Systems) and is suitable for publication in a journal recognized for high standards (such as Transactions of the America Mathematical Society).

The Ph.D. concentration in mathematics is designed so that students may pursue a traditional degree or may choose a more broadly based program aimed toward a college teaching career. Students may contact the department for more detailed information.

Applied Statistics Concentration

1. Students must complete the following courses: MATH 7-8642, 7-8651, 7-8670, 7-8692, 7-8695, and two courses from MATH 7-8759, 7-8763, 7-8764, and 7-8765. In addition, students are required to give at least two formal presentations through taking MATH 7-8691. Note: 7-8695: Bootstrap and other resampling methods; 7-8659: Categorical data analysis.

2. Presentation of an acceptable dissertation proposal within six months after passing the comprehensive examination.

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