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University of Colorado Denver College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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Admission to the PhD Program in Applied Mathematics

The Graduate Program

If you were a former graduate student and are needing to apply for readmission, follow the instructions at: http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/CLAS/current-students/graduate/course-enrollment-registration/Pages/readmission.aspx

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate or master's degree (not necessarily in mathematics) from an accredited college or university, or demonstrate completion of work equivalent to the baccalaureate or master's degree given at UC Denver, with at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA). Applicants to the doctoral program with a GPA in mathematics below 3.2 are unlikely to be accepted without strong supporting evidence. All applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Additionally, applicants are encouraged to take the GRE subject test in mathematics. 

 

Students must also have 30 semester hours of mathematics, at least 24 of which are upper division courses with a grade of B– or better. These courses must include:

  • two semesters of advanced calculus or real analysis (or equivalent)
  • one semester of linear algebra
  • one semester of one of the following:
        • abstract algebra
        • differential equations
        • discrete mathematics
        • probability

Subject to approval by the Graduate Committee, students with prerequisite deficiencies (such as advanced calculus) may be admitted with the understanding that those deficiencies must be removecd after admission. In such cases, credits earned for deficiency course work cannot be applied to a graduate degree. Students who do not have the minimum GPA may be admitted to the MS program provisionally. Provisional students are ineligible for financial aid, teaching assistantships, and/or classification as doctoral students.

PhD students and exceptionally strong MS students are eligible to apply for Teaching Assistantships. To be considered for a teaching assistantship the application packet must be accompanied by a letter indicating interest in an assistantship and citing prior teaching or tutoring experience. At least one letter of recommendation should address the applicant's teaching potential. When the Graduate Committee considers requests for teaching assistants, the primary criterion that is used is academic excellence. Other factors that may be considered include ability to teach lower division mathematics courses, quality of faculty recommendations, and outside employment. The candidate cannot be employed off-campus while holding an assistantship.

A complete application packet includes two official transcripts, at least three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, your online application, and application fee. All information should be received by the Graduate Committee of the Department of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences by the following target dates to be guaranteed full consideration. The application and letters of recommendation should be submitted online through the university application system. International students should submit their applications one month prior to these target dates:

Target Dates for PhD Program

Feb. 1 for the following fall semester

Oct. 1

 for the following spring semester

Feb. 1

 for the following summer semester

Applications received after the target dates may still be considered for admission, depending on space availability.

PhD students and exceptionally strong MS students are eligible to apply for Teaching Assistantships. To be considered for a teaching assistantship, the application packet must be accompanied by a letter indicating interest in an assistantship and citing prior teaching or tutoring experience. At least one letter of recommendation should address the applicant's teaching potential. When the Graduate Committee considers requests for teaching assistants, the primary criterion that is used is academic excellence. Other factors that may be considered include ability to teach lower division mathematics courses, quality of faculty recommendations, and outside employment. The candidate cannot be employed off-campus while holding an assistantship.

There are additional admissions requirements for students who are international applicants. In addition to the requirements stated under the Admissions Requirements tab, the following items also must be included in an application packet.

By university policy, international students must provide financial documentation and certified English translations of all records and references not in English. Applicants whose native language is not English must satisfy the English language requirement in one of the following ways:

  • Submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum acceptable TOEFL scores are 525 (paper), 192 (computer), or 71 (Internet based). The minimum acceptable IELTS score is 6.0.
  • Complete a baccalaureate or graduate-level degree program at an accredited English-speaking college or university.
  • Complete at least two semesters at an accredited college or university in the United States as a full-time student with a B average (3.0 GPA) or higher.

Additional requirements and documentation may also be required by the Office of International Education. For details and procedures, students should consult the Office of International Education. Their e-mail address is: international@ucdenver.edu.

Applications for domestic and international students are accepted online only at:

Apply Online Now