UF Mathematics

Ph.D. Comajor
with Statistics

Overview of the program:

The Departments of Mathematics and Statistics jointly offer a Doctor of Philosophy degree with a comajor in mathematics and statistics for graduate students who wish to combine the strengths of both departments in a single degree program.

Admission to the program:

Students completing the M.S. or M.A. degree in Mathematics or the M.S. or MSTA degree in Statistics at the University of Florida who wish to continue into the Ph.D. Comajor program must request approval from the Graduate Committee of the Department of Mathematics or the Graduate Program Committee of the Department of Statistics. This should be done in writing during the final semester of the Master's program. The appropriate Graduate (Program) Committee will determine suitability of master's students for entry into the Ph.D. Comajor program based on their overall performance in the master's program.

Students in the Ph.D. program of either department who wish to enter the Ph.D. Comajor program must also apply in writing to one of the Graduate (Program) Committees.

Courses:

Each student will plan with the Graduate Committee an appropriate program of courses to give the student a broad knowledge of the major areas of mathematics and statistics, as well as to prepare the student to do research in a particular field.

The total number of semester hours required is 90. Of the 90 hours, at least 6 courses (including at least 4 at the 6000+ level) must be in Mathematics, with a grade of B or better. At least 5 courses (including at least 3 at the 6000+ level) must be in Statistics, with a grade of B or better.

Note that students will not be required to take the full complement of Master's level courses in both disciplines, provided they meet the above course requirements.

Examinations:

Students must:

(1) demonstrate mastery of basic concepts of real analysis and algebra

(2) demonstrate mastery of basic concepts of theoretical statistics and applied statistics

(3) demonstrate all-round competence expected of a Ph.D. Comajor in Mathematics and Statistics

(4) prepare, present and defend a dissertation

The requirements in (1) may be fulfilled by either obtaining grades of Pass or High Pass on both parts of the First Year written examination given by the Department of Mathematics during the first two weeks of each semester, in May, September and January. In normal circumstances, a student is expected to pass each part in no more than three attempts.

The requirements in (2) may be fulfilled by either obtaining grades of Pass or High Pass on both parts of the Masters Comprehensive Examination given by the Department of Statistics. In normal circumstances, a student is expected to pass each part in no more than two attempts.

To fulfill (3), the student must pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination which consists of three parts, two written and one oral. One written exam must be from the Department of Mathematics and the other from the Department of Statistics, in areas determined by the Supervisory Committee. The student must pass each written part in no more than two attempts.

The oral exam is on the research proposal and other appropriate material at the Supervisory Committee's discretion. The two written exams must be passed before the oral part of the Qualifying Exam is taken. The oral examination must be taken no later than the beginning of the fourth year of graduate study. A student may normally take the exam only once. The student is normally "admitted to candidacy" when these requirements are satisfied.

The dissertation in (4) must show independent investigation and be acceptable in form and content to the supervisory committee and the Graduate School.

Supervisory Committee:

At the doctoral level, each student in the comajor program will form a supervisory committee which shall consist of no fewer than 5 members, at least two from each department and at least one from a discipline other than the two comajor fields. Formed with the approval of both departmental chairs, this supervisory committee will be responsible for determining both written Ph.D. examinations and administering the oral Ph.D. qualifying examination and the final defense.

Last modified on 6/14/00