Each Applied Math PhD Student will pass three qualifying requirements as proposed in his/her Study Advisory Plan and approved by the AMSC Graduate Committee.

  1. The first must be a Mathematics Department Written Qualifying Exam in either Algebra, Analysis, Probability, Applied Statistics, or Statistics mathematics area. To prepare, see the scanned copies of old exams.

  2. The second must be a qualifying requirement in his/her application area, whatever form that takes Application Area Qualifying Exam.
    • If a participating department does not offer written Qualifying/Comprehensive exams, presentation of course grades in lieu of the exam as prescribed by the participating department may be submitted to the Graduate Committee for evaluation of pass or fail.

      If you plan to take courses to satisfy qualifying requirements, these courses must be listed on your Study Advisory Plan and approved by the Graduate Committee.

    • In some instances, some participating departments that do not give written exams will give oral examinations (with at least two examiners).

    • All exams and courses will be evaluated at the doctorate or master's level.

    • If coursework is used to satisfy a qualifying exam requirement, the student must submit the Course Evaluation Form.

  3. The third can be either:
    • a second qualifying requirement in his/her application area, whatever form that takes;
    • a second Mathematics Department Written Qualifying Exam in either Algebra, Analysis, Probability, Applied Statistics, or Statistics;
    • pass three courses with a grade of B or better and a GPA of at least 3.5 for PhD students (or at least a 3.0 GPA for MS students), where two of the courses must be from one of the sequences
      • MATH 600-601
      • MATH 630-631
      • MATH 730-740
      • AMSC 660-661
      • AMSC 666-714
      • AMSC 666-715
      • AMSC 673-674
      • STAT 600-601
      • STAT 700-701

and the third course can be drawn from the above list or from

      • MATH 634
      • MATH 642
      • MATH 660
      • MATH 670
      • MATH 712
      • MATH 713
      • MATH 734
      • AMSC 600
      • AMSC 714
      • AMSC 715
      • AMSC 764
      • CMSC 616
      • STAT 650
    • If coursework is used to satisfy a qualifying exam requirement, the student must submit the Course Evaluation Form.

* Students cannot use both the written exam and their respective preparation course(s) as 2 separate qualifying requirements. Please refer to the table below:  

Qualifying ExamPreparation Courses
Analysis MATH 630, 660
Algebra MATH 600, 601
Probability STAT 600, 601
(Mathematical) Statistics STAT 700, 701
Applied Statistics STAT 740, 741

- For example, students cannot use both the Analysis Written Exam and a course work sequence qual that includes MATH630 on their study plan. 

AM/SC Qualifying Exam Substitution

Students who are still deciding between the AM and SC tracks have the option of taking AMSC 660-661 and CMSC616. Successful completion of this sequence (GPA of 3.5 or better for PhD students or a 3.0 GPA or better for MS students) satisfies one qualifying exam requirement for the AM track, or helps fulfill the preliminary coursework requirements for the SC track.