Section 8 Deadlines and benchmarks by year
Subsection 8.1 Year 1
- Each term, formally check in with the graduate office and register for your courses within the first week of the term. Failure to do so can have financial consequences.
- File your signed and approved annual planning document/progress report with the department administrator. See Subsection 8.5 for details.
- Take nine courses including at least 6 classroom courses; fill in with (supervised) Math 127, 137, 158 as needed to maintain required three course load each term. This includes the summer term between Year 1 and Year 2.
- TA for two courses registering for Math 107 in the second term you TA.
- Get involved with seminars and see what various research groups are doing.
- As you look ahead to the formation of your Advancement Committee, you may want to establish informal relationships with faculty. They can give you an early indication of what preparation they expect of students who wish to work with them. These expectations generally will shape your Advancement Examination.
- Applied Math students should plan for their summer research project/internship for the coming summer. It is imperative that students who wish to do an internship discuss this with either their first-year advisor or a potential committee member by February 1 since application deadlines for internships are often due by mid-February. Students also need to submit a plan for the summer project which has been approved by the two-person advisory committee to the GPC for approval by the end of spring term.
- Pure Math students are strongly encouraged to take the summer seminar Math 117, and should be thinking about the formation of their Advancement Committee who will help guide the student through the second year advancement process.
- Take preliminary exam in either pure or applied Math.
Subsection 8.2 Year 2 — Applied Math
- Each term, formally check in with the graduate office and register for your courses within the first week of the term. Failure to do so can have financial consequences.
- File your signed and approved annual planning document/progress report with the department administrator. See Subsection 8.5 for details.
- Take nine courses including at least 4 classroom courses; among these should be the second offerings of Math 106 and 116 as well as other topics courses; fill in with (supervised) Math 127, 137, 158 as needed to maintain required three course load each term, including the summer term between Year 1 and Year 2.
- TA for two courses registering for Math 107 in the second term you TA.
- Written report of your summer research, to be followed by oral presentation and exam in the fall.
- Complete theoretical and practical aspects of pedagogical training. Register for Math 147 when taking the DCAL seminar and Math 148 when satisfying the practicum requirement. Be aware of ongoing requirements if a certificate in pedagogy will be sought.
Subsection 8.3 Year 2 — Pure Math
- Each term, formally check in with the graduate office and register for your courses within the first week of the term. Failure to do so can have financial consequences.
- File your signed and approved annual planning document/progress report with the department administrator. See Subsection 8.5 for details.
- Take nine courses including at least 4 classroom courses; among these could be second offerings of Math 111, 113, and 114 as well as other topics courses; fill in with (supervised) Math 127, 137, 158 as needed to maintain required three course load each term, including the summer term between Year 1 and Year 2.
- TA for two courses registering for Math 107 in the second term you TA.
- Assemble your three-person Advancement Committee, formulate the details of your Advancement Exam and submit the approved plan to the GPC by the end of fall term.
- Complete all the requirements of the Advancement Exam by the end of winter term; exceptions must be granted by the GPC.
- Complete theoretical and practical aspects of pedagogical training. Register for Math 147 when taking the DCAL seminar and Math 148 when satisfying the practicum requirement. Be aware of ongoing requirements if a certificate in pedagogy will be sought.
Subsection 8.4 Years 3-5
- Each term, formally check in with the graduate office and register for your courses within the first week of the term. Failure to do so can have financial consequences.
- File your signed and approved annual planning document/progress report with the department administrator. See Subsection 8.5 for details.
- Take at least 6 classroom courses over the three-year span, keeping your average to 2 courses per year; fill in with (supervised) Math 156, 157, 158 as needed to maintain required three course load each term.
- Register for Math 149 each time you are teaching for the department.
- Continue your research, write up results and post to the arXiv, attend seminars and relevant conferences.
Subsection 8.5 Annual Graduate Student Planning/Progress Reports
At the start of every fall term, graduate students should write a 1-2 page progress/planning document containing
- a short progress summary (a paragraph or two on what you have been up to, nothing for students in year 1), and
- a plan indicating what you will be doing in the next year (courses, how your research is progressing, possible summer plans, etc.).
- Be sure to count your classroom courses and indicate your plan to address the classroom course requirement (six courses in year 1, four courses in year 2, six in years 3-5).
The purpose of this document is to provide an opportunity to formulate and record your intentions and goals for the year, in consultation with your advisors.
There is no template for these reports. Of course the plan does not fix anything in place, and you may change your plans as the year progresses, keeping in touch with your advisors.
Graduate students should prepare a first draft of this plan, then meet with their advisors to discuss their plan and obtain their signatures. For students in years 1 and 2, this means your primary advisor and the graduate advisor; for students in years 3-5, this means your primary and secondary advisor. This should be completed by mid-October, and then the signed plan should be emailed to the departmental administrator.
