A graduate student in the Mathematics Ph.D. program is considered to be making normal progress if he or she:

1. maintains a GPA of at least 3.0;
2. demonstrates satisfactory course performance in at least two of Autumn, Winter and Spring Quarters of the first year and completes satisfactorily during the first year at least two sequences of courses chosen from the list of designated core courses;
3. passes two preliminary exams by the beginning of the second year;
4. completes satisfactorily by the end of the second year three sequences of courses chosen from the list of designated core courses;
5. completes satisfactorily at least three full-year 500-level graduate courses and four quarters of additional 500-level graduate courses by the end of the second year, and passes an evaluation of academic achievement by the Graduate Program Committee during Spring Quarter of the second year;
6. passes one language or computer exam by the end of Summer Quarter preceeding the third year;
7. is admitted, on the basis of preliminary exam and academic performance, into the Ph.D. program by the Autumn quarter of the third year - in particular, three prelims must be passed by this point;
8. has a thesis advisor by the end of Winter Quarter of the third year;
9. passes the second language or computer exam by the end of Summer Quarter preceeding the fourth year; and
10. passes the General Exam by the end of Winter Quarter of the fourth year.

• A graduate student in the Mathematics PhD program is considered to have demonstrated satisfactory course performance in a quarter during the academic year if he or she registers for and satisfactorily completes a set of courses satisfying the registration requirements for that quarter.  Satisfactory performance in a graded course means obtaining a grade of at least 3.0. Courses with grades below 3.0 will not count towards the requirements for a Master's or Ph.D. degree, unless permission is granted by the Graduate Program Coordinator.
• A student may substitute a passing performance in a preliminary exam for satisfactory completion of the corresponding core course.
• A student may substitute completion of a full three-quarter sequence of a designated core course, in which grades of 3.8 or above are received each quarter, for the passing of the corresponding preliminary exam. Only one such exam can be replaced in this manner. First and second year students who have satisfied the requirements for two preliminary exams, who have an established research direction, and who wish to prepare to work under the direction of a specific faculty member, have an additional option, the Oral Prelim Option (click here for a more detailed description):

  Such students may propose a two-quarter program of reading under the direction of a member of the graduate Mathematics faculty. The reading program culminates in an ``Oral Preliminary Examination'' based on a document written by the student. Upon approval of the Graduate Program Committee and provided that the faculty member becomes the official doctoral advisor of the student, the student is judged to have completed prelims.

• A student entering the graduate program in mathematics at the 400 level may be granted a one year extension in order to satisfy items 2 through 6. The decision to grant this extension is made at the time of the evaluation in the spring of the student's second year.
• Failure to maintain normal progress will result in dismissal from the program unless a waiver is granted by the Graduate Program Committee.
• Below follow some remarks that provide more detail regarding prelims and the evaluation of a student made by the Graduate Program Committee during year two. Typically, a student will take at least two preliminary exams in September of the second year of study. In September, after preliminary exams are given, the Graduate Program Committee will evaluate each second-year student, based on prelim exam performance and first-year course performance. Except in cases in which the student has been told in September that support will end after year two, students will be evaluated again in the spring of year two, at which time a decision will be made on renewal of support, based on the overall record including course performance during year two.
• A second-year student who passes three prelims, or who passes two prelims and has completed a full three-quarter sequence of a designated core course in a third area with grades of 3.8 or above each quarter, will be declared to have passed prelims.
• A second-year student who passes two prelims but has not met the criterion of a 3.8 performance in a designated core course in a third area will be considered to be making normal progress. The student can pass prelims by Spring Quarter of year two by taking an additional designated core course and obtaining the grade of 3.8 each quarter. If the student fails to meet this course requirement and is renewed at the spring review, the student can pass prelims the following September by passing one additional exam.
• A second-year student who passes a prelim in one area and meets the 3.8 requirement in one or more designated core courses in other areas will also be considered to be making normal progress. Such a student can complete prelims in the fall of year three by passing one additional prelim exam in a different area.
• A second-year student who passes a prelim in one area but has not met the 3.8 requirement in any designated core course in other areas will not be considered to be making normal progress. Evaluations for such students in September of year two will be made on a case-by-case basis. A student may be given the opportunity to meet the 3.8 requirement in at least one designated core course in year two, in an area other than the passed prelim area, thereby resuming normal progress by the spring. In some cases, a student may be asked to finish the Master's degrees during year two with no expectation of further support after that.
• Second-year students who pass no prelims by September of year two but who meet the 3.8 requirement in two or more designated core courses will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Some will be reconsidered at the spring meeting for renewal of support. If renewed, such a student would be able to pass prelims by passing two exams in suitable areas in September of year three. Others may be asked to finish their Master's degrees during year two with no expectation of further support after that.
• A second-year student who passes no prelims and has completed the 3.8 requirement in at most one core course by September of year two typically will be asked to finish the Master's degree during year two with no expectation of further support after that. However, each case will be considered on its own merits.