Thursday August 14, 2014

Mathematics at UNC-Chapel Hill

Contact Information

Questions/problems, contact

Laurie Straube: Student service manager,

919-962-4178, straube@live.unc.edu

Laura Miller: Graduate Director,919-962-9621 (Office), 919-943-2434 (Cell), lam9@email.unc.edu

Chapman Hall 447

Phillips and Chapman Halls

3rd floor of Phillips Hall

4th floor of Chapman HallBehind double doors that say “Department of Mathematics”

We are located on the ……

Phillips Hall and Chapman Map

Main Office

PH330 Math Lounge

bridge

PH324C

Chapman 435

Door to 4th floor

PH322

Overview of Ph.D. Program

• There are about 33 graduate faculty in the Mathematics Department.

• There are approximately 70 Ph.D. students in our department.– The ratio of pure to applied math graduate students is about

2:1 (this is the same ratio as the faculty).• Students typically graduate within 5 years.

First Year Courses

• Prepare for the Comprehensive Exam– Algebra: Math 676 and 677– Analysis: Math 653 and 656– Geometry-Topology: Math 680 and 681– Methods of Applied Mathematics: Math 668 and 669– Scientific Computation: Math 661 and 662

• Prepare for Teaching– TA training seminar.

• Comprehensive Exam RequirementTo pass the Pure Math Option, a student is required to pass three of the five qualifying exams by the beginning of the sixth semester. Any three of the five can be passed.

Qualifying Exam Requirements

• There are five qualifying exams:– Algebra: Math 676 and 677– Analysis: Math 653 and 656– Geometry-Topology: Math 680 and 681– Methods of Applied Mathematics: Math 668 and 669– Scientific Computation: Math 661 and 662

• Ph.D. qualifying exams are given twice each year, near the beginning of classes in August and January.

Qualifying Exam Requirements

• Applied Mathematics Option– Methods of Applied Mathematics and Scientific Computation.

• Pure Mathematics Option– You must take 3 of the 5 exams.

• Comprehensive exam training sessions are run by senior graduate students every summer for each of the exams.

Comprehensive Exam Rules

• If a student does not pass at least one Ph.D. exam by the beginning of the fourth semester, the department will not guarantee financial support past the end of the fourth semester. However, if such a student passes one exam by the beginning of the fifth semester, then reinstatement of financial support will be considered.

• To remain in the Ph.D. program, a graduate student must pass the written qualifying exam, with either the Pure Math or the Applied Math option, by the beginning of the sixth semester. A student who does not do this will be out of the Ph.D. program.

• Ideally, you want to have all of your comps passed by the beginning of your fourth semester.

Course Requirements

• All Ph.D. students must take and pass at least six courses from the following two lists:

• Comprehensive courses that are not basic courses for any of the three comprehensive exams passed by the student

• Second tier courses – Algebra: Math 641, 643, 771, 775, 774– Analysis: Math 657, 751, 753, 754, 857– Applied Mathematics: Math 635, 761, 762, 768, 769, 892– Geometry-Topology: Math 781, 782, 773, 776, 775

Course Requirements

• A student taking a pure math option (respectively an applied math option) may replace one (respectively one or more) course(s) in the second tier requirement with other graduate level courses inside or outside of the department.– Pure mathematics option: Up to one outside course.– Applied mathematics option: One or more outside courses.

• If you take a class that isn’t one of the options above and you want it to count for one of your six, then you must have the permission of your advisor and the DGS before you register. If you are third year or higher and did not get this permission, then you can petition the DGS with your advisor's approval. Your advisor must approve this request and send me an email explaining the rationale.

• If you are a pure math student, you can only do this for one class. If you are applied, you can do it for two or more. In general reading courses will not be approved. Some exceptions include normal courses held as reading courses because of low enrollment.

Ph.D. - Courses

Take Home Points - Courses

• If you are in pure math (you plan to take 3 comps where 0-1 are in applied) then you would typically take three classes per semester your first year that will prepare you for the comprehensive written exams.

• These will not count for your six course requirement. In your second year, you would take 3 courses per semester from the list given on the website. If any of classes you take are not on this list, then you must get permission from your advisor and the DGS for no more than one such class not on the list to count.

Take Home Points - Courses

• If you are in applied math, then you would typically take the two comp sequences each semester during your first year. The third class could be in science, statistics, or pure math. If the third course is not on the list above, then you should consider getting permission for it to count for your six course requirement before you register.

• In the second year, you would typically take the two applied 700 level sequences. The third class could be in pure math, science, etc. If these classes are not on the list, you should again get permission from the advisor and DGS. If the only classes you take in the math department are applied classes, then typically you would need to get permission for two science/stats classes to count towards your six.

Research and Independent Study Classes

• MATH 920: Seminar and Directed Readings (1-3)• MATH992: Master's Project (3 or more)

– Makes you a full time student• MATH 993: Master's Thesis (3 or more) (This

should not be taken by students electing nonthesis master's projects)– Makes you full time.

• MATH 994: Doctoral Dissertation (3 or more)– Makes you full time.

Consider a Master’s degree

• If you have not passed any of the comp exams at the beginning of your second year, consider starting a masters project.– This is especially true if you failed the exams or have received L’s in

courses.• Life events may arise at any time, and you may need to leave the

program.– It’s better to leave with a masters than no degree.

Oral Examination Requirement

• When the student is prepared and has selected a direction for the Ph.D. dissertation, the Ph.D. candidate must pass an oral examination on material basic to the proposed dissertation area.

• The examination will be conducted by the Ph.D. committee of the student.

five faculty members and is chaired by the student's adviser

Other Requirements

• Foreign Language Requirement– In addition to course work and dissertation the candidate for

the Ph.D. must demonstrate reading competence in one approved foreign language (usually French, German, or Russian). 

– International students whose native language is not English may not satisfy the language requirement with their native language, but they may use a proficiency in English to satisfy the language requirement.

Foreign Language Requirement

• The language requirement for an approved language may be fulfilled by passing the second semester of the special two sequence course 101X-102X in that language, whenever it is offered at UNC. Few students do this.

• The language requirement for an approved language may be fulfilled by attaining a grade of C or better in a fourth semester undergraduate course in that language.

• French and German exams will be offered in the department each semester.– Translate a few pages of a math paper using a dictionary.

Teaching Requirement

– Students are required to take and successfully pass the TA Teaching Seminar (a special section of Math 920) during their first fall semester of their program. 

– Students are also required to perform a minimum of two semesters of instructional service.

Computer Language Requirement

• Computer Language Requirement– Passing the following courses at UNC will be sufficient to

satisfy the computer language requirement:• MATH 565, MATH 566, MATH 661, MATH 662, MATH 761,

MATH 762• COMP 110, COMP 116, COMP 121, COMP 401

– Any computer science course which lists one of these courses as a prerequisite.

Computer Language Requirement Cont’d

• A Master's or Ph.D. student may also satisfy the computer language requirement by passing an approved one semester undergraduate course on computer programming at any university.– If the course title title on the transcript is not self-explanatory, then

a syllabus, text or other information may be required. • A Computer Language Exam is also an option. Please talk to the

DGS at least a semester ahead of time.• Please fulfill this requirement before your fifth year

Teacher Training

• All first years participate in our semester long teacher training program organized by a UNC BEST faculty member. This is part of the PhD degree requirements.

• Additional training and resources are provided through the UNC Center for Faculty Excellence.

• All graduate student instructors are evaluated by a faculty member each semester for the purpose of improving their teaching and developing their teaching portfolio.

• All students are required to teach at least two mathematics classes before graduation.

• Opportunities for summer teaching are also available.

Math Help Center

• The Math Help Center (MHC) provides a variety of free tutoring services for students enrolled in Math courses numbered 110 through 233.

• Our drop-in center provides free face-to-face tutoring with undergraduate tutors, graduate students, and faculty.

- Students are encouraged to drop in any time the MHC is open, for help on mathematics courses numbered 110 through 233.

Advice

• Please ask your advisor, professors, and senior graduate students for advice throughout your career.

• Be sure to ask advice from multiple people.• When considering your long term career, listen carefully to

older students who are finishing their dissertation for their perspective.

Advice on Comprehensive Exams

• Start studying for the comprehensive exams now! You want to pass these exams ASAP and move on to bigger things like research! You do not want to take these again and again.

• Work in study groups, ask senior graduate students for advice

• Try *taking* old exams in an exam setting (timed, closed book).

• You will need to learn more than what is in your classes. Look over the recommended books.

• These exams teach you what it really means to learn something.

Advice on Classes

• Meet with your temporary advisors before registering.• Please tell them of any deficits in your background.• Reach out for help if you need it. Please come and see me,

talk to your instructors, and your advisor. We want to ensure your success.

• There will be a transition going to graduate classes (similar to high school to undergraduate). Your instructors serve as a guide to the material, and you are ultimately responsible for learning it. The material you need to know is more than what is covered in the classroom.

NSF Graduate Fellowship

• The prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is open to first and second year graduate students in STEM fields who do not have a Masters degree or more than 12 months of postbaccalaureate training. The fellowship offers offers 3 years of support, $30,000 annual stipend, $10,500 cost-of-education allowance (to the institution), international research and professional development opportunities, and TeraGrid supercomputer access.

Deadline: October 30, 2014

http://www.nsfgrfp.org/

Advice for Success

• Remember that everything you do will be noticed, good or bad.

• This applies to your attendance at department seminars, your participation in workshops, your timeliness as a teaching assistant, your performance in courses, etc.

• Always be professional and make a good impression!

Useful Links

• http://math.unc.edu/• Degree requirements: check

http://math.unc.edu/for-grad-students• In-state residency.

http://gradschool.unc.edu/student/residency/.• Past comp exams: check

http://math.unc.edu/for-grad-students/past-exams• Research computing training:

http://its2.unc.edu/divisions/rc/training/scientific/• Center for faculty excellence: http://cfe.unc.edu/events.html• NSF Graduate Fellowship:

https://apps.research.unc.edu/events/