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Department of Mathematics

College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

Admissions

Application Process

  • What kind of background do I need to have a chance at admission into a UCR graduate program?

    To be promoted to graduate status, one must have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution. The applying student's bachelor's degree should appropriately fit with the graduate program he or she is applying to -- in this case, mathematics (FYI: Statistics is in different department at UCR). When applying to a graduate program at UCR, the program completed by the student to earn his or her bachelor's degree must have been gained through the completion of a program equivalent both in distribution of academic subject matter and scholarship achievement comparable to that offered at the University of California Riverside.

    Because the number of applicants ALWAYS  exceeds the number of applicants that can be accepted and accommodated, simply satisfying the minimal standards will not guarantee admission into a UCR graduate program.

    Also, because professions need a diverse membership and because the educational experience is enhanced by a diverse student body, UCR views as a high priority the enrollment of men and women from different backgrounds and from different demographic and ethnic groups.

  • What kind of degree can I earn attending UCR Mathematics Department's graduate program?

    The department offers degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics.

    Core concentrations include:

    •  Algebra

    •  Complex Analysis

    •  Real Analysis

    • Topology

    • Partial/Ordinary Differential Equations

  • Are there any standardized tests that must be taken before an application can be reviewed?

    Yes, the GRE is not only a requirement for the graduate program. GRE scores are also taken into consideration when determining an applicant's eligibility for fellowships offered outside the department. For international applicants, the TOEFL is a requirement. The information on minimum scores for the GRE and the TOEFL can be found through these links: GRE  -  TOEFL.

    Official GRE General Exam scores: Minimum Score Required: 301-305 (department code 0703) - (School Code: 4839).

    TOEFL score (if applicable) - Minimum score of 550 or 213 for the computer-based version, or 80 on the internet-based version of the exam.

  • Besides the GRE -- and the TOEFL for international applicants -- what else must be submitted for an application to be considered?

    A student's GPA, GRE scores, three (3) letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, research experience and other relevant background information will all be measured and evaluated by the department to determine the eligibility of applicants for the graduate program.

  • If I am accepted into the graduate program, when will I be notified by the department?

    Students will be notified of their admission into the program ASAP. On average, most students will hear from the department in late February or early March for admission to the Fall Quarter.

Graduate Records Examinations

Program Requirements

  • What are the requirements for a Ph.D. Degree -- how many classes do I have to take -- are there exams required?

    The requirements for our Ph.D. are:

    1. Pass the introductory course sequences in four (4) of five (5) core areas:
      1. Algebra (Math 201 A - B - C)
      2. Complex Analysis (Math 210 A - B)
      3. Real Analysis (Math 209 A - B - C)
      4. Topology (Math 205 A - B - C)
      5. Partial/Ordinary Differential Equations (Math 207 A - B - C)
    2. Pass four (4) written qualifying examinations chosen from the course sequences (Algebra, Complex Analysis, Real Analysis, Topology and Partial/Ordinary Differential Equations). Students must pass three (3) of the exams with Ph.D. level grade "A", and one (1) exam with a Master's degree level grade "B" or better. Only two attempts are allowed for each exam.
    3. Pass four (4) courses in mathematics numbered between Math 211 and 259
    4. Pass the Oral Qualifying Examination (to advance to candidacy).
    5. Complete research for the required Ph.D. Dissertation.
    6. Pass the final oral defense of your Ph.D. Dissertation.
  • How long does is generally take to complete the Ph.D. Degree program?

    The normative time for completion of the Ph.D. degree requirements (for non-International students) is 15 quarters or five years. A sample time-line looks like this:

    • Year 1: Emphasis is on the completion of two (2) core sequences.

    • Year 2: Emphasis is on the completion of the remaining core sequences and 1-2 written qualifying exams.

    • Year 3: Concentrates of completion of remaining written qualifying exams, the 4 advanced graduate courses and finding faculty advisors to work with.

    • Year 4: Focuses on any remaining advanced courses and reading/research in preparation for, as well as completing the oral qualifying examination.

    • Year 5: Devoted primarily to research and to the completion of the Dissertation although students continue to participate in graduate seminars and may take additional coursework during this period.

  • What are the requirements for a Masters Degree (M.A. or M.S. in Mathematics or M.S. in Applied Mathematics) -- how many classes do I have to take -- are there exams required?
    The requirements for the M.A. or M.S. in Mathematics are:
    1. Complete 36 course units numbered between Math 110 and 189 (upper-level courses), or between Math 200 and 210 (graduate-level core areas). At least 18 units must be from courses numbered between Math 200 and 210.
    2. Complete two (2) of the four (4) pure math course sequences with a grade of "C" or better in each course and a GPA of at least 3.0 in each chosen sequence. Students may choose from the following four core areas:
      1. Algebra (Math 201 A - B - C)
      2. Complex Analysis (Math 210 A - B)
      3. Real Analysis (Math 209 A - B - C)
      4. Topology (Math 205 A - B - C)
    3. As a substitute for one (1) or more course sequence, pass the corresponding written qualifying examination with a Master's level grade "B" or better fulfills that course sequence requirement.

    The requirements of #1 and #2 (listed above) constitute the comprehensive final examination requirement for the degree.

     

    The requirements for the M.S. in Applied Mathematics are:

    Complete 36 course units numbered between Math 110 and 189 (upper-level courses), or between Math 200 and 210 (graduate-level core areas). At least 18 units must be from courses numbered between Math 200 and 210.

    1. Complete two (2) core sequences (Real Analysis, Partial/Ordinary Differential Equations) with a grade of "C" or better in each course and a GPA of at least 3.0 in each chosen sequence. Students must complete the following core areas:
      1. Real Analysis (Math 209 A - B - C)
      2. Partial/Ordinary Differential Equations (Math 207 A - B - C)
    2. As a substitute for one or more course sequence, pass the corresponding written qualifying examination with a Master's level grade "B" or better fulfills that course sequence requirement.

    The requirements of #1 and #2 (listed above) constitute the comprehensive final examination requirement for the degree.

Financial Aid and Assistantships

  • What types of financial assistance are available?

    Financial support in the form of teaching assistantships and research assistantships is provided to attract excellent full-time students to our programs and to maintain them over a normal period of study.

    The mains sources of graduate student support in the Mathematics program are Teach Assistantships (TA-ing) and Graduate Student Research Assistantships obtained through research grants awarded to the faculty. Students who enter the Ph.D. program with strong undergraduate records are automatically considered for fellowships. Support for continuing students is available through a variety of fellowships and grants from a number of university, state, and federal sources. Students in good academic standing while making acceptable progress in the Ph.D. program are typically supported by the program.

     Beyond department support, campus-wide fellowships and traineeships are available to students with outstanding scholastic records (GRE scores greater than 1200 and a GPA greater than 3.5). These campus wide financial opportunities are competitively awarded, so completing one's application early means there is a greater overall amount of funds available to be awarded.

  • What are the grade requirements to keep a scholarship/fellowship?

    A 3.5 GPA must be maintained to keep awarded scholarships/fellowships.

  • What are the grade requirements to keep a Teaching Assistantship (TA-ing position)?

    A 3.0 GPA must be maintained to keep a Teaching Assistantship.

  • How do I apply for a Teaching Assistantship or Tuition Scholarship?

    Students applying to the graduate program are automatically evaluated to see which types of financial support they qualify for -- but there is no guarantee that a student accepted into the program will receive financial support.

Teaching Assistantship

  • Is there any training required to be a TA?

    The Department of Mathematics has developed its own TA training and course, MATH 02, which has been approved by Graduate Division and TADP. MATH 302 replaces the prep workshops that are required by TADP.

    Failure to enroll and participate in MATH 302 as a Teaching Assistantship may impact consideration for future teaching appointments.

  • If I have a Teaching Assistantship position, when do I get paid -- in other words, when is payday?

    TA's are paid on the first of every month. If the first of a month falls on a weekend or holiday, TA's will be paid the last working day before the weekend or holiday.

  • As a TA, will I have a supervisor or any kind of support?

    The department has its own TA Mentors that serve as a valuable resource for new TA's. TA Mentors meet with their mentees on a regular basis and are available to answer questions and offer feedback. The TA Mentors observe their mentees and offer suggestions on improving techniques in the classroom, in preparation for and adjustment to the graduate program.

    Also, TA's are exclusively represented by the United Auto Workers. Please see the Union web-site for information and the current contract. www.uaw.org  

International Students

  • What are the application deadlines for International applicants?

    Quarter:

    Domestic Applicants, US Citizens and US Permanent Residents

    Foreign Applicants 
    Non-Immigrant/Visa Students

    Fall quarter

    (term begins September)

    Admission & Fellowship Consideration

    January 5th

    • Applications received after January 5 will be considered for financial support if funding remains available.
    • Some programs are able to accommodate additional applicants with financial support after this date. Please consult the specific program webpage for more information.

    January 5th

    Fall quarter

    (term begins September)

    Admission Only -

    no financial support

    September 1st

    Programs may set earlier deadlines for both admission and financial award consideration; please check with the individual program for verification.

    May 1st

    Programs may set earlier deadlines for both admission and financial award consideration; please check with the individual program for verification.

    Winter quarter

    (term begins January)

    Admission Only

    November 15th

    July 1st

    Spring quarter

    (term begins April)

    Admission Only

    March 1st

    October 1st

    ♦♦♦♦ It cannot be stressed enough that applicants should apply by the Jan. 5th deadline for the Fall Quarter. Doing so greatly boosts the applicant's chances of receiving support packages such as Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships. Do not wait to submit everything at once -- Every individual component (transcripts, statement of purpose, etc.) can be submitted separately. But all parts must be in by the final deadline date for the respective quarter to which the student is applying. ♦♦♦♦

    More information on the graduate division deadlines, and additional important dates can be found at   GRADUATE.UCR.EDU

     

  • Is there a foreign language requirement I must complete before I can be considered for the graduate program?

    Since the graduate program is part of a larger academic community, heavy amounts of communication are necessary. Therefore, The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) must be taken before applying.

  • What is the minimum TOEFL score required when applying to the graduate program?

    TOEFL score (if applicable) - Minimum score of 550 or 213 for the computer-based version of the exam or 80 on the internet-based version of the exam.

  • Are there any special deadlines for International students?

    Normative time to advance to candidacy for international Ph.D. students is before the 7th quarter. This means that if an international student arrives in Fall 2009, the student must complete all written and oral exams and have advanced to candidacy before Fall 2011. Failure to advance to candidacy within this time frame will result in students having to pay their own Non-Resident Tuition fee until they have advanced.

    Also, International students will be expected to start taking exams in the first quarter that they arrive. They have only six quarters to complete these exams and advance to candidacy in order to stay within the normative time. Failure to do so will result in additional NRT Fees to be paid by the student. It is advisable to use the online resources located at graduate.ucr.edu .

Graduation

  • What steps must I follow to graduate and what forms must I complete?

    As far as classes and examinations, the basic run down of the Ph.D. program can be found here, and the Masters program rundown can be seen here.

    Evaluations of academic progress for all graduate students are carried out each Spring Quarter by the Graduate Student Advisor for Enrolled Students. The evaluation provides feedback on academic performance and progress, teaching performance and incorporates suggestions for the upcoming year. Students are notified in writing of the results of the annual evaluation, and copies are forwarded to the Graduate Division.

    Forms such as Notice of Intent to Complete a Ph.D. and more can be found on the Graduate Division forms page.

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