Program Overview

Overview of Degree Requirements

The Department of Mathematics at Rutgers University offers graduate programs in mathematics, including the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master's degrees. The requirements for these degrees are governed by the rules of the Graduate School - New Brunswick and are listed in the current catalog.

Ph.D. Program Requirements

To be admitted to the Ph.D. program, students must complete the following requirements:

• Course Requirements: Students must complete 72 credits, of which at least 24 must be research credits.
• Teaching Assistant Training Program: All students in the Ph.D. program are required to participate in the TA Training program during their first year.
• Written Qualifying Exam: The Written Qualifying Exams are offered twice a year, in late August and January.
• Oral Qualifying Exam: An Oral Qualifying Exam is administered by a committee of four faculty on a specialized syllabus selected by the student.
• Advancing to Candidacy: A student is designated a "Candidate for a Ph.D. degree" upon application to the graduate school, after completing the written, oral, and foreign language exams (if required).
• Research Credits: A student must satisfactorily complete 24 specially designated "research credits".
• Thesis Committee: The doctoral dissertation is completed under the direction of a thesis advisor, who must be a member of the Mathematics graduate faculty.
• Dissertation: A written dissertation based on original research in Mathematics, completed under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty.

Written Qualifying Exam

The Written Qualifying Exams cover the material contained in the following courses:

• Algebra
• Complex Analysis and Advanced Calculus
• Real Analysis and Elementary Point Set Topology The exams are offered twice a year, and students may attempt the exams as many times as they wish prior to the deadline for passing all three exams.

Course Requirements for the Ph.D. Program

Students must complete the following core courses during their first semester:

• 640:501 Theory of Functions of a Real Variable I
• 640:551 Abstract Algebra I
• 640:503 Theory of Functions of a Complex Variable I Students should also complete 3 courses from a menu of additional courses within their first two academic years, not all chosen from the same area (Algebra or Analysis or Applied Mathematics or Geometry & Topology).

Exemptions from Taking Core Courses

A few entering students may be exempted from taking one or more core courses if they have already covered the material in sufficient detail. Students who wish to be granted an exemption should contact the graduate program director.

Master's Degree Options

The Department of Mathematics offers two Master's degree options:

• Traditional Option: This option requires 24 course credits and 6 research credits, or 30 course credits.
• Writing Requirement (Non-Thesis): This option requires an essay, and an oral defense is not required but can be requested by the Graduate Director.

Research Areas

The Department of Mathematics at Rutgers University has research areas in:

• Algebra
• Analysis
• Applied Mathematics
• Geometry and Topology

General Requirements for Graduate Degrees

General requirements for graduate degrees at Rutgers are governed by the rules of the Graduate School - New Brunswick and are listed in the current catalog. These include how and when credit can be transferred and how many credits can be taken each semester.