The student must complete at least 90 credit
hours
beyond the bachelor's degree or at least 60 credit hours beyond
the Master's degree. Courses at the 5000 level or above should
make up at least 75 percent of those listed on the plan of study
and must include 15 hours (Math 6000) for the doctoral thesis.
Before taking additional courses after completing
the requirements for a Master's degree, a student must file a
Notice of Intention with the Graduate College to become a candidate
for the Ph.D. degree. It should be filed prior to mid-semester of
the first semester of enrollment beyond the Master's degree, or
prior to the second summer of enrollment for those who enroll
only during summer terms.
At least 30 credit hours must be taken in residence.
All credit accepted toward the Ph.D. degree beyond the Master's
degree must be on the plan of study and be approved by the advisory
committee. One academic year of the last two must be spent in
continuous residence. With prior approval by the advisory committee
and the Dean of the Graduate College, the student may do research
for the degree in absentia; research conducted while not in residence
must be under the supervision of the major advisor and the advisory
committee.
A written
comprehensive examination
is taken as soon
as possible after the completion of the appropriate courses.
After the Comprehensive Examination is completed, an advisory committee
should be formed. The advisory committee will guide the student through the
remainder of their program. The first step in forming
an advisory committee is the selection of a thesis advisor. By this time
the student should be acquainted with the faculty in the area of
specialization. The choice of thesis advisor is a critical decision
and it is important that the student and the faculty member have realistic
expectations of each other. The student after careful consideration should
approach a faculty member about the possibility of being the student's
advisor. The faculty member will consider the matter and perhaps
consult with the graduate director about the student's past performance and
capabilities. If the student has not been in one of the faculty member's
classes
recently, the faculty member may suggest that the student do a reading
course with the faculty member prior to making a decision. After a
faculty member has agreed to be the student's thesis advisor, the remaining
four members
of the committee are generally
faculty in closely related
areas and one faculty member from another department. The thesis advisor
will usually suggest which individuals should be asked to serve on the
committee. Each member of the committee must be a member of the Graduate
Faculty and the chairman must be a full member. The Dean of the Graduate
College must approve the appointment of the advisory committee.
The plan of study is a statement of how the student
intends to fulfill the requirements for the degree; it lists all
those courses which the student has taken or plans to take and
wishes to count for this purpose. The plan of study must be approved
by the student's advisory committee
and submitted to the Graduate
College prior to the pre-enrollment date during the second full
semester of enrollment beyond the Master's degree. Any changes
in the plan of study must be approved by the advisory committee
and the Dean of the Graduate College. A final, accurate plan of
study must be filed at the beginning of the session in which the
degree is to be conferred.
The Plan of Study for a doctoral degree may contain no more than 9 hours of
each of the topics courses Math
6290, 6390, 6490, 6590, 6690, 6790, 6890, 6990, no more than 12 hours of Math
6010, and no more than 24 hours of Math 6000.
If the student is pursuing the Ph.D. with Specialization in Mathematics
Education, a Professional Development Plan must also be prepared and
presented to the advisory committee for approval.
The student must pass an oral qualifying examination
which covers the area of the student's graduate study. It must
be passed not less than six months before the degree is granted.
Before taking this examination the student must have an approved
plan of study on file in the Graduate College and have the approval
of the advisory committee
and the Dean of the Graduate College.
If the student fails this examination the examining committee
will notify the student of the conditions under which a second
examination may be taken; a second examination cannot be taken
for four months. If the student fails the second examination,
then no other examination can be given without the approval of
the Graduate College.
The student must be admitted to candidacy for the
Ph.D. Degree at least six months before the degree is conferred.
Before being admitted to candidacy the student must have passed
the qualifying examination and have an approved plan of study
and thesis outline on file in the Graduate College.
A doctoral thesis is required. It should present
the results of research which makes a new and original contribution
to mathematical knowledge or, for students specializing in mathematics
education,
to mathematics education. See the Graduate College
Thesis/Dissertation Handbook
for details on
the preparation and submission of the thesis.
Students pursuing the Ph.D. with Specialization in Mathematics Education must also prepare a minor thesis.
After a final draft version of the dissertation has
been filed with the Graduate College and distributed to the advisory
committee,
the student must take a final oral examination defending
the dissertation. Permission for this examination must be requested
from the Dean of the Graduate College. Following satisfactory
completion of this examination the candidate will make any changes
in the dissertation required by the committee and by the Graduate
College and submit the dissertation in final form signed by the
committee to the Graduate College. If the student fails to pass
this examination, the advisory committee will determine whether
and under what conditions a second exam may be taken; a second
exam may not be given earlier than four months after a failure.
If the student fails a second exam, no other examination may be
given without the approval of the Graduate College.
Time limit and continuous enrollment
Students are expected to complete the requirements
for the Ph.D. degree within six years after filing the Notice of
Intention. Otherwise a new program of study must be arranged with
the advisory committee and filed with the Graduate College. If
all requirements for the degree are not completed within four
years after taking the qualifying examination a second qualifying
exam must be passed. A student must maintain continuous enrollment
during the entire research phase of the program.