Summary of Ph.D. Requirements

The information listed below is meant to act as a guide for Ph.D. studies while at the University of Rochester. It is not intended as a substitute for the graduate catalog, which contains more details.

  1. PERIOD OF SUPPORT: Under the present circumstances, students in good standing are supported for at least four years. Often we are able to support students for a fifth year, but this cannot be guaranteed.
  2. REGISTRATION: Graduate students must register for a minimum of 18 credits for the academic year---if you are a Teaching Assistant, and 24 credits if you are not.
  3. TRANSFER CREDIT: Graduate students transferring from another college/university or entering the Ph.D. program with a Master's degree should have the Graduate Committee look at their transcripts for possible transfer credit. Up to 30 credits may be transferred and duplication (of classes taken elsewhere) will be avoided. This should be done as soon as possible so this will appear on your Univ. of Rochester transcript.
  4. PRELIMS: Written prelims are given in January and in May. Students may take them during the first year without penalty for failure and are encouraged to do so for the experience. Prelims consist of three 1-day exams covering material from the following courses.
    • 436 and 437
    • 467 and 471
    • 440 and (443 or 472).
    Each student must pass 2 of these exams within 2 years of joining the program. If a student only passes 2 of the 3 exams, he or she must pass the courses that go along with the third exam.
  5. MASTER'S DEGREE: (a bonus for Ph.D. candidates!) Students should apply for a Master's degree from the Univ. of Rochester when 30 credits are accumulated. The credits must include the following: Math 436, 440, 467, 471, or their equivalent. The written prelims serve as the final exam for the M.A.; therefore, once prelims are passed and the Master's program form is completed, the M.A. will be awarded. (See Joan for the needed forms.)
  6. ADVISOR: After passing the prelims, finding a thesis advisor is the next step.
  7. ORAL PRELIMINARY EXAM: This should be taken within approximately six months after passing the written prelims. It is an exam on a substantial paper, generally in the thesis area, selected in consultation with the thesis advisor. Must be passed at least 9 months before the thesis defense.
  8. PH.D. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Ph.D. students are required to take the following courses, with a grade of B or better: Math 436, 437, 440, 467, 471, and either 443 or 472. A student can be excused from taking any of these courses by convincing the instructor that he/she already knows the material, and passing the prelim that covers it. There is a also three-year teaching requirement, normally satisfied by teaching assistantships.
  9. FINAL THESIS DEFENSE: The main requirement for the Ph.D. is completion of a doctoral thesis, written under supervision of your advisor. When you complete the thesis, you must schedule a defense before your committee.