The Department of Mathematics offers programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in both pure and applied areas of mathematics.

A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in major course work is required. Each graduate department may have additional “special admission requirements” which are noted on this page.

• Completed on-line application and signature page or
• Download the paper application (HTML) | (Acrobat)
• The non-refundable $45 application fee (Waivers accepted for FAMU Feeder Program and McNair Scholars)
• Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the Registrar’s Office from ALL colleges and universities attended
• GRE Scores (Only official score reports are accepted within 5 years of the test date) www.gre.org
• Statement of Academic and Research Interest
• Autobiographical Sketch (Personal biography)
• Resume
• Three letters of recommendation Word

For International Applicants

In addition to the requirements listed above you must meet the following:

• Official transcripts, certificates and/or mark/grade sheets must be sent directly from the college or university to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions, and must show proof of degree(s) earned, courses taken and marks/grades received. Also, ALL transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (www.wes.org) or AACRAO (www.aacrao.org) and be forwarded to Graduate Recruitment and Admissions.
• TOEFL Scores (Minimum computer-based score of 213 is required and only official score reports are accepted within 2 years of the test date) www.toelf.org

Applicants must have at least a GPA of 3.2 in their major undergraduate mathematics courses. 

Students admitted into the program are required to take the screening (placement) examination on arrival, except a) those opting to take the Introduction to Analysis and Introduction to Modern Algebra courses in their first year who will be required to take this examination at the end of the first year and b) those with advanced standing determined by the department who are admitted directly into the mathematics Ph.D. program.

The Degree Programs

Core Courses:

 Group 1: Introduction to Analysis I (214-220), 015-195, Introduction to Analysis II (214-221), 015-196, Introduction to Modern Algebra I (214-208), (015-197), Introduction to Modern Algebra II (214-209), (015-198), Introduction to Complex Analysis (015-185), Linear Algebra (015-180), Introduction to Differential Geometry (015-198), Introduction to Number Theory (015-184), Introduction to General Topology (015-199).

Group 2: Algebra I (214-210) and Algebra II (214-211), Real Analysis I (214-222) and Real Analysis II (214-223), Topology I (214-250), Complex Analysis I (214-229).

Group 3: Number Theory I (214-214), Applications of Analysis (214-224), Complex Analysis II (214-230), Functional Analysis I (214-231), Algebraic Topology I (214-252) and Algebric Topology II (214-253), Differential Geometry I (214-259) and Differential Geometry II (214-260).

The Master of Science Degree Program

To obtain a Master of Science degree in mathematics, a student must earn a minimum of thirty credit hours or thirty- six credit hours depending upon whether or not the student elects to write a thesis.

M.S. Degree (Thesis Option) Requirements. A student

1. must take a year sequence in graduate algebra, or graduate analysis. (Six (6) credit hours)

2. will take at least six additional courses of which two may be approved courses given outside the mathematics department. [Advanced approval must be obtained for courses taken outside the department. No more than two courses with course numbers less than 200 will count in this category] (Eighteen (18) credit hours) 

3. will write a thesis (Six (6) credit hours)

M.S. Degree (No Thesis Option) Requirements. A student

1. must take a year sequence in graduate algebra, or graduate analysis. (Six (6) credit hours)

2. will take at least ten additional courses of which three may be approved courses given outside the mathematics department. [Advanced approval must be obtained for courses taken outside the department. No more than two courses with course numbers less than 200 will count in this category.] (Thirty (30) credit hours)

At least two semesters of full-time study, or the equivalent, shall be undertaken in the Department of Mathematics within the Graduate School.

Other Requirements

1. A minimum of 18 credits of work toward the Ph.D. degree shall be pursued after admission to candidacy.

2. Doctoral candidates shall participate actively in at least two seminars during their candidacy.

3. Only courses in which students earn grades of "A" or "B" may be counted toward the Ph.D. degree.

4. A student in the Ph.D. program who accumulates more than two courses of grades below "B" shall be dropped from the Mathematics Graduate Program.

Oral Examination . A student writing a thesis must defend it successfully during an oral examination.

No Thesis Option Examination . A student in the M.S. program not writing a thesis must pass at least one of the three Ph.D. qualifying examinations, in addition to passing the screening examination.

Screening Examination . This examination which must be passed with distinction, consists of two parts, namely, an Introduction to Analysis and an Introduction to Modern Algebra. The examination may be administered at the beginning of each year or within the first year to all new entrants not exempted from that examination by the faculty.

The Expository Writing Examination . This examination is required and administered by the Graduate School.

Students must exhibit proficiency in two of the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Russian. In exceptional cases, other languages may be accepted by the Department. In lieu of one language and upon approval of the Chairman of the Department, students may take suitable graduate level courses from one of the following departments or schools: Computer Science, Sociology, Economics, Biology or Education.

Requirements for Admission to Candidacy for the Ph.D. degree:

1. Candidates must have passed the Qualifying Examinations.

2. Candidates must satisfy the language requirement and the writing skills requirement.

Graduate students shall regularly attend seminars, lecture series, and colloquia sponsored by the Department of Mathematics.

The Ph.D. Degree Program

This degree program requires a minimum of 60 graduate credits beyond the B.S. degree or a minimum of 36 graduate credits beyond the M.S. degree in course work. In addition 12 graduate credits are required for the Ph.D. dissertation.

Course Requirements

The courses for the Ph.D. degree presented by a candidate must include at most, one course from Group 1, all courses from Group 2, at least two courses from Group 3 and a course on topics in History of Mathematics. Additional courses to cover the areas of qualifying examinations as well as topics courses will be on subjects corresponding to the research interests of the faculty.

Ph.D. Degree: Admission and Examination Requirements

To be admitted to the Ph.D. program, students must pass a screening examination or obtain an exemption from the faculty. To obtain a Ph.D. degree, a student admitted to the program must

I) pass two qualifying examinations on subjects, not closely related to each other, chosen from two of the following six groups:

1. Real Analysis or Complex Analysis or Functional Analysis or Harmonic Analysis

2. Algebra or Number Theory

3. Combinatorics

4. Geometry or Topology

5. Dynamical Systems or Ordinary Differential Equations or Partial Differential Equations

6. Probability or Mathematical Statistics.

II) take a third qualifying examination, comprehensive in the area of student's specialization, that may include one from the above six groups, and

III) write a Ph.D. dissertation and defend it satisfactorily.