Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics

See the catalog copy of the description of the Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics program.

1. Overview

A student in the Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics degree program must maintain satisfactory academic progress towards completion of the degree. Student satisfactory academic progress is primarily assessed by: (a) satisfactory coursework performance, (b) the Qualifying Examination, (c) the Dissertation Topic Approval Defense, and (d) the Dissertation Defense. Courses and the Qualifying Examination are used to ensure that the student has the breadth as well as the depth of knowledge needed for research success. The Dissertation Topic Approval Defense is used to ensure that the scope of dissertation research is important, that the plan is well thought out, and that the student has sufficient skills and thoughtfulness needed for success. The Dissertation Defense is used to assess the outcomes of the dissertation research, and whether or not the plan agreed upon by the Dissertation Committee has been appropriately followed.

The key requirements and milestones for the Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics degree are provided below. Failure to satisfy the requirements can result in suspension or dismissal from the program.

  • Minimum Hours
  • Degree Requirements
  • Additional “Core” Courses
  • Qualifying Examination
  • Dissertation Committee
  • Dissertation Topic Approval Defense
  • Dissertation Defense
  • Graduation

2. Minimum Hours

To earn a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics degree, a student must complete at least 56 approved post baccalaureate credit hours. This includes 2 hours of Responsible Conduct of Research (GRAD 8302), at least 18 hours of dissertation research and reading (MATH 8994), and the hours for the interdisciplinary minor. Graduation requirements mandate that students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to graduate. Receiving more than two grades of C or a single grade of U in any graduate course will result in a suspension from the program.

A limited amount of transfer credit is allowed. In accordance with rules of the UNC Charlotte Graduate School, students are allowed to transfer up to 30 semester hours of graduate credit earned at UNC Charlotte or other recognized graduate programs. Only courses with grades A or B may be accepted for transfer credit. To receive transfer credit, students must file an online request (and submit all necessary documents including copies of transcripts and course syllabi if requesting to transfer non-UNC Charlotte courses).

File an online request to transfer post-Baccalaureate credits at http://gpetition.charlotte.edu.

3. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Please see the catalog copy of the description of the Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics program for the updated degree requirements.

4. Additional “Core” Courses

The following courses, though not explicitly required, are strongly recommended for each area of study.

Computational Math: MATH 5165, 5171, 5172, 5173, 5174, 5176, 8172, 8176

PDE and Mathematical Physics: MATH 5173, 5174, 8172

Probability: MATH 5128, 5129, 8120, 8125

Dynamical Systems: MATH 5173, 5174, 7275, 7276, 7277

Topology: MATH 5181, 8171, 8172 and independent study

Algebra: MATH 5163, 5164, 8163, 8164, and 8065 and/or independent study

Mathematical Finance: MATH 6202, 6203, 6204, 6205, 6206

5. Qualifying Examination

After being admitted to the Ph.D. program, students are expected to take the qualifying examination within three semesters. This time limit may be extended for up to two additional semesters in certain cases, depending on the background of the student and with program approval.

The qualifying examination for the Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics consists of the following two parts.

The qualifying examination for the Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics with a Concentration in Statistics consists of the following two parts.

  • Part I: A written examination based on Theory of Statistics I and II (STAT 8116 and STAT 8117).
  • Part II: A written examination based on Applied Statistics I and II (STAT 5123 and STAT 5124).

Students may be allowed to retake a part of the qualifying examination a second time if they do not pass that part on the first attempt within the guidelines of the Graduate School regulations pertaining to the qualifying examination and as overseen by the department Graduate Committee. Students must pass the qualifying examination by the end of the 5th semester of study. Students who do not complete the qualifying examination as per the regulations of the Graduate School are terminated from the Ph.D. program.

Complete and submit the following form after taking the Qualifying Examination.
(Qualifying Exam Report Form) -> Graduate School form.

6. Dissertation Committee

Each student has a dissertation committee appointed by the department Graduate Committee in consultation with the student and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. A dissertation committee must consist of at least four graduate faculty members, including the Graduate Faculty Representative appointed by the Graduate School. The committee is typically chaired by the student’s dissertation advisor. If the dissertation advisor is a graduate faculty member from an outside department or institution, a graduate faculty member from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics must be a co-chair of the committee. The dissertation committee should be appointed as soon as is feasible, usually within a year after passing the qualifying examination. Prior to the appointment of the dissertation committee the student is advised by a graduate faculty member appointed by the department Graduate Committee.

The Dissertation Committee should be appointed as soon as it is feasible, usually within a year after passing the Qualifying Examination.

Complete and submit the following form within a year of passing the Qualifying Examination.
(Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee Form) -> Graduate School form.

7. Dissertation Topic Approval Defense

After a student completes the qualifying examination and advanced coursework, the student, in consultation with the student’s dissertation advisor, may propose a dissertation topic. The dissertation topic proposal must be articulated and defended at a meeting of the student’s dissertation committee. A written dissertation proposal must be submitted to the dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the scheduled defense. The student is expected during the course of the topic defense to outline and demonstrate sufficient proficiency with the advanced knowledge and techniques to be used in the conduct of the research. The topic approval defense and the committee’s deliberations in this regard are to be conducted according to the pertinent regulations of the Graduate School. A doctoral student advances to candidacy after the student’s dissertation committee and the Dean of the Graduate School have approved the dissertation topic proposal. A student may retake the dissertation topic approval defense if they fail the first time. The second failed attempt will result in the termination of the student’s enrollment in the Ph.D. program. It is expected that the student first take the proposal defense by the ninth semester after enrollment to provide time for a second try should the first one fail. A doctoral student advances to Ph.D. candidacy after the dissertation proposal has been successfully defended. Candidacy must be achieved at least six months before the degree is conferred (so if you plan to graduate in a spring semester with the commencement on May 14, then you would need to successfully defend your dissertation topic by November 13 the prior year.)

The student must follow the following procedure in order to defend the dissertation proposal.

  • Communicate with the Dissertation Committee to set up a date/time for the oral defense, and reserve a defense room for at least two hours.
  • Send an electronic or written copy of the dissertation proposal to each member of the Dissertation Committee at least two weeks prior to the oral defense.
  • Inform the Graduate Coordinator the schedule at least one week prior to the oral defense.

Complete and submit the following form only after successfully passing the Dissertation Topic Approval Defense.
(Petition for Topic Approval Form) -> Graduate School Form.

8. Dissertation

A student must orally present and successfully defend the dissertation before the student’s doctoral dissertation committee in a defense that is open to the public. A working copy of the dissertation must be made available to each member of the student’s dissertation committee at least three weeks prior to the public defense, and along with the dissertation, the student must share their iThenticate similarity report with the committee. A copy of the dissertation must be made available to the graduate faculty of the department at least two weeks prior to the public defense. The final defense and the committee’s deliberations in this regard are to be conducted according to the pertinent regulations of the Graduate School: All members of the committee, including the Graduate Faculty Representative, must attend the defense; the decision of the committee is final; in the rare event of a split decision, typically the committee members come to an agreement as to whether the student defense is acceptable; it is the responsibility of the committee chair to work within their ability to resolve any impasse among committee members; if no resolution is feasible, then the chair should consult with the Graduate School; and no student is permitted to take the final dissertation defense more than twice.

The student must follow the following procedure in order to defend the dissertation.

  • Communicate with the Dissertation Committee to set up a date/time for the public defense, and reserve a defense room for at least two hours with the help of the Graduate Coordinator.
  • Send an electronic or written copy of the dissertation to each member of the Dissertation Committee at least three weeks prior to the public defense.
  • Send an electronic copy of the dissertation in PDF as well as an abstract in a separate word file to the Graduate Coordinator at least two weeks prior to the public defense. The abstract is limited to 200 words, and does not have to be the same as the abstract included in the dissertation.
  • Submit your dissertation defense announcement to the general public through this link.
  • Prepare a presentation that should be at least 45 minutes long.

Complete and submit the following forms after defending your Dissertation.
(Dissertation Report for Doctoral Candidates Form) -> Graduate School Form.

Also, submit the Dissertation Title Page with Original Committee Signatures.

In addition, submit ETD Signature Form with original committee and student signatures to the Graduate School within 24 hours after defense.

9. Graduation

Detailed information about graduation including the dissertation manual can be found on the Graduate School’s Graduation website.

Pay attention to the various deadlines in the official UNC Charlotte academic calendar, in particular, the following deadlines if you are planning to graduate.

  • Deadline for graduate students to apply for graduation
  • Doctoral dissertation pre-defense formatting consultation deadline
  • Doctoral dissertation defense deadline
  • Doctoral dissertation post-defense formatting consultation deadline
  • Last day to submit doctoral dissertations to Graduate School