Ph.D. program requirements and timelines

Overview

Completion of the Mathematics Ph.D. program involves the following steps:

  1. If entering without a Mathematics M.S. degree, complete UAF's Mathematics M.S. program requirements. The M.S. project should initiate study of the Ph.D. research area.
  2. Successfully complete a Ph.D. examination, as designed by the student's graduate advisory committee.
  3. Develop and present to the advisory committee a detailed proposal for the dissertation research, in order to advance to candidacy.
  4. Complete and defend a dissertation that includes original, publishable research.
  5. Complete a seminar course of 1 or more credit(s) during their final semester of enrollment for their degree.

The timelines below indicate more clearly how a typical student is likely to progress through these steps.

Student entering without an MS

Year 1: Take masters-level courses. Form interim program committee. Take M.S. comprehensive exams at the end of the first year.

Year 2: Continue to take courses. Identify a broad proposed area of study through the Ph.D., and form M.S./Ph.D. graduate advisory committee. Passing all required M.S. comprehensive exams by the end of year two is required. Earn the M.S. degree. As part of the M.S. degree, the project (or possibly thesis) should initiate study of the PhD research area.

Year 3: Take a Ph.D. qualifying exam, as designed by the student's graduate advisory committee, and pass it to be guaranteed of funding for year four.

Year 4: Pass the Ph.D. qualifying exam by the end of year four. Develop a detailed proposal for dissertation research and present it to the graduate advisory committee, in order to advance to candidacy. If a student does not pass the Ph.D. qualifying exam and advance to candidacy by the end of year 4, then funding will be withdrawn.

Years 4-6: Do individual research towards the dissertation, in consultation with the student's advisor and graduate advisory committee. Defend the dissertation. Assuming available funding, students will be guaranteed support for years 4 and 5, and then must demonstrate adequate progress to be eligible for funding for a sixth year.

Student entering with an MS

Year 1: Form Ph.D. graduate advisory committee. Take graduate courses in the student's proposed area of study, as directed by the advisory committee. Take the Ph.D. qualifying exam, as designed by the advisory committee, and pass it to be guaranteed of funding for year two.

Year 2: Pass the Ph.D. qualifying exam by the end of year two. Failure to meet this milestone results in withdrawal of funding.

Year 3: Develop a detailed proposal for dissertation research and present it to the graduate advisory committee, in order to advance to candidacy. If a student does not advance to candidacy by the end of year 3, then funding will be withdrawn.

Years 3-5: Do individual research towards the dissertation, in consultation with the student's advisor and committee. Defend the dissertation. Assuming available funding and adequate progress, students are guaranteed support for years 3 and 4, and then must demonstrate adequate progress to be eligible for funding for a fifth year.