While the Mathematics Department offers three different graduate degrees - M.S., M.A., and Ph.D. - students are considered to be on the M.S. track or the M.A. / Ph.D. track. Within the M.A. / Ph.D. track, there are two options for the Ph.D. degree: the traditional mathematics option, and the research in undergraduate mathematics education (RUME) option.

This is the standard program for most students wishing to get a Ph.D. in Mathematics (either option). More details about the M.A. / Ph.D. program, including graduation requirements, can be found in Section 4 of the Mathematics Graduate Student Handbook.

All students in the M.A. / Ph.D. program (regardless of their future specialization) need to pass the three Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations in the subjects of Algebra, Analysis, and Topology. Each one of these exams is associated with a two-semester graduate course sequence. These courses form the core of our M.A. degree and are also counted towards the Ph.D. degree. Students who pass all three Qualifying Examinations can go into the Ph.D. program in one of the following two options:

• PhD Program (traditional option). This program is essentially the same as the M.A. / Ph.D. program above. The main difference is that students who already have a master's degree in Mathematics may apply directly to this program. Students with a baccalaureate degree apply to the M.A. / Ph.D. program and change to the Ph.D. program on successful completion of the Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations.
  
  The student's ultimate goal in this program is to write and defend a dissertation representing an original contribution to research in mathematics.
  
  
• PhD Program (RUME option). As is the case with the traditional option, students who already have a master's degree in Mathematics may apply to this program, while students with a baccalaureate degree apply to the M.A. / Ph.D. program.
  
  The student's ultimate goal in this program is to write and defend a dissertation representing an original contribution to research in undergraduate mathematics education.

Students with strong mathematical backgrounds are encouraged to take "free shot" attempts at the Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations. These examinations are usually held in August, the week before classes start. These "free shot" attempts are only offered to students when they first enter the program, and results of the free shots do not go on the student's record unless the student passes. For samples of past examinations and some exam syllabi, see here.

The Master of Science (M.S.) program is offered by the Mathematics Department for students who want to pursue studies in mathematics beyond the undergraduate level, but who do not plan to obtain a doctorate in mathematics. Recent graduates of the M.S. program have gone on to careers as actuaries, statistical analysts, and software engineers. Others have become mathematics teachers in settings ranging from middle school to two- year and four-year colleges. Still others have gone on to obtain doctorates and academic positions in other fields besides mathematics, such as economics, mathematics education, and computer science. Details about the program can be found in Section 5 of the Mathematics Graduate Student Handbook.