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Congratulations and welcome to the Mathematics Department at UC Santa Cruz! Please take a few moments to review the below information about what you'll need to do as a new graduate student. Be sure to check your UCSC email frequently for any updates and take some time to navigate through this website.
Graduate Program Contacts
Graduate Program Contacts
Questions about anything on this website can be directed to one of the contacts below.
Update your Campus Directory Profile
Update your Campus Directory Profile
The Campus Directory feeds into the individual Department web page directories. Please update your your student profile directly in the UCSC Campus Directory.
Search for your name in the 'People Search' box.
Select your name to view the current public details.
The "edit" function is located at the bottom of the page.
Upload a photo and complete the "Biographical Information" section. Here is where you can also list your "Research Web Page".
Obtain your Student ID Card
Obtain your Student ID Card
You can pick up your student ID Card at any point when you arrive in Santa Cruz. Please see the ID Card Services website for current information on photo taking and pick up processes.
The ID Card is used to
Access the Mathematics department after-hours. To activate your student ID card for building access, fill out the form at the bottom of the Sciences Building Access and Security page. The Graduate Advisor can be placed as the 'Supervisor' on the form.
Serves as a Metro bus pass. A valid quarter sticker is required as proof of enrollment. Quarter stickers are available for pickup from the Math Office. The student ID Card is not eligible for the 17 route bus.
Provides access to recreation facilities with a valid quarter sticker.
Serves as a university library card. The UPC code on the front of your ID card is your library check out number.
Serves as a Food Services / Flexi-Dollar card. You can view student meal plans on the Dining Services website.
Calendars and Lists
Calendars and Lists
Add the following calendars to your Google Calendar.
Enrollment Deadlines
Requirement Deadlines for ATC
Financial Aid Disbursement Dates
Deadlines to submit for Leave of Absence, Filing Fee, Part-Time Status
Quarter Start and End Dates
Instruction Start and End Dates
Open TA positions in other departments
Get to know your Program's Degree Requirements
Get to know your Program's Degree Requirements
Enroll in Classes
Enroll in Classes
New graduate student enrollment begins on the date indicated on the UCSC Academic Calendar.
During a graduate student's first year in the program, they usually take two core sequences over the course of the year, and MATH 288A and MATH 288B. 'Core courses' are courses numbered 200-210, which consist of the core courses related to the three topics Algebra, Analysis, and Manifolds/Geometry. Ph.D. and Masters students have different requirements regarding the number of core courses that are required.
Below is an example schedule for a first year student. This will be touched on in more detail during Mathematics Graduate Orientation.
Fall
Core Course A
Core Course B
MATH 288A
Winter
Core Course A
Core Course B
MATH 288B
Spring
Core Course A
Core Course B
Additional Course in Mathematics
In addition to the core courses, you should enroll in MATH 288A: Pedagogy of Mathematics in Fall Quarter. This course is required the first quarter you are assigned to TA. It is also a program requirement. You may also take MATH 288B: Pedagogy of Mathematics in Winter quarter. This course is required to hold a Graduate Student Instructor position.
Enrollment is done on MyUCSC, my.ucsc.edu. You can find the Enrollment tab once logged in. Please be sure you've enrolled before the start of the quarter, and any enrollment changes are complete before the date indicated on the academic calendar.
Consider the Preliminary Examinations
Consider the Preliminary Examinations
The preliminary examinations are the first milestones that Ph.D. students work towards. They are required for Ph.D. students. Masters students may choose between the Preliminary Exam track or the Master's Thesis track. Masters students pursuing a Master's Thesis can disregard information regarding preliminary examinations.
A new graduate student may or may not take the preliminary exams in Fall depending on their experience prior to joining our program. A student should take them after completing a core sequence while preliminary exam requirements are not met. One can register for the preliminary exams in Fall using the Preliminary Exam Registration Form.
You can find an archive of previous Preliminary Exams on the Preliminary Exam Archive Google Drive. I recommend looking at these throughout the academic year leading up the exams in Spring. These exams are not trivial, and you might consider preparing for them in parallel with the corresponding core sequence.
The Fall Preliminary Examination Schedule for Fall is as follows:
Analysis - 9/16/25
Geometry - 9/18/25
Algebra - 9/22/25
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