Students are expected to take for credit three undergraduate or graduate courses each term. Below we list the possibilities for designing a schedule. Note that students who are first-time TAs and have TA appointments that involve leading discussion sections are required by the College of Natural Sciences to take M 398T, so have only two courses to choose.
The primary goals of the first two years of graduate school are two-fold: the first is to complete the prelim requirement; the second and possibly more important is to find a thesis advisor. Students should keep the second objective in mind while working on the first.
Just to review the prelim requirement: A student must pass the prelim in one area, either pass the prelim or qualify for (by getting an "A" in each semester of the prelim sequence) and complete the prelim option in a second area, and finally earn at least a "B" each semester in the prelim sequence in a third area. Prelims are offered in Algebra, Analysis, Applied Math, Numerical Analysis, Probability and Topology. Students who have decided on a thesis topic (and an advisor) outside these areas (math biology, for example) can sometimes by petition to the ASGSC and by request of their advisor replace one of these areas with an oral in their special area.
Students should consult the appended list as to what the appropriate backgrounds are for each prelim course. We also provide a list of courses that will help a first-year graduate student pass from a student with the required preparation to the position of student with an excellent background. Students should not hesitate to take one prelim course for which they have only the necessary background, but it is suggested that a student not take several prelim courses at the same time without being well-prepared for all but one of them.
Please note that the Applied Math prelim covers applied functional analysis and is useful for differential topology and analysis students.
Also note that the standard way to experiment and investigate whether a particular professor would be a good match for you as a thesis advisor is to take a reading course with that professor. However, professors do differ as to what they require in order to agree to supervise a reading sourse.
The following are guidelines ONLY. They are meant to help students choose a program of study wisely.
- Students with missing background in all subjects: undergraduate courses (with or without M398T, depending on financial aid status).
- Students with some missing background: mixture of undergraduate, prelim preparation, and prelim courses.
- Students with excellent preparation in one course (or none): mixture of prelim and prelim preparation courses.
- Students with excellent preparation in two areas: prelim courses.
- Students with excellent preparation in three areas: mixture of prelim and advanced topic or reading courses.