The mathematics department supports an intimate and vibrant doctoral program. All our professors are active in research which provides many choices of research area to doctoral students. At the same time our faculty is devoted to teaching and mentoring of students. Our graduate courses and research seminars provide a great atmosphere for collaborative learning and research. Moreover, the seven other research universities in the Boston area are all within easy reach, providing access to many more classes, seminars and colloquia in diverse areas of mathematical research.
Students admitted to the doctoral program are expected to pass the three oral examinations chosen from among the four topics: (1) Analysis, (2) Algebra, (3) Geometry/Topology, and (4) Applied Mathematics by the end of their second year of graduate study at Tufts; however, it is advisable for teaching assistants to pass them at the latest in January of their second year, to aid us in deciding on renewal of their assistantship. Students who have passed the oral qualifying examinations as well as the course requirements for the masters program can obtain an MA or MS on their way to the PhD. For a fuller statement of PhD degree requirements, click here.
After passing the qualifying examinations, a student is expected to begin work with an advisor on a research area and within a year after passing the qualifying examination to pass an oral candidacy examination, a lecture demonstrating sufficient knowledge of the area to begin work on a dissertation. Also, the student is required to pass a brief language examination, consisting of translating a few pages of mathematical text from French, German or Russian to English. (in certain circumstances, for example for native speakers of one of these languages, the Graduate Committee may waive this requirement). The primary requirement is, of course, the dissertation; there is also a teaching requirement for the PhD.