applied math phd qualifying exams

PhD Qualifying Exams

The requirements for the PhD program in Mathematics have changed for students who enter the program starting in Autumn 2023 and later. 

Requirements for the Qualifying Exams

Students who entered the program prior to autumn 2023.

To qualify for the Ph.D. in Mathematics, students must pass two examinations: one in algebra and one in real analysis. 

Students who entered the program in Autumn 2023 or later

To qualify for the Ph.D. in Mathematics, students must choose and pass examinations in two of the following four areas: 

• real analysis
• geometry and topology
• applied mathematics

The exams each consist of two parts. Students are given three hours for each part.

Topics Covered on the Exams:

• Algebra Syllabus
• Real Analysis Syllabus
• Geometry and Topology Syllabus
• Applied Mathematics Syllabus

Check out some Past and Practice Qualifying Exams to assist your studying.

Because some students have already taken graduate courses as undergraduates, incoming graduate students are allowed to take either or both of the exams in the autumn. If they pass either or both of the exams, they thereby fulfill the requirement in those subjects. However, they are in no way penalized for failing either of the exams.

Students must pass both qualifying exams by the autumn of their second year. Ordinarily first-year students take courses in algebra and real analysis throughout the year to prepare them for the exams. The exams are then taken at the beginning of Spring Quarter. A student who does not pass one or more of the exams at that time is given a second chance in Autumn. 

Students who started in Autumn 2023 and later

Students must choose and pass two out of the four qualifying exams by the autumn of their second year. Students take courses in algebra, real analysis, geometry and topology, and applied math in the autumn and winter quarters of their first year to prepare them for the exams. The exams are taken during the first week of Spring Quarter. A student who does not pass one or more of the exams at that time is given a second chance in Autumn. 

Exam Schedule

Unless otherwise noted, the exams will be held each year according to the following schedule:

Autumn Quarter:  The exams are held during the week prior to the first week of the quarter. Spring Quarter:  The exams are held during the first week of the quarter.

The exams are held over two three-hour blocks. The morning block is 9:30am-12:30pm and the afternoon block is 2:00-5:00pm.

For the start date of the current or future years’ quarters please see the  Academic Calendar

Upcoming Exam Dates

Spring 2024.

The exams will be held on the following dates:

Monday, April 1st

Analysis Exam, Room 384H

Wednesday, April 3rd

Algebra Exam, Room 384I

Thursday, April 4th 

Geometry & Topology Exam, Room 384I

Friday, April 5th

Applied Math Exam, Room 384I

Qualifying Exams

The Qualifying Examination is an oral exam given by a committee of three faculty members. Each student chooses three qualifying exam topics and discusses the content with suitable examiners. The topics must be in distinct, relatively broad areas of mathematics. The major topic is usually chosen in consultation with the prospective thesis advisor. After passing the qualifying exam, students must designate a thesis advisor, most often the examiner in the major topic.

Each minor topic should correspond to a single-semester graduate subject or equivalent content. The major topic should go into significantly greater depth. If either minor topic is related to the major topic, it should be covered deeply enough to contain sufficient disjoint material and the other minor topic should be largely unrelated.

Students have two chances to pass. The exam can be taken as soon as the student feels ready; however the first attempt should be scheduled before the start of the fourth semester. The exam must be completed by the last day of the fourth semester.

In order for a student to pass the qualifying exam, at least one faculty member must be willing to serve as thesis advisor. Therefore students are strongly encouraged to talk to a potential advisor when assembling their qualifying exam committee to confirm in advance that there is a faculty member willing to serve as advisor if the student passes.

Instructions

At least one month prior to the examination, students must obtain approval of the examination topics and the composition of the examining committee as follows.

Students must submit by e-mail to Davesh Maulik (for Pure Mathematics) or to Jon Kelner (for Applied Mathematics), with a copy to the examiners:

• Approximate Date of Exam
• Major Topic; Examiner; Description by course number(s) and/or subject matter from text or readings (only required for the major topic if the Examiner is outside the department)
• Minor Topic 1; Examiner; Description by course number(s) and/or subject matter from text or readings
• Minor Topic 2; Examiner; Description by course number(s) and/or subject matter from text or readings

Scheduling the Qualifying Exam

Having obtained approval by return e-mail, students should file the following forms, complete with all signatures, to Math Academic Services .

• Application for Qualifying Examination
• Proposal for Qualifying Examination Coverage

The examination usually takes place in the office of an examiner. Students are responsible for making all the scheduling arrangements.

Reporting the Results of the Qualifying Exam

Students should bring the Report on Qualifying Examination Form to the quals. This form is to be signed by the three examiners at the completion of the quals and then returned to the Math Academic Services office.

Applied Mathematics Qualifying Exam Requirements

Each Applied Math PhD Student will pass three qualifying requirements as proposed in his/her Study Advisory Plan and approved by the AMSC Graduate Committee.

• The first must be a Mathematics Department Written Qualifying Exam in either Algebra, Analysis, Probability, Applied Statistics, or Statistics mathematics area . To prepare, see the scanned copies of old exams .
• If you plan to take courses to satisfy qualifying requirements, these courses must be listed on your Study Advisory Plan and approved by the Graduate Committee.
• In some instances, some participating departments that do not give written exams will give oral examinations (with at least two examiners).
• All exams and courses will be evaluated at the doctorate or master's level.
• If coursework is used to satisfy a qualifying exam requirement, the student must submit the Course Evaluation Form .
• a second qualifying requirement in his/her application area , whatever form that takes;
• a second Mathematics Department Written Qualifying Exam in either Algebra, Analysis, Probability, Applied Statistics, or Statistics;
• MATH 600-601
• MATH 630-631
• MATH 730-740
• AMSC 660-661
• AMSC 666-714
• AMSC 666-715
• AMSC 673-674
• STAT 600-601
• STAT 700-701

and the third course can be drawn from the above list or from:

• If coursework is used to satisfy a qualifying exam requirement, the student must submit the  Course Evaluation Form .

* Students cannot use both the written exam and their respective preparation course(s) as 2 separate qualifying requirements. Please refer to the table below:  

- For example, students cannot use both the Analysis Written Exam and a course work sequence qual that includes MATH630 on their study plan. 

AM/SC Qualifying Exam Substitution

Students who are still deciding between the AM and SC tracks have the option of taking AMSC 660-661 and CMSC616. Successful completion of this sequence (GPA of 3.5 or better for PhD students or a 3.0 GPA or better for MS students) satisfies one qualifying exam requirement for the AM track, or helps fulfill the preliminary coursework requirements for the SC track.

Department of Mathematics

Qualifying exams in applied mathematics, applied mathematics exam.

• Basic dynamical systems concepts: definition of a dynamical system (continuous and discrete), equilibrium states, ω,α-limit sets, invariant sets, stability of equilibrium states and periodic solutions, population dynamics models; linear systems, stable, unstable, center spaces; non-linear systems and existence/uniqueness of solutions; linearization, topological equivalence/conjugacy, center manifold theory (applications: species competition models, SIR models, predator-prey models); some global nonlinear techniques (nullclines, Lyapunov function, applications: nonlinear pendulum, SIR models); limit cycles. Poincaré–Bendixson theory in $\mathbb R^2$ (applications: Van der Pol oscillator, predator-prey models with limit cycle, oscillating chemical reactions); stability of periodic solutions, Poincaré map.
• Bifurcation theory: family of systems, structural stability, definition of a bifurcation; Peixoto’s theorem, Morse–Smale systems; examples of one-parameter bifurcations of equilibrium states (application: laser phenomenon); genericity, transverse intersections, versal unfoldings (deformations) and codimension of a bifurcation (application: spruce budworm model (codimension-2 bifurcation)); the Hopf bifurcation (applications: oscillating chemical reactions, FitzHugh–Nagumo model); center manifold theory (for bifurcations); global bifurcations (homoclinic, heteroclinic).
• Introduction to chaos: examples of chaotic behavior (discrete logistic model, Duffing oscillator, Lorenz system, Henon map, Horseshoe map, symbolic dynamics), sensitivity to initial condition; more on logistic model (period doubling, Feigenbaum constant, dense periodic orbits and Sharkovskii’s theorem); strange attractors; Lyapunov exponents.
• Elements of partial differential equations: first order linear and quasilinear PDEs and the method of characteristics, second order linear PDEs and their classification, the Sturm–Liouville problem, Green’s functions and fundamental solutions, the Fourier transform, equilibrium solutions of time-dependent PDEs.
• Elements of applied linear algebra: eigenvalues, Rayleigh quotients, the Jordan normal form, singular value decomposition, Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization, convergence of finite difference schemes.
• Perko, Differential equations and dynamical systems
• Strogatz, Nonlinear dynamics and chaos: with applications to physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering
• Hirsch, Smale, and Devaney, Differential equations, dynamical systems, and an introduction to chaos
• Friedberg, Insel, Linear algebra
• Roman, Advanced Linear algebra
• Bleeker, Csordas, Basic partial differential equations
• Evans, Partial differential equations

Sample Exams

• Sample Exam 1
• Sample Exam 2
• Sample Exam 3
• Sample Exam 4

Previous Exams

• January 2023
• August 2022
• January 2022
• August 2021
• August 2020
• January 2020
• January 2019
• Spring 2018

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

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Ggam qualifying exam guidelines.

As expressed by the Dean of Graduate Studies, the Doctoral Qualifying Examination is not only a major benchmark in the student's career, but a point at which the faculty must reflect with wisdom on the student's general qualifications for a respected position as an educator or leader as well as the student's preparation in a special area of study. The intended outcome of this examination is a unanimous decision by the committee based on:

• Relevant portions of the student's previous academic record;
• Performance on specific parts of the examination; and
• Overall evaluation of the student's performance and potential for scholarly research as indicated during the examination.

GGAM Guidelines for the Student

Prior to the Qualifying Exam, the student must identify a Ph.D. thesis advisor selected from among GGAM faculty and constitute a Qualifying Exam committee with 5 members. At least one member of the exam committee must be from outside GGAM, and at least three members should be GGAM faculty. The student’s Ph.D. advisor can be a member of the committee.

Approximately five to six weeks before the Qualifying Exam, the student must submit the Qualifying Exam application to the office of Graduate Studies through the Graduate Coordinator.

Four weeks before the exam, the student must submit a carefully written Qualifying Exam proposal to the GGAM chair. The proposal will contain three parts: a research plan (A), a syllabus (B), and a bibliography (C)

(A) The research plan is a description of the research projects that will constitute the student's Ph.D. thesis. The research plan may not exceed 10 pages

A typical format of this part of the proposal includes:

• An Introduction: This section provides background, motivation, and context regarding the research projects.
• Aims of the proposed work: This section includes key goals, preliminary results, and future work.
• Methodology: This section presents the tools, ideas, or computations that are or will be part of the work.

(B) The second part of the proposal is a syllabus of relevant mathematical topics that were selected to aid on the research plan. It is understood that there is a connection between the syllabus topics proposed and the research plan. Typically the syllabus will include four or five topics with specific references to books, papers, or courses. This part of the proposal uses a maximum of 2 pages. The student will be asked questions on these topics which are meant to provide tools and skills useful to the research plan.

The student will describe how each topic of the syllabus connects to the proposed research (e.g., link to the methods used in the projects, include citations to books and papers or courses). It is important that the coursework described in the syllabus is actually tested in the exam; see the rationale below.

(C) The bibliography collects information about relevant books, papers, and software that will be used in the research project or the syllabus. There is no limit in the number of pages.

The proposal must be developed in close consultation with the student’s Qualifying Exam committee. The Ph.D. advisor must have approved the document before submission. The GGAM chair and GGAM Executive Committee will review the proposal and make suggestions and recommendations. The GGAM Executive Committee will approve once the proposal satisfies breadth and depth standards. We stress that the proposal must be submitted at least a month prior to the exam.

Sample QE Proposal available for reference, HERE .

GGAM Guidelines for Qualifying Exam Committees

As part of the qualifying exam proposal, students prepare a detailed syllabus of coursework material. The GGAM Executive Committee reviews the proposal and approves it if it satisfies a breadth and depth requirement. It is very important that the coursework is actually tested in the exam; see the rationale below.

The following is a recommended breakdown of a qualifying exam; the actual time for each portion of the exam is left to the discretion of the chair.

• 90 minutes research talk and discussion regarding research
• 10 minutes break
• 60 minutes questions on the syllabus
• 10 minutes deliberation

The candidate should aim for a 40 minutes research presentation, which leaves up to 50 minutes for discussion. Often it is the case that questions are asked during the research presentation. The chair should attempt to keep track of the time spent during the research talk to ensure that enough time for discussion is spent during the 90 minutes allocated.

It is very important that a thorough examination of coursework is included in the exam, no matter how strong or weak a candidate’s performance in the research component. Many of our students study very hard for the qualifying exam and may be disappointed if no (or too few or too shallow) coursework questions are asked, while other students may be motivated by a consistently thorough coursework examination to study harder for the qualifying exam. Studying for the qualifying exam will counter the oft-observed phenomenon that the material of a course is forgotten quickly after the finals have been written. Also, knowing the tools and methods of a broader field of study reduces the risk of getting stuck in a particular research direction.

A break between the research and coursework portions of the examination is strongly suggested. It serves as an opportunity for the candidates to refresh themselves, and then focus on the coursework examination. At the same time, it serves as a reminder to the committee that satisfactory performance in the research and coursework portions are two separate necessary conditions for passing the exam.

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Qualifying Exams

New style qualifying examination materials (2014-present):.

Analysis Qualifying Exam Syllabus   (updated 2023)

Algebra Qualifying Exam Syllabus  (updated 2020)

Below are packets containing samples of the Old-Style Qualifying exams (Pre-2014):

Analysis Qualifying Exams Packet  

Algebra Qualifying Exams Packet  

[pdf] - Some links on this page are to .pdf files. If you need these files in a more accessible format, please email  [email protected] . PDF files require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader software to open them. If you do not have Reader, you may use the following link to Adobe to download it for free at:  Adobe Acrobat Reader .

Qualifying Exams

August 2024 schedule.

Time: 10 AM – 4 PM CT (Madison time) Location: B130 VV Mode: in person

Registration: https://forms.gle/ae5SNkQ5QLsNJ5yQ6 by Friday, July 5, 2024.   Submit one form for each exam you wish to take. If you sign up for an exam and you decide not to take it, inform the PhD Program Manager .

Note: No electronic devices of any kind allowed. Bring with you any food/beverages that you’d like to have during the exam, as you will not be allowed to leave the exam room to get them.

Next exams: January 14-17, 2025

• Guide to Exam Topics
• Study Strategies
• Search our Online Quals repository  for historical quals for review. For historical Logic quals go here .
• Summer Enhancement Program (SEP) Schedule
• Rules & Regulations

PhD Program

• PhD Program More
• PhD Requirements More
• Graduate Student Handbook More
• Academic Exception Policy More
• Qualifying Exams More
• Teaching Assistantship More
• Summer Information More
• Incoming Students More

Dates & Deadlines

• Academic Calendar More
• Graduate School Deadlines More
• Registrar Deadlines More

Quick links

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Ph.D. Program

Introduction.

These guidelines are intended to help familiarize graduate students with the policies governing the graduate program leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Applied Mathematics. This material supplements the graduate school requirements found on the  Graduate Student Resources  page and the  Doctoral Degree Policies  of the graduate school. Students are expected to be familiar with these procedures and regulations.

The Doctor of Philosophy program

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Applied Mathematics is primarily a research degree, and is not conferred as a result of course work. The granting of the degree is based on proficiency in Applied Mathematics, and the ability to carry out an independent investigation as demonstrated by the completion of a doctoral dissertation. This dissertation must exhibit original mathematical contributions that are relevant to a significant area of application.

Course requirements for the Ph.D. program

• AMATH 561, 562, 563
• AMATH 567, 568, 569
• AMATH 584, 585, 586
• AMATH 600: two, 2-credit readings, each with a different faculty member, to be completed prior to the start of the student's second year.
• Students must take a minimum of 15 numerically graded courses. At most two of these can be at the 400 level or be cross listed with courses at the 400 level. Graduate level courses previously taken at UW (e.g., during a Master's program) count toward this requirement. Graduate level courses taken outside of UW may count toward the requirement for 15 numerically graded courses with the approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator. The entire course of study of a student and all exceptions to this list must be approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator and the student’s advisor or faculty mentors.

For students who entered the doctoral program autumn 2017 or autumn 2018, please see these degree requirements. For students who entered the doctoral program prior to autumn 2017, please see these degree requirements.  

Faculty mentoring

Upon arrival, incoming students will be assigned two faculty mentors. Until a student settles on an advisor, the faculty mentors aid the student in selecting courses, and they each guide the student through a 2-credit independent reading course on material related to the student’s research interest. The faculty mentors are not necessarily faculty in the Department of Applied Mathematics.

Faculty advisor

By the end of a student’s first summer quarter, an advisor must be determined.  T he advisor provides guidance in designing a course of study appropriate for the student’s research interests, and in formulating a dissertation topic.

A full Supervisory Committee should be formed four months prior to the student’s General Exam. The full Supervisory Committee should have a minimum of three regular members plus the Graduate School Representative , and will consist of at least two faculty members from Applied Mathematics, one of whom is to be the Chair of the Committee. If the proposed dissertation advisor is a member of the Applied Mathematics faculty, then the advisor will be the Chair. The dissertation advisor may be from another department,  or may have an  affiliate  (assistant, associate, full) professor appointment with the Applied Mathematics department  and is then also a member of the Supervisory Committee.

The Dissertation Reading Committee , formed after the General Exam,  is a subset of  at least   three members from the Supervisory Committee   who are appointed to read and approve the dissertation.  Two members of the Dissertation Reading Committee must be from the Applied Mathematics faculty. At least one of the committee members must be a member of the core  Applied Mathematics faculty. It is required that this member is present for both the general and final examination, and is included on the reading committee.

While the principal source of guidance during the process of choosing specialization areas and a research topic is the thesis advisor, it is strongly advised that the student maintain contact with all members of the Supervisory Committee. It is suggested that the student meet with the Supervisory Committee at least once a year to discuss their progress until the doctoral thesis is completed.

Examination requirements for the Ph.D. program

Students in the Ph.D. program must pass the following exams:

• The  qualifying exam
• The  general exam
• The  final exam  (defense)

Satisfactory performance and progress

At all times, students need to make satisfactory progress towards finishing their degree. Satisfactory progress in course work is based on grades. Students are expected to maintain a grade point average of 3.4/4.0 or better. Satisfactory progress on the examination requirements consists of passing the different exams in a timely manner. Departmental funding is contingent on satisfactory progress.   The Graduate School rules regarding satisfactory progress are detailed in Policy 3.7: Academic Performance and Progress .   The Department of Applied Mathematics follows these recommended guidelines of the Graduate School including an initial warning, followed by a maximum of three quarters of probation and one quarter of final probation, then ultimately being dropped from the program.    We encourage all students to explore and utilize the many available  resources  across campus.

Expected academic workload

A first-year, full-time student is expected to register for a full course load, at least three numerically graded courses, typically totaling 12-18 credits. All other students are expected to consult with their advisor and register for at least 10-18 credits per quarter.  Students who do not intend to register for a quarter must seek approved  academic leave  in order to maintain a student status.   Students who do not maintain active student status through course registration or an approved leave request need to request reinstatement to rejoin the program. Reinstatement is at the discretion of the department. Students approved for reinstatement are required to follow degree requirements active at time of reinstatement. 

Annual Progress Report

Students are required to submit an Annual Progress Report to the Graduate Program Coordinator by the second week of Spring Quarter each year. The annual progress report should contain the professional information related to the student’s progress since the previous annual report. It should contain information on courses taken, presentations given, publications, thesis progress, etc., and should be discussed with the student's advisor prior to submission. Students should regard the Annual Progress Report as an opportunity to self-evaluate their progress towards completing the PhD. The content of the Annual Progress Report is used to ensure the student is making satisfactory progress towards the PhD degree.

Financial assistance

Financial support for Doctoral studies is limited to five years after admission to the Ph.D. program in the Department of Applied Mathematics. Support for an additional period may be granted upon approval of a petition, endorsed by the student’s thesis supervisor, to the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Master of Science program

Students in the Ph.D. program obtain an M.Sc. Degree while working towards their Ph.D. degree by satisfying the  requirements for the M.Sc. degree.  

Additional Ph.D. Degree Options and Certificates

Students in the Applied Mathematics Ph.D. program are eligible to pursue additional degree options or certificates, such as the  Advanced Data Science Option  or the  Computational Molecular Biology Certificate .  Students must be admitted and matriculated to the PhD program prior to applying for these options. Option or certificate requirements are in addition to the Applied Mathematics degree requirements. Successful completion of the requirements for the option or the certificate leads to official recognition of this fact on the UW transcript.

Career resources, as well as a look at student pathways after graduation, may be found   here.

FAQs |  Contact the Graduate Program  |  Apply Now

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The Ph.D. degree program in Applied Mathematics is designed to enable its students to master a significant body of mathematics, including a specialty in applied mathematics; to relate this knowledge to a coherent area of science or engineering; and to carry on fundamental research in applied mathematics at a nationally competitive level. Recipients of this degree will, according to their abilities and choice of sub-specialty, be able to work effectively in a research and development environment involving mathematical or statistical analysis and modeling in business, government or industry; to teach mathematics at the college or university level; or to carry on fundamental research in their area of specialty.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School for admission to doctoral study, applicants must have completed at least 27 credit hours of courses in the mathematical sciences at the undergraduate level, as approved by the department Graduate Committee, with grades of a C or above. Admission requires that the candidate be able to take MATH 8143    or be able to take MATH 5143    and have other factors in their record that indicate strong potential to complete the program. For prospective students who have completed work in mathematics beyond the bachelor’s degree, performance on that work will be considered in admission decisions.

Applicants are required to take the GRE General Test or the GMAT and have their test scores sent directly from the testing agency to the Office of Graduate Admissions at UNC Charlotte.  However, there are two exceptions: 

• A student who has already earned a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. from a U.S. institution will not be required to take a standardized test.
• A student who has already earned a Master’s degree from a U.S. institution will not be required to take a standardized test IF the student can demonstrate that they have completed the test in the past.  In such cases, the program will accept the official student’s copy of the official test scores (note that a photocopy is not acceptable) or an official university transcript on which the scores are printed or a letter on official university letterhead attesting to the score.

Students are admitted to the program by the Graduate School, based on the recommendation of the department Graduate Committee or its designate, the Graduate Program Director. Recommendations are based on the Committee’s judgment of the candidate’s ability to complete the program, as supported by the application materials. The department may waive certain requirements if it judges the candidate to be nonetheless capable of completing the program. If there are more candidates than can be accommodated, candidates are admitted in order of perceived mathematical ability, promise of success, and suitability to the program.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete an approved program of study of at least 54 credit hours, including the following:

Required Courses

• MATH 8143 - Real Analysis I (3)
• MATH 8144 - Real Analysis II (3)
• MATH 8120 - Probability Theory I (3) (if the student has a statistics focus)
• MATH 8994 - Doctoral Research and Reading (0 to 9) (at least 18 research credit hours)

Minor Courses

The minor is interdisciplinary and may be satisfied by 9 credit hours of graduate coursework outside the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, by 6 credit hours of MATH 8892    or STAT 8892    for a directed project in an area of application, or by a combination of external coursework and directed project in an area of application totaling 9 credit hours.  It is expected that interdisciplinary minor courses shall in general be in STEM disciplines, but if there are applications in the student’s dissertation work towards the social sciences, courses in those fields are allowed too.  Examples of interdisciplinary minor courses allowed for several fields include:

• PHYS 5222 - Classical Mechanics II (3)
• PHYS 5232 - Electromagnetic Theory II (3)
• PHYS 5242 - Modern Physics II (3)
• PHYS 5271 - Waves and Optics (3)
• PHYS 6108 - Biophysics (3)
• PHYS 6131 - Classical Electromagnetism I (3)
• PHYS 6140 - Nuclear Physics (3)
• PHYS 6141 - Quantum Theory I (3)
• PHYS 6142 - Quantum Theory II (3)
• PHYS 6181 - Advanced Solid State Physics (3)
• PHYS 6204 - Methods of Molecular Modeling and Simulation in Physics (3)
• PHYS 6210 - Theoretical Physics (3)
• PHYS 6211 - Introduction to Modern Optics (3)
• PHYS 6221 - Optical Communications I (3)
• PHYS 6251 - Statistical Physics (3)
• OPTI 8101 - Mathematical Methods of Optical Science and Engineering (3)
• OPTI 8102 - Principles of Geometrical Optics (3)
• OPTI 8104 - Electromagnetic Waves (3)
• OPTI 8105 - Optical Properties of Materials (3)
• OPTI 8211 - Introduction to Modern Optics (3)

Mechanical Engineering

• MEGR 8113 - Dynamics and Thermodynamics of Compressible Flow (3)
• MEGR 8141 - Theory of Elasticity I (3)
• MEGR 8142 - Theory of Elasticity II (3)
• MEGR 8143 - Inelastic Behavior of Materials (3)

Computer Science

• ITCS 8114 - Algorithms and Data Structures (3)
• ITCS 8115 - Advanced Algorithms (3)
• ITCS 8150 - Artificial Intelligence (3)
• ITCS 8153 - Neural Networks (3)
• ITCS 8155 - Knowledge-Based Systems (3)
• ITCS 8156 - Machine Learning (3)
• ITCS 8165 - Coding and Information Theory (3)

Finance and Economics

Any FINN or ECON courses listed under the M.S. in Mathematical Finance    program. Examples include:

• FINN 6203 - Financial Economic Theory (3)
• FINN 6210 - Financial Elements of Derivatives (3)
• FINN 6211 - Fixed Income Securities and Credit Risk (3)
• ECON 6112 - Graduate Econometrics (3)
• ECON 6113 - Cross-Section and Time-Series Econometrics (3)
• ECON 6206 - Game Theory and Experiments (3)
• ECON 6218 - Advanced Business and Economic Forecasting (3)
• ECON 6219 - Financial Econometrics (3)

Elective Courses

Select elective courses from the following approved list:

• MATH 5128 - Applied Probability I (3)
• MATH 5129 - Applied Probability II (3)
• MATH 5143 - Analysis I (3)
• MATH 5144 - Analysis II (3)
• MATH 5161 - Number Theory (3)
• MATH 5163 - Modern Algebra (3)
• MATH 5164 - Abstract Linear Algebra (3)
• MATH 5165 - Numerical Linear Algebra (3)
• MATH 5172 - The Finite Element Method (3)
• MATH 5173 - Ordinary Differential Equations (3)
• MATH 5174 - Partial Differential Equations (3)
• MATH 5176 - Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations (3)
• MATH 5181 - Introduction to Topology (3)
• MATH 6201 - Statistical Techniques in Finance (3)
• MATH 6202 - Derivatives II: Partial Differential Equations for Finance (3)
• MATH 6203 - Stochastic Calculus for Finance I (3)
• MATH 6204 - Computational Methods for Asset Pricing (3)
• MATH 6205 - Financial Computing (3)
• MATH 6206 - Stochastic Calculus for Finance II (3)
• Any MATH 8000 course
• STAT 5123 - Applied Statistics I (3)
• STAT 5124 - Applied Statistics II (3)
• STAT 5126 - Theory of Statistics I (3)
• STAT 5127 - Theory of Statistics II (3)
• STAT 6113 - Cross-Section and Time-Series Econometrics (3)
• STAT 6115 - Statistical Learning with Big Data (3)
• STAT 8027 - Topics in Statistics (3)
• STAT 8122 - Advanced Statistics I (3)
• STAT 8123 - Advanced Statistics II (3)
• STAT 8127 - Linear Statistical Models (3)
• STAT 8133 - Multivariate Analysis (3)
• STAT 8135 - Statistical Computation (3)
• STAT 8137 - Survival Analysis (3)
• STAT 8139 - Time Series Analysis (3)
• STAT 8490 - Industrial Internship (0 to 6)
• STAT 8891 - Independent Study in Statistics (1 to 3)

Degree Total = 54 Credit Hours

Assistantships.

A number of graduate assistantships are available each year (with nationally-competitive stipends) for qualified applicants.  A limited number of fellowship awards can be applied to supplement these stipends or provide stand-alone stipends for up to $25,000 for especially qualified students.

Dissertation

The student must complete and defend a dissertation based on a research program approved by the student’s dissertation advisor which results in a high quality, original and substantial piece of research. The student must orally present and successfully defend the dissertation before the student’s doctoral dissertation committee in a defense that is open to the public. A copy of the dissertation must be made available to the graduate faculty of the department at least two weeks prior to the public defense. The dissertation is graded on a pass/unsatisfactory basis by the dissertation committee and must be approved by the Department Graduate Program Director and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Dissertation Committee

Each student has a dissertation committee appointed by the department Graduate Committee in consultation with the student and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.  It includes the prospective dissertation advisor, as well as a department co-advisor, if the dissertation advisor is not a member of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.  The dissertation committee should be appointed as soon as is feasible, usually within a year after passing the Qualifying Examination.  Once formed, it has the responsibility of constructing and approving the program of study which includes the minor.  Prior to the appointment of the dissertation committee the student is advised by a graduate faculty member appointed by the department Graduate Committee.

Topic Approval Defense and Admission to Candidacy

After a student completes the qualifying examination and advanced coursework deemed necessary for the student’s research as approved by the student’s doctoral dissertation committee, the student, in consultation with the student’s dissertation advisor, may propose a dissertation topic. The dissertation topic proposal must be articulated and defended at a meeting of the student’s dissertation committee. A written dissertation proposal must be submitted to the dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the scheduled defense. The student is expected during the course of the topic defense to outline and demonstrate sufficient proficiency with the advanced knowledge and techniques to be used in the conduct of the research. The topic approval defense and the committee’s deliberations in this regard are to be conducted according to the pertinent regulations of the Graduate School. A doctoral student advances to candidacy after the student’s dissertation committee and the Dean of the Graduate School have approved the dissertation topic proposal.

Grade Requirements

Students are expected to achieve As or Bs in all courses included in the program of study and must have at least a 3.0 GPA to graduate. The dissertation is graded on a pass/unsatisfactory basis and, therefore, is not be included in the cumulative average. An accumulation of more than two marginal (C) grades will result in suspension of the student’s enrollment in the program. If students make a grade of U on any course, enrollment will be suspended and students cannot take further graduate work without being readmitted to the program. Readmission to the program requires approval of the Dean of the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the department Graduate Committee.

Qualifying Examination

After being admitted to the Ph.D. program, students are expected to take the qualifying examination within three semesters. This time limit may be extended for up to two additional semesters in certain cases, depending on the background of the student and with program approval. The qualifying examination consists of two parts.  The first part is a written examination based on Real Analysis I and II ( MATH 8143    and MATH 8144   ) or Probability Theory I and Real Analysis I ( MATH 8120    and MATH 8143   ), the latter intended for a student with a statistics focus. The second part is a written examination based on two other courses chosen by the student to be specifically related to the student’s intended specialty and approved by the department Graduate Committee. Students may be allowed to retake a portion of the qualifying examination a second time if they do not pass that portion on the first attempt within the guidelines of the Graduate School regulations pertaining to the qualifying examination and as overseen by the department Graduate Committee. Students who do not complete the qualifying examination as per the regulations of the Graduate School are terminated from the Ph.D. program.

Residency Requirement

Full-time Ph.D. students must enroll for one continuous full-time year (i.e., two consecutive semesters of at least nine graduate credit hours in each semester) following admission to the program.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

Students must achieve admission to candidacy within six years after admission to the program and complete all requirements within six years after admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. All requirements for the degree must be completed within nine years after first registration as a doctoral student.

Transfer Credit

Only courses with grades of A or B may be accepted for transfer credit. Transfer credit must be recommended by the department Graduate Committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The amount of transfer credit cannot exceed the limit set by the Graduate School.

The first milestone in the Mathematics PhD program are the qualifying exams. Exams are offered in Fall (before the academic year begins) and in Spring. PhD students must pass at least one exam before the start of their 4th quarter. All exams must be completed before the start of the student's 7th quarter. Failure to meet these deadlines is cause for dismissal from the program. Carefully read the Guidelines for Graduate Qualifying Exams document.

Exam requirements are different depending on which program a student is in. Please refer to the UCSD catalog for specific requirements:  https://www.ucsd.edu/catalog/curric/MATH-gr.html .

During any examination period the student may take as many exams as he or she chooses. The qualifying exams are written and graded by the faculty who teach the courses. The scores are brought before the Qualifying Exam Appeals Committee (QEAC) and the grades are discussed. The final decision as to whether the student has failed or passed (and at what level) is made by QEAC. This decision is based upon exam performance, and performance in exam cognate coursework, though the QEAC is free to consider additional circumstances in rendering its decision. After the QEAC meeting, the PhD staff advisor will inform students when/how they can find out their results.

Students can request to see their exams after grading in order to find out what they did well/poorly on. Students who wish to see their exam for purpose of contesting the grading should be advised that there will be a very strong burden of proof needed to sustain a grade appeal on a graduate exam because of the nature of the exam writing and grading process. Such an appeal is most likely not going change the exam result.

Qualifying Exam Requirements, Old and New

The Department of Mathematics has undertaken a reform of our Qualifying Exams. This brief note explains the old/current system, the new system, and how the changes are being phased in. These requirements apply to PhD students in Mathematics ; Statistics and CSME PhD students have separate requirements administered by the faculty.

Qualifying Exam Courses and Areas

There are 7 qualifying exams administered each Spring and Fall. Each corresponds to a three-quarter graduate course. They are organized into three Areas.

Old/Current Requirements

For PhD students who entered our program in Fall 2023 or earlier, the following are the current requirements to complete the qualifying exams.

• Each exam is assigned one of four grades: PhD Pass, Provisional PhD Pass (also known as PhD- Pass), Masters Pass, and Fail. The grade cutoffs are determined by the instructors who create/grade the exams; those cutoffs are not released to students.
• At least one exam must have a PhD Pass.
• At least one additional exam must have a Provisional PhD Pass or better.
• At least one additional exam must have a Masters Pass or better.
• Students must pass at least one exam from Area 1 , and at least one exam from Area 2 .
• Students must have two exams, each with a Provisional PhD Pass or better, from two different Areas .
• Students must pass at least one exam with a Provisional PhD Pass or better before the start of their 4th quarter .
• Students must complete all the qualifying exams before the start of their 7th quarter

New Requirements

For students who enter our program in Fall 2024 or later, the following are the requirements to complete the qualifying exams.

• PhD Area Pass indicates readiness to begin research in that area. This grade is equivalent to PhD Pass in the current system.
• PhD General Pass indicates sufficient familiarity with the subject to begin research in a different area. This standard is lower than Provisional PhD Pass, and higher than Masters Pass .
• Masters Pass is only relevant for Masters students. A Masters Pass no longer counts towards completion of qualifying exams for PhD students.
• At least one exam must have a PhD Area Pass.
• At least two additional exams must have a PhD General Pass or better.
• Students must complete qualifying exams from at least two different Areas .
• Students must pass at least one exam before the start of their 4th quarter .
• Students must complete all the qualifying exams before the start of their 7th quarter .

Principal Differences

The new system has more flexibility: students no longer have to take quals from both Areas 1 and 2, simply from 2 distinct Areas among 1, 2, and 3. The standards for completion are simplified. Although Masters Pass is no longer a sufficient standard for PhD students, the PhD General Pass standard is lower than the old Provisional PhD Pass standard, and more consistent with the intent of the exams: to prepare students for focused research in one main area.

Phasing In Period

Any current PhD students (who entered in Fall 2023 or earlier) still progressing towards completing the qualifying exams may satisfy either the current or the new requirements . To be precise:

• Each Spring and Fall (in fact starting this past Fall 2023), qual instructors will select cutoffs corresponding to all five possible grades:

PhD Pass = PhD Area Pass > Provisional PhD Pass > PhD General Pass > Masters Pass > Fail

• At each qual session, each PhD student’s file will be evaluated using both the current and the new requirements. It will be judged complete if it satisfies the current requirements or if it satisfies the new requirements.

Caveat : students who entered in Fall 2022 or earlier already have qualifying exams graded only using the old cutoffs. Qualifying exams from Spring 2023 or earlier will not be regraded to compute PhD General Pass cutoffs.

Other Aspects of Qualifying Exam Reforms

In addition to the logistical changes described above:

• Faculty will be undertaking the creation of standardized syllabi for all seven qualifying exams, to be available to PhD students upon entry. This is a process that will take the faculty significant time and energy to complete, and is planned to be available starting in Fall 2024 .
• In the meantime, qualifying exam course instructors will give detailed syllabi in each course (as always, per Academic Senate regulations), and content cutoffs for the exams will be communicated to students by the Graduate Advisor in advance of the qualifying exams. The same content cutoffs will apply to both Spring and Fall qualifying exams, as has been standard.
• There will be closer coordination of mentoring efforts by course advisors and the Vice Chair for Graduate Affairs. All advisors for first-year PhD students will formulate plans for course enrollment for the full year, as well as plans for which qualifying exams to take in Spring 2024 . Advisors should meet again with their advisees before the beginnings of Winter and Spring quarters, and possibly make adjustments at those times.
• Preliminary full year course and qualifying exam plans should be submitted by the advisors to the Graduate Vice Chair by the end of Week 1 of the Fall quarter.

Spring 2024 exam schedule

Topology - Monday, May 13  1:00 - 4:00 AP&M 6402

Real Analysis - Tuesday, May 14 1:00 - 4:00 AP&M 6402

Statistics - Wednesday, May 15 1:00 - 4:00 AP&M 6402

Complex Analysis - Monday, May 20 9:00 - 12:00 AP&M 6402

Numerical Analysis - Tuesday, May 21 9:00 - 12:00 AP&M 6218

Algebra - Wednesday, May 22 9:00 - 12:00 AP&M 6402

Applied Algebra - Thursday, May 23 9:00 - 12:00 AP&M 6218

Sample Qualifying Exams

Algebra (Math 200A/B/C): SP04 ,  SP05 ,  SP06 ,  FA06 ,  SP07 ,  FA07 ,  SP08 ,  FA08 ,  SP09 ,  FA09 ,  FA10 ,  SP11 , FA11 ,  SP12 ,  SP13 ,  FA13 ,​​​​ SP14 ,  FA14 ,  SP15 ,  SP16 ,  SP17 ,  FA17 ,  SP18 , FA18 ,  SP19 ,  FA19 ,  SP20,    FA20 ,  SP21 , FA21 , SP22 , FA22 , SP23 , FA23

Applied Algebra (Math 202A/B/C): SP04 ,  FA04 ,  SP05 ,  SP06 ,  SP08 ,  FA06 ,  SP07 ,  FA07 ,  FA11 ,  SP11 ,  SP13 ,  SP15 ,  SP17  ,  FA17 ,  SP18 ,  FA18 ,  SP19 ,  SP20 ,  FA20 ,  SP21 , FA21 , SP22 , FA22 , SP23A , SP23B , FA23A , FA23B , FA23C

Complex Analysis (Math 220A/B/C): SP04 ,  SP05 ,  FA05 ,  SP06 ,  FA06 ,  SP07 ,  FA07 ,  SP08 ,  FA08 ,  SP09 ,  FA09 ,  FA10 ,  FA11 ,  FA15 ,  SP11 ,  SP12 ,  SP13 ,  FA13 ,  SP15 ,  FA16 ,  SP17 ,  FA17 ,  SP18 ,  SP19 ,  FA19 ,  SP20 ,  FA20 ,  SP21 , FA21 , SP22 , FA22 , SP23 , FA23

Numerical Analysis (Math 270A/B/C): SP99 ,  SP00 ,  FA00 ,  SP01 ,  FA01 ,  SP02 ,  FA02 ,  SP03 ,  FA03 ,  SP04 ,  FA04 ,  SP05 ,  FA06 ,  SP06 ,  FA07 ,  SP07 ,  SP08 ,  FA08 ,  SP09 ,  FA09 ,  FA10 ,  SP11 ,  SP13 ,  FA15 ,  SP17 ,  FA17 ,  SP18 ,  SP20 ,  FA20 ,  SP21 , FA21 , SP22 , FA22 , SP23 , FA23

Real Analysis (Math 240A/B/C): SP04 ,  FA04 ,  FA05 ,  SP06 ,  FA06 ,  SP07 ,  FA07 ,  SP08 ,  SP09 ,  FA09 ,  FA10 ,  FA11 ,  SP11 ,  SP13 ,  SP15 ,  FA16 ,  SP16 ,  SP17 ,  FA17 ,  SP18 ,  FA18 ,  SP20 ,  FA20 ,  SP21 , FA21 , SP22 , FA22 , SP23 , FA23

Statistics (Math 281A/B): SP99 ,  FA99 ,  SP00 ,  FA00 ,  SP01 ,  SP02 ,  FA02 ,  SP03 ,  FA03 ,  SP04 ,  SP05 ,  SP06 ,  SP07 ,  SP08 ,  SP09 ,  FA10 ,  SP11 ,  SP13 ,  FA15 ,  SP17 ,  FA17 ,  SP18 ,  SP18 Formulas ,  SP19 Part A ,  SP19 Part BC ,  FA19 (Part A) ,  FA19 (Part BC) ,  SP20 ,  FA20 ,  SP21 , FA21 , SP22 , FA22 , SP23AB , SP23C , FA23AB , FA23C

Topology (Math 290A/B/C): SP00 ,  SP01 ,  SP02 ,  FA02 ,  FA03 ,  SP04 ,  FA04 ,  SP05 ,  SP06 ,  SP07 ,  FA06 ,  FA07 ,  SP08 ,  FA08 ,  FA09 ,  SP10 ,  FA10 ,  SP11 ,  SP13 ,  FA15 ,  SP17 ,  FA17 ,  SP18 ,  FA18 ,  FA19 ,  SP20 ,  FA20 ,  SP21 , FA21 , SP22 , FA22 , SP23 , FA23

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Oral Qualifying Examination in Applied Mathematics

This document sets forth guidelines for the structure of the qualifying examination for students in Applied Mathematics, supplementing the description of the exam in the ​ Policies of the Committee on Higher Degrees ​ .​ It is intended for students preparing for the exam as well as for members of the student’s examination committee.  Students should make themselves familiar with both this document and the school-wide policies  for the exam.

The purpose of the qualifying examination is to:

verify the adequacy of the student's ability and preparation to perform doctoral-level research

assess the student’s ability to synthesize technical knowledge already acquired

determine a student’s depth and breadth of scholarship in a chosen area of application

determine the student’s capacity for originality, synthesis and critical examination; intensity of intellectual curiosity; and clarity of communication.

Preparation

The student, in consultation with his or her advisor, selects an area of application in which the student has done some research and taken appropriate courses and on which the examination is to be based.

No later than two weeks before the examination, the student must deliver to the committee members a short report outlining the research project to be presented, highlighting the background and motivation for the project, the content and results of the project itself, and a brief survey of related work. No specific format is required for the report, although as a guideline it should be between six and ten pages in length. (The page length guideline is not an absolute requirement, but a recommendation.)

The scope of the research project presented during the exam is not meant to represent mature, publishable research. It is acceptable to present negative or partial results. The intention is not to provide evidence that the student has already done PhD level research, but merely that he or she has the capability to do so. The student is expected to have a full knowledge of the technical material and background for the chosen topic. Both students and advisors should keep these scope issues in mind when selecting research projects and subfields.

The exam typically has two components: First, presentation the research project that the student has undertaken within his or her area of application. During the presentation, the committee will ask questions to probe the depth of the student's understanding of the project and related work. If the project has produced preliminary results they can be included in the presentation, however ​conclusive​ ​results are neither expected nor required​. Second, an oral examination of the student's technical expertise and breadth of knowledge within the application area.

As specified in the ​Policies of the CHD​ document, the qualifying examination must be taken by the end of May of the student’s second year of graduate study. No exceptions are made to this deadline without a prior written petition to the CHD.

It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the exam for 2-hour time block when all of the committee members are available. Once a date and time has been agreed upon, the student must contact the Office of Academic Programs by emailing ​[email protected]​ for official scheduling.

Criteria for Passing the Qualifying Examination

The outcome is based on the exam committee's determination of the student's ability and preparation for undertaking research in his or her chosen application area. Aspects include:

Did the student demonstrate adequate technical depth?

Was the quality of the presentation clear, in terms of oral delivery, visual materials, and answers to questions?

Was the motivation for the chosen research project adequate?

Did the student present a detailed and thorough discussion of prior work?

Did the student demonstrate a breadth of knowledge in his or her chosen area, beyond the specific research project presented during the exam?

All committee members must be satisfied that the student has met these criteria in order to pass the exam. Apart from the presentation and discussion during the examination itself, the committee may use other means at its disposal to determine the outcome of the examination, including a review of the student's full record.

As stated in ​Policies of the CHD​, the qualifying committee may declare the student to have passed​ the exam (perhaps with stipulation of further requirements), to have ​failed​ the exam, or may declare the result to be ​inconclusive.​ Typical stipulations include completion of additional coursework, a further oral presentation, or submission of a satisfactory paper for publication by a certain date. In the case of an inconclusive outcome, the committee will specify a future date range (typically between 3 and 6 months, taking term boundaries into account) during which the student may schedule a second examination, the result of which must be conclusive (pass/fail).

[August 2018]

In Applied Mathematics

• First-Year Exploration
• Areas of Application
• AM & Economics
• How to Declare
• Who are my Advisors?
• Secondary Field
• Senior Thesis
• Research for Course Credit (AM 91R & AM 99R)
• AB/SM Information
• Peer Concentration Advisors (PCA) Program
• Student Organizations
• How to Apply
• PhD Timeline
• PhD Model Program (Course Guidelines)
• Oral Qualifying Examination
• Committee Meetings
• Committee on Higher Degrees
• Research Interest Comparison
• Collaborations
• Cross-Harvard Engagement
• Clubs & Organizations
• Centers & Initiatives
• Alumni Stories

Qualifying Examination

The Qualifying Examination (QE or orals) in Mathematics is an oral examination that covers three principal topics, two of which are designated as major topics, and one as a minor topic; the minor topic is examined in less depth than the major topics. The intent of the QE is to ascertain the breadth of the student's comprehension in the selected subject areas, and to determine whether the student has the ability to think incisively and critically about the theoretical and practical aspects of the topics. The exam is administered by a faculty committee of four members and lasts approximately 3 hours. The result of the exam is decided via a committee vote. Possible results include, pass, partial fail, and total fail. Students who receive a partial or total fail may be granted, by the committee, a second opportunity to take the exam on some or all of the topics covered, or may be recommended for dismissal from the Ph.D. program.  

For Current Students

Students in the Mathematics Ph.D. program are required to attempt the QE before the start of their third year in the program (within 24 months of matriculation). The Graduate Office has accommodated requests for short extensions of this time frame so that students may take their orals in the fall term of their third year. Such requests must be made in advance to and approved by the Vice Chair for Graduate Studies. Any further request for an extension must be approved by Committee Omega. Most QE exams take place over the fall or spring terms as faculty are often away from campus during the summer months. ***For international students, it is quite crucial that students pass their orals and advance to candidacy before the start of the fall term of their third year. Advancing to candidacy initiates a 3-year (calendar year) Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) reduction. In most circumstances, the program only agrees to pay NRST for international students for 4 semesters, so to avoid paying NRST on one's own in the third year, students must advance to candidacy and trigger the NRST reduction.***

Steps to Scheduling the Qualifying Examination

• Identify a Faculty Advisor (Dissertation Chair): To arrange the QE, you must first settle on an area of concentration, and identify and secure a prospective Dissertation Chair (Faculty Advisor) — someone who agrees to supervise your dissertation research if the examination is passed.
• Committee Formation:   Two months before the date of the exam, you must constitute the QE committee. Students should seek advice from their prospective dissertation chair (faculty advisor) when putting together their exam committee. All committee members can be faculty in the Mathematics Department and the chair must be in the Mathematics Department. The Math member least likely to serve as the dissertation advisor should be selected as chair of the qualifying exam committee.
• Create an Exam Syllabus: In consultation with the Chair of the QE committee, you will write up an exam syllabus. Sample syllabi and a list of faculty who have served as outside members (formally called Academic Senate Representatives (ASR)) in the past are all available in the QE Resource Folder linked below. The syllabus must indicate the departmental sections for which you will be examined and must be approved by the QE Committee. To properly format your syllabus, please use the template provided in the QE Resource Folder linked below.
• Distribution of Exam Syllabus to Faculty: 6 weeks before the exam, you should send a PDF copy of the QE syllabus to the Graduate Advisor who will distribute it to all faculty in the two (or three) sections in which you will be examined. You should allow two weeks for a response from the faculty. If feedback on the syllabus content is received, the student must then consult the Chair of the QE Committee and their prospective advisor before proceeding with changes to the syllabus.
• Exam Logistics: 4 weeks before the date of the exam, the student should reserve a room using the room reservation calendar or schedule a remote meeting via Zoom. Any department space with chalk or whiteboard (aside from 1015 Evans Hall) should be suitable for the exam. If a room in the department is not available you can ask Main Office staff to reserve a room in Evans from the central Scheduling Office. If you are taking the QE on Zoom, please review these Best Practices for Zoom Qualifying Exams .

Four weeks before the exam you should submit the Graduate Division Application for the QE which is an eForm housed in CalCentral . The eForm is called the “Higher Degrees Committees Form.” Once your QE is formally approved at the Graduate Division level you will see a notice of approval on the My Academics tab of your CalCentral account. Please note that the QE will not be valid until approved at the Graduate Division level. Failure to submit the application four weeks prior to your QE may require you to reschedule the exam!

Two or three days before the exam date, the student should send a reminder to all committee members with all exam details (date, location, time) and a copy of the syllabus.

Other Details

At the conclusion of the exam, the QE Committee submits the exam results to the Graduate Office, which is then submitted to the Graduate Division.

Once you have passed the QE you are required to advance to candidacy by the end of the following semester. Students who fail to advance to candidacy in the stated time will have an enrollment hold placed on their account.

QE Resources

The QE Post-Exam Survey: Students are sent the survey via email by the advising staff shortly after completing any exam attempt. Responses include data on a student's advisor, committee members, topics examined, questions asked, and general exam experience. The response sheet is viewable by all current students here. Students may sort by creating a filtered view in the "Data" drop-down menu. You must be logged into your  @berkeley.edu account to access this resource.

CLICK HERE  TO VIEW RESPONSES  TO THE QE POST-EXAM SURVEY

QE Resource Folder:   The QE Resource Folder has been replaced by the post-exam questionnaire, but will remain active and accessible. The folder includes copies of past student syllabi, a QE syllabus template, a list of faculty from outside of the Math Department who have served as Academic Senate Representatives (Outside Member), and other useful documents.  You must be logged into your @berkeley.edu email account to access this folder. 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS RESOURCE FOLDER

CalCentral eForm Support Resources

Having trouble with the CalCentral Higher Degrees Committee eForm? Use the guides below for assistance.

• Click here for a YouTube tutorial on how to apply for the QE
• Click here for a step-by-step guide for completing the Higher Degrees Committee eForm