Students seeking admission to the Ph.D. program in the Department of Mathematical Sciences must meet all the standard requirements for admission to the NIU Graduate School. In addition to the standard requirements for graduate admission, the doctoral program requires degree-seeking applicants to submit the following materials:
Baccalaureate Field: A B.A./B.S. in Mathematics is required to be considered for admission. Outstanding candidates from other related fields with substantial course work in Mathematics will also be considered.
Letters of Recommendation: Three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your academic credentials and abilities to successfully complete a graduate-level degree program. The individuals who will submit a letter on your behalf should be individuals who have a professional or academic relationship with you.
Statement of Purpose: Your statement of purpose should be approximately between 250 and 750 words. It should outline your preparation for graduate study in your chosen field, as well as your goals for graduate school and beyond. In addition, it should explain why you believe the Ph.D. program can best help you meet these goals.
Resume/CV: Copy of your current resume/CV indicating your professional or volunteer experience and other achievements.
Test Scores (GRE): All applicants are highly recommended to provide official scores on all sections of the GRE General Test taken in the past five years. When having your GRE score sent, use institution code 1559. NIU does not require department codes.
Course Requirements
The Graduate Studies Committee of the department will be responsible for approving each student’s program to meet the course requirements specified below. Each student will complete at least 90 hours of course work. In addition, each student should have passed MATH 520, MATH 521, MATH 530, MATH 531, STAT 570, STAT 572, or their equivalents, with a grade B or above before completing the core-course requirement. The committee will assess all work done at other institutions and will grant transfer credit for any graduate work deemed acceptable and subsequently approved by the dean of the Graduate School. The Graduate Studies Committee of the department will also be responsible for the administration of the qualifying and candidacy examinations.
Students who take Group D are expected to fulfill at least 12 semester hours of their elective requirement with a coherent, approved program of courses outside the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
At least 21 hours of elective topics courses and seminars. One seminar must be elected outside the student’s area of study. The topics courses should ordinarily be chosen from the list below. (Elective course work should be chosen so that the program contains a coherent selection of 6 semester hours at the 500-level or above in the mathematical sciences, outside the student’s broad area of study, or in a related discipline.) Repetitions of topics courses and seminars are allowed as subjects vary.
An additional 9-15 semester hours of electives at the graduate level. Elective course work should be chosen so that the program contains a coherent selection of 6 semester hours at the 600-level or above in the mathematical sciences, outside the student’s broad area of study, or in a related discipline.
Applications Involvement Component
Three to 9 semester hours in MATH 792 - Applications Experience, or equivalent experience.
Doctoral Research and Dissertation
At least 24 semester hours in MATH 799 - Doctoral Research and Dissertation.
Qualifying Examination
Whether admission to the program follows completion of a baccalaureate or a master’s degree, each student is required to pass a written qualifying examination administered by the Graduate Studies Committee of the department.
Candidacy Examination
The candidacy examination is an oral examination in the student’s primary area of study and is taken later than the qualifying examination. The committee to hear the candidacy examination will be nominated by the chair of the department and appointed by the dean of the Graduate School.
Applications-Involvement Component
The AIC includes MATH 792, an internship and a final report. Continuous enrollment in MATH 792 is required until completion of the AIC. The completion is determined by the Graduate Studies Committee in consultation with the AIC director.
Dissertation Committee
The dissertation committee for each student will be nominated by the chair of the department and appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. This committee will consist of three to five graduate faculty members and be chaired by the dissertation advisor who has been appointed by the chair of the department.
External Examiner
An external examiner for the doctoral dissertation will be nominated by the chair of the department and appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. The examiner shall submit a written report on the dissertation to the chair of the department, the dean of the Graduate School, and the student’s dissertation committee prior to the oral dissertation defense.
Oral Dissertation Defense
An oral examination on the dissertation will be conducted by the dissertation committee according to the rules of the Graduate School. The oral dissertation defense can only be conducted after the completion of the AIC and the Research Tool requirements. This defense will be open to the university community.
Research Tool Requirement
The Department of Mathematical Sciences requires students in the Ph.D. program to demonstrate proficiency with a research tool appropriate to their area of research.
The arrangement for meeting the research tool requirement is to be approved by the Graduate Director. Satisfactory completion is determined by the Graduate Studies Committee.
Examples of research tools include the following:
Facility with a natural language such as French, German or Russian to the extent necessary to translate a technical article. Students with no prior experience of the language are strongly advised to take the appropriate Summer course from the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
Satisfactory completion of two semesters of MATH 795: Writing in the Mathematical Sciences.
Completion of a coherent sequence of two courses at the 700 level in another unit of the University which contribute significantly to an interdisciplinary aspect of the dissertation.
In no case will defense of a dissertation be permitted until the research tool requirement has been met.
Return to: