Congratulations! You've been accepted to (or already been toiling away for years in) Rice's PhD program in mathematics! So...what do you need to do to graduate?
First and foremost, familiarize yourself with the Department of Mathematics' Graduate Student Handbook. The Handbook contains the most up-to-date information and requirements. What follows on this page is an executive summary (that, by the time you read this, may very well be outdated -- so fact-check all subsequent claims against the Graduate Student Handbook!).
There are four key checkpoints you must clear on your way to the PhD, plus a few ancillary checkpoints.
- What : Three qualifying exams, in algebra, analysis, and topology
- When : By the beginning of your fourth semester
You must pass each of the three subjects. Qualifying exams are offered three times per year: at the beginning of the fall semester, at the beginning of the spring semester, and at the end of the spring semester. You may pass different exams at different sittings.
- What : Oral exam in your intended area of research, moderated by your advisor and at least one other department member
- When : At the discretion of your advisor and the department chairs
- What : Written translation exam in one of French, German, or Russian
- When : Before submission of the petition for PhD candidacy (see below)
Petition for PhD Candidacy
- What : Dossier formally requesting that you be considered for the PhD degree. Comprises
- Doctoral Candidacy Petition Form (C-2)
- Current academic transcript from WebApps (not from Esther! -- see your Department Coordinator)
- List of departmental requirements (again, see your Department Coordinator)
- Departmental checklist to candidacy (see paragraph below)
- When : Before the start of your 9th semester. The exact date of the deadline can be found via Esther, by following the thread: Student Services > Degree Works - Academic Progress > Degree Works (button)
Our wonderful Department Coordinator, Ms. Leismer, has prepared a clean and functional spreadsheet for the Departmental checklist to candidacy.
- What : Showtime
- When : At the total discretion of your thesis committee (when you defend, you will know what this means)
Best wishes, and happy researches!
- Graduate Student Handbook : Rice Department of Mathematics
- Candidacy guidelines : Rice University graduate degrees
- Graduate Student Form Library