Academic Year:
Mathematical Sciences
Telephone: (302) 831-2346
http://www.math.udel.edu
Faculty Listing: http://www.math.udel.edu/people/
Program Overview
The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers programs of study leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Mathematics or Mathematics. The department also offers a 4+1 BS/MS program that allows students to complete both the Bachelor of Science degree in any undergraduate major administered by the department and the MS degree in a total of five years of full-time study.
Many of the major areas of mathematics are included among the research interests of the faculty of the department. There are numerous active seminars on these and other mathematical topics, as well as a steady stream of visiting scientists from all over the world.
The department is committed to providing individualized attention and guidance to every student in the program.
Requirements for Admission
Admission to the graduate programs in Applied Mathematics and Mathematics is open to students who have completed the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree in mathematics or related fields, and have a sound preparation in linear algebra and advanced calculus. On a 4.0 system, applicants should have a GPA of at least 2.5 and an average of at least 3.0 in mathematics and related areas. Applicants who have completed an advanced degree must have done so with a GPA of at least 3.0. In addition, applicants must take the GRE Aptitude Test and a GRE Subject Test (not necessarily in mathematics).
To be eligible for admission, students from a country where English is not a primary language must demonstrate proficiency in English by scoring at least 600 on the paper-based TOEFL exam, at least 100 on the TOEFL iBT, with a minimum score of 20 in each section, or at least 7.5 on the IELTS, with a minimum score of 6.0 in each subsection.
Students applying to the 4+1 BS/MS program must be in their junior year of study at the University of Delaware, enrolled in a Bachelor of Science degree program administered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences, must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2, a GPA of at least 3.4 in their major, and must have completed at least two mathematics courses at or above the 400 level. Two letters of recommendation and academic transcripts are required as part of the application process. The letters of recommendation must be from University of Delaware faculty.
Financial Aid
Students holding assistantships are expected to perform satisfactorily in their assigned duties and to make good progress in their academic work. Renewal of financial aid is not automatic. Due to the size of our program, we can only offer financial aid for up to 10 semesters for students entering with a Bachelor's degree; those entering with a Master's degree for up to 8 semesters. The department, however, will make every attempt to provide some form of funding for qualified students. First year teaching assistants are required to attend teaching workshops scheduled by the department.
For continued support beyond the 3rd year, a student entering with a Master's degree must pass the Candidacy Exam by the beginning of his/her 4th semester in order to be offered continued support beyond the 2nd year. For a student who does not pass the Candidacy Examination on the first try, there is no guarantee for support for the following academic year. However, a student may make a second and final attempt to pass the Candidacy Examination, and if the attempt is successful, the department will make every effort to secure funding for such a student.
Requirements for the Master's Degree
To be eligible for the degree an M.S. candidate must complete 30 hours of course work beyond the Bachelor’s degree. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. These thirty hours of course work must be at or above the 600 level excluding Math 607. Students may take 3 credit hours worth of coursework outside of the department. Any additional course work taken for credit outside of the department requires approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.
Of the 30 credit hours required for an MS, at most 3 credits can be from a reading course unless an exception is granted by the Graduate Studies Committee.
The thesis option for the M.S. degree consists of 24 credit hours of course work plus 3 credit hours of research via Math 868 and 3 credit hours of thesis via Math 869, leading to a Master’s Thesis. The purpose of this option is to assess the student’s ability to conduct and report original research on a particular area within the field of specialization and/or synthesize and critically analyze important issues in the field of specialization. The particular form of the thesis project (e.g., report of original research or critical review of and exposition on the literature) will be determined by the student in consultation with his or her Thesis Advisor and the Thesis Committee. The Thesis Committee shall consist of three faculty; it is not required that a member of the committee be from outside mathematics. After the topic(s) and project format have been determined, the student will have a maximum of one year to complete the written thesis (typically 50 to 60 pages). An oral defense will be scheduled following the Thesis Committee’s evaluation of the thesis.
All requirements above must be fulfilled by any student enrolled in the 4+1 BS/MS program. However, a student may count up to six credit hours of graduate courses in the mathematical sciences earned while the student was an undergraduate toward the total unit requirement for the MS degree.
Requirements For The PhD Degree
Students with no prior graduate course work must complete 48 credit hours of courses including:
– At least 27 credits of MATH courses at the 600 level or above, excluding MATH 607 and MATH660.
– A maximum of 27 credits of MATH courses at the 600 level.
– A maximum of 6 credits of MATH 868 (Research).
– A maximum of 6 credits at the 600 level or above in non-MATH courses, unless special permission is granted in advance by the Graduate Studies Committee.
Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must also:
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Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better.
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All Applied Mathematics and Mathematics students must complete the requirements for MS and pass the Preliminary Examination based on MATH 600, MATH 602, (Advanced Calculus) and MATH 672 (Linear Algebra) or MATH 612 (Numerical Linear Algebra). Students entering with Bachelor's degrees are required to pass the Preliminary Examination by the beginning of their 4th semester. Students entering with a Master’s degree must complete this requirement by the end of the second semester of study. Students who do not meet this requirement are recommended for dismissal.Pass the oral Candidacy Examination.
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Select a Dissertation Committee, subject to the approval of the Graduate Committee.
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Complete two semesters of experience in teaching undergraduate students, or obtain a waiver from the Graduate Committee.
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Complete 9 credits of MATH 969 (Doctoral Dissertation) after admission to candidacy.
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Complete and successfully defend a dissertation.
Candidacy Exam: A student entering with a Bachelor's degree must pass the oral Candidacy Exam by the beginning of their sixth semester of study. Students entering with a Master’s degree must pass the Candidacy Examination by the beginning of their fourth semester of study. A second and final attempt is permitted. Dismissal will be recommended for a student who does not pass the Candidacy Exam on the second try.
In this examination a student must choose 2 topics from Algebra, Analysis, Applied Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics, Probability, and Numerical Analysis. The exams are based on MATH 650 and MATH 845 (Algebra), MATH 616, MATH 617 and MATH 810/MATH 835 (Applied Mathematics), MATH 688 and MATH 888 (Discrete Mathematics), MATH 611, MATH 612 and MATH 817/MATH 838 (Numerical Analysis), MATH 806 and MATH 836 (Functional Analysis and PDE) and MATH 630, MATH 611 and MATH 850 (Probability). Another subject area may be substituted for one of the above by petition to the graduate committee based on two graduate level courses and supported by a faculty member.
Dissertation: A student must successfully defend his/her dissertation in front of a committee consisting of the dissertation advisor and no less than three additional members, one of whom must be from outside the department. The dissertation must contain original publishable results.
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students and others who use the Catalog should note that the policies, rules, regulations,
requirements for graduation, course offerings, and other materials reproduced in the Catalog change
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