Sample programs of study for the doctoral degree

The following pages provide examples of programs of study in the Ph.D. in mathematical sciences (90 hours). Many other combinations of courses are possible. Your adviser will have up-to-date information on the semesters when particular courses are normally offered.

See the NIU Graduate Catalog for course descriptions (scroll down to Mathematical Sciences) and detailed information on degree requirements.


Focus: Pure or Applied Computational Education


Ph.D. degree in Mathematical Sciences: Core Group A (Mathematics)
Pure Mathematics or Applied Mathematics Focus

(This 4-year program assumes a strong entering background, including a one-year sequence in probability and statistics. If the entering background is average, add one year and one summer at the outset for Math 420, 421, 430, 431, 434, 442 and 450, and Stat 470 and 472 as necessary.) Doctoral students should register for one hour of Math 692 each Fall and Spring semester that they are in residence on campus, before the working phase of their AIC (Spring of the 3rd year in this example).

Fall 2005 Math 520 Algebraic Structures I
Math 530 Real Analysis I
* Math 536 Ordinary Differential Equations I
Spring 2006 * Math 521 Algebraic Structures II
Math 532 Complex Analysis
* Math 550 Topology
Summer 2006 Foreign Language Reading Course or Math 432 Advanced Calculus III (or other elective)


Fall 2006 * Math 531 Real Analysis II (Functional analysis)
Math 540 Applied Mathematics (or other elective)
Math 562 Numerical Analysis

January or June 2007 WRITTEN PH.D. QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

Spring 2007 * Math 542 Partial Differential Equations I
500-level elective
600-level seminar

Summer 2007 600-level reading course


Fall 2007 500-level elective
600-level seminar or reading course
600-level seminar or reading course

Spring 2008 Applications Involvement Component (internship)
600-level seminar or reading course

Summer 2008 ORAL PH.D. CANDIDACY EXAMINATION
Computer project
600-level seminar or reading course
Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation


Fall 2008 600-level seminar or reading course
Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation

Spring 2009 Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation

Summer 2009 Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation

COMPLETE DISSERTATION AND GRADUATE

* This program requires 4 of these 5 courses.


Ph.D. degree in Mathematical Sciences: Core Group A (Mathematics)
Computational Mathematics Focus

(This 4-year program assumes a strong entering background, including a one-year sequence in probability and statistics. If the entering background is average, add one year and one summer at the outset for Math 420, 421, 430, 431, 434, 442 and 450, and Stat 470 and 472 as necessary.) Doctoral students should register for one hour of Math 692 each Fall and Spring semester that they are in residence on campus, before the working phase of their AIC (Spring of the 3rd year in this example).


Fall 2005 Math 520 Algebraic Structures I
Math 530 Real Analysis I
Math 562 Numerical Analysis

Spring 2006 * Math 521 Algebraic Structures II
Math 532 Complex Analysis
Math 564 Numerical Linear Algebra

Summer 2006 Foreign Language Reading Course

June 2006 or January 2007 WRITTEN PH.D. QUALIFYING EXAMINATION


Fall 2006 * Math 531 Real Analysis II (Functional analysis)
* Math 536 Ordinary Differential Equations
Math 568 Nonlinear Programming
Spring 2007 Math 566 Numerical Differential Equations
* Math 542 Partial Differential Equations I
* Math 550 Topology

Summer 2007 600-level reading course


Fall 2007 Math 540 Applied Mathematics (or other elective)
600-level seminar or reading course
600-level seminar or reading course

Spring 2008 Applications Involvement Component (internship)
600-level seminar or reading course

Summer 2008 ORAL PH.D. CANDIDACY EXAMINATION
Computer project
600-level seminar or reading course
Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation


Fall 2008 600-level seminar or reading course
Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation

Spring 2009 Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation

Summer 2009 Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation

COMPLETE DISSERTATION AND GRADUATE

* This program requires 4 of these 5 courses.


Ph.D. degree in Mathematical Sciences: Core Group B (Mathematics Education)

A typical 4-year schedule for this degree is given below. Special schedules may be designed to fit the needs of part-time or other students. Doctoral students should register for one hour of Math 692 each Fall and Spring semester that they are in residence on campus, before the working phase of their AIC (Fall of the 3rd year in this example).


Fall 2005 Math 510 Theoretical Foundations of Mathematics Education
** Math 420 Algebra I
** Math 430 Advanced Calculus I

Spring 2006 Math 514 The Teaching of Geometry
Math 421 Algebra II
Math 431 Advanced Calculus II

Summer 2006 Math 512 The Teaching of Mathematics, Grades 6-9
Prepare for Foreign Language Reading Exam


Fall 2006 Math 513 The Teaching of Algebra
Math 520 Algebraic Structures I
Math 530 Real Analysis I or Math 562 Numerical Analysis


Spring 2007 Math 511 Introduction to Mathematics Education Research
Math 515 Using Microcomputers in Teaching Mathematics
Math 532 Complex Analysis

Summer 2007 Math 610A or B Topics in Mathematics Education

June 2007 WRITTEN PH.D. QUALIFYING EXAMINATION


Fall 2007 Initiate Applications Involvement Component
Math 562 Numerical Analysis or Math 530 Real Analysis I
Elective topics course or seminar outside mathematics education

Spring 2008 Math 610A or B Topics in Mathematics Education
Elective topics course or seminar outside mathematics education
ORAL PH.D. CANDIDACY EXAMINATION

Summer 2008 Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation
Computer Project
Applications Involvement Component completed


Fall 2008 600-level elective topics course or seminar
Math 610A or B Topics in Mathematics Education
Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation

Spring 2009 Math 610A or B Topics in Mathematics Education
Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation

Summer 2009 Math 699 Doctoral Research and Dissertation

COMPLETE DISSERTATION AND GRADUATE

** Math 420 and Math 430 both carry graduate credit, but only one of these two courses may be counted toward a mathematical sciences graduate degree.


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