This handbook has been prepared for the purpose of orienting new students and providing information and assistance to all students in the Department of Mathematics.
Please refer to this handbook while you are in graduate school here; revisions or additions may be made from time to time. In addition, graduate students should be familiar with the "Information for Graduate Students" section of Rice’s General Announcements and the Code of Student Conduct.
THE GRADUATE COMMITTEE
The Graduate Committee is responsible for evaluation of the academic progress of the graduate students in the Department of Mathematics. The Graduate Committee is also responsible for counseling, and most other individual academic issues of first- or second-year graduate students. Normally students with academic problems or concerns will discuss them with their advisor or the Graduate Committee chair. In 2023-2024 the members of the committee are Gregory Chambers, Shelly Harvey, Christopher Leininger (Chair), and Brandon Levin.
THE HONOR SYSTEM
Graduate students are expected to observe the provisions of the Rice University Honor System. In particular, all written examinations and certain specifically designated assignments are conducted under the honor system. The student body at Rice, through its commitment to the honor system, accepts responsibility for assuring the validity of all examinations and assignments conducted under the system. The Honor Council is responsible for investigation of all reported violations and for trial in those cases where the facts warrant. The Honor Council conducts a continuing program to orient new students and faculty members to the responsibilities and privileges of the system.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Requirements for Continued Support
Many students are supported (during the academic year) by university fellowships or research grants. However, continued support is not guaranteed. Unsupported students are responsible for the cost of tuition and fees.
Normally, students who are achieving satisfactory progress towards their degrees will be supported for five years. For students who enter our program with previous training, this figure is four years or less (depending on the training). Support beyond this time frame is decided on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Committee and the principal investigator (in the case of a research grant). No student will be supported beyond the sixth year.
Students who fail to make satisfactory progress in any way may lose their funding. Some examples, any one of which constitutes failure to make satisfactory progress are: Failure to attend required classes, failure to perform TA duties satisfactorily, failure to maintain satisfactory grades, failure to pass the preliminary exams or advanced exams by their deadlines, or failure to proceed satisfactorily on thesis research.
Departmental Teaching Assignments
The department considers teaching experience an essential part of training for a graduate degree. As part of the degree program, all students must perform various duties of approximately eight hours per week (on the average) during the academic year. In particular, all students are required to be in residence at Rice, including finals unless otherwise noted. Exceptions must be sought in advance from the Graduate Committee chair, in writing.
The Graduate Committee chair makes duty assignments each semester after consultation with one or more graduate student representatives and the department chair. There will be a faculty member in charge of each class. When a student is assigned to duties associated to a particular class, then the faculty member associated with that class becomes his/her/their teaching supervisor for that semester. The student should then immediately
contact that faculty member and inquire as to the precise nature of his/her/their duties.
Grading final exams is a primary duty of all graduate students, even those teaching their own class, as well as those supported by VIGRE and RTG awards, by various internal Rice fellowships, or by grants of the faculty. It has often been the case that students teaching their own course grade their own final exams. However, when the instructors of the sections of a course arrange for a common final exam, a graduate student instructor should become part of the grading team, doing work comparable to what would be required to grade all the problems of his/her/their section.
As required by fellowship guidelines, recipients of NSF Graduate Fellowships and Ford Foundation Fellowships will not be required to perform these (teaching and grading) during their years of tenure status. However, a minimum of one year of such training is required for the Ph.D. The recipient may choose to teach a class during their tenure status. In some cases, the graduate committee may decide that recipients of other external fellowships are exempt from teaching and grading duties.
Duties of TA's
In general, TA duties include grading exams in lower division classes, running evening help sessions, holding officehours, running review sessions, writing problem solutions, and grading homework in advanced classes. Other duties of an instructional nature may be appropriate. It is very important to communicate frequently with the faculty teaching supervisor to make sure that you understand which duties are expected of you. You should also communicate any special constraints that might affect your ability to handle certain duties. If your duties are averaging more than eight hours per week, speak to your supervisor and then to the chair of the Graduate Committee. Students who are supported as TA for a sixth year should be prepared for a heavier load of duties, including but not limited to teaching a class for which they are instructor of record
It is your responsibility to understand what is needed and when it is expected, and then to follow through. Do not assume anything, get clarification!
Classroom Teaching
Graduate students are normally expected to teach their own section of a calculus class at least once during their time at Rice. It is strongly recommended they teach in the summer term before the academic year in which they will teach. Students are expected to acquaint themselves with the relevant guidelines for instructors in the mathematics department and at Rice more generally.
Annual progress reports
All graduate students are required to submit to the Graduate Committee by the last day of classes in the Fall term a summary of their progress in the previous year and their goals for the subsequent year. These should be one page in length and will detail the mathematical topics they are studying, the problems they plan to work on, and techniques they would like to bring to bear. Like proposals to funding agencies (e.g., the National Science Foundation), these should be written so that research mathematicians in other fields can assess them.
The Graduate Committee will forward that summary to the student's academic or thesis advisor for comments. The Committee will consider the progress of each student based on the student's transcript and summary, and the advisor's comments. A summary of the committee's view as to whether the student is making reasonable progress or, in the case of unsatisfactory progress, how and by when the deficit must be repaired, will be provided to the student in writing by the chair of the Graduate Committee no later than 24 hours prior to the Spring semester deadline to add courses.
Dismissal, Grievance, and Petition Procedures
The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies has developed procedures for grievances and petitions, which are available https://ga.rice.edu/graduate-students/rights-responsibilities/dispute-resolution/. These govern exceptions to departmental and university requirements, problem resolution, and dismissals. The department has a standing committee to hear graduate student grievances.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Course Selection
Courses for first- and second-year students will be determined by an interview with their assigned advisor. Thereafter, the research advisor will assume this role.
Some graduate students come to Rice after doing graduate work at other institutions. Such a student may be allowed to count certain courses taken elsewhere towards the departmental requirements.
For foreign students, special English courses are offered by the School of Continuing Studies and the Office for International Scholars and Students. For foreign students admitted with a paper-based TOEFL score less than 600, an internet-based TOEFL score of less than 90, a computer-based TOEFL score of less than 250, or an IELTS test score of less than 7, it is mandatory for them to take one of these courses. Other non-native English-speaking students have found these courses very beneficial, as verbal English is frequently harder to understand and communicate than anticipated. The department will usually pick up the cost of these courses.
Most graduate courses carry numbers at the 500- and 600-level. In some cases, courses below the 500 level may not be applicable toward Master’s degree requirements, even though they may be recommended for students lacking a strong undergraduate background in a certain subject. The need for such courses may be determined by the graduate committee during a meeting with each student at the time he/she/they enter(s) graduate school, or subsequently by the student's advisor. Research, seminar, and teaching courses make up the remaining credit hours needed to meet the university requirement of 90 semester hours for the Ph.D.
All students are expected to register for the Colloquium (MATH 680) and the Current Mathematics Seminar (MATH 590). First year students must register for Teaching Seminar (MATH 591) in fall semester and second years students must register for Teaching Seminar (MATH 591) in both fall and spring semesters.
MATH 690 is intended for MATH graduate students pursuing reading courses with a prospective advisor or other faculty member, at early stages of her/his/their training, during fall and spring semesters.
Graduate students who have not yet chosen an advisor should sign up for 9 credit hours of MATH 700 during summer semesters.
Advanced graduate students doing thesis research, who have passed their qualifying and advanced exams, should sign up for a minimum of 3 hours of MATH 800 in fall and spring semesters (the advisor will determine the actual amount of credit given out of the possible 15 hours variable credit), and a minimum of 9 credit hours of MATH 800 during summer. Please note graduate students are not permitted to take more than a total of 18 hours per semester without departmental approval.
The research course serves two main functions:
- It helps to fulfill the number of semester hours of graduate credit that Rice requires for the Ph.D. (60 hours past the Master's).
- A graduate student is required to take a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester in order to establish his/her/their status as a full-time student, enabling Rice to pay a stipend. Full time student status is also a visa requirement for foreign students; see the website of the Office of International Students and Scholarshttps://oiss.rice.edu/ .
Academic Record
Graduate students are expected to maintain an overall graduate-career grade average of B or better (see requirements for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D.). This average includes only grades in courses that a student takes as a Rice graduate student; and, it includes only courses that count toward the 30 hour degree requirement, or that are specifically required of the student by the graduate committee or the student's advisor. In practice, almost all Ph.D. candidates have grade point averages of B+ (3.33) or higher.
General written qualifying exams
There are 3 exams on the topics of algebra, analysis, and topology. These are typically offered 3 times a year, in August and January just before classes begin and in May just after finals. Past exams and syllabi are available on
the department webpage. Students must perform satisfactorily on all three exams by May at the end of the fourth semester. The judgment of satisfactory performance on the examination for either the M.A. or Ph.D. degree is the responsibility of the Graduate Committee.
General guidance and recommendations for qualifying exams:
- Students should consider attempting at least one exam in August and January, and at least two in May of the first year. Starting in August of the second year, students should attempt every exam not passed at every opportunity.
- Students should attempt all six problems when taking an exam. The Graduate Committee prefers complete solutions, with good exposition and clear logic, but students should turn in their work for each problem. There is no set score that determines a pass since some exams may end up being more difficult than others.
- Students should choose the subjects for the exams during the first year based on individual strengths, familiarity with the subject, and advice from the faculty, especially their first year advisor and the graduate chair. Advice from peers regarding any aspect of the exams should be considered secondary to the advice of the faculty.
Advanced Oral Exam
Advanced Oral Exam: A PhD student is expected to complete their advanced oral exam within 6 to 12 months after passing their last written qualifying exams (if a longer timetable is required, the student and faculty advisor should communicate with the Graduate Chair). Preparation for the exam should be carried out in close consultation with the faculty advisor, and involves:
- Choosing a special field (e.g., low dimensional topology, several complex variables, group theory, etc.)
- Writing a syllabus: this consists of a list of specialized topics and resources (chapters of texts and research papers).
- Choosing examination committee, which consists of the faculty advisor and a permanent or tenure/tenure-track faculty member (students may also have an instructor on the committee if the advisor thinks this might be useful).
The format of the syllabus is largely up to the faculty advisor, as is the choice of committee. Once these items have been decided the student submits all information to the Graduate Committee for final approval.
The student is responsible for coordinating with the committee to schedule the exam, which typically lasts 1.5-2 hours; in particular a two-hour time block should be scheduled. The exam is question/answer format and should be held in-person if at all possible (though online exams are acceptable if in-person isn’t possible). The exam is over when the committee is satisfied. After the exam is over, the advisor should complete and submit the “oral exam assessment form” to the DGS within 24 hours.
While students failing the advance examination may, with the approval of the Graduate Committee, retake it on the same or possibly on a different topic, they generally are not allowed to take the advanced oral examination more than twice.
Thesis Advisors
On passage of the advanced exam, the faculty advisor assumes the role of thesis advisor. Students wishing to change their thesis advisor after the advanced exam (but prior to candidacy) should submit a request to the chair of the Graduate Committee. This should include a letter of support from the new advisor addressing whether the student must retake her/his/their advanced exam before making the change. The Graduate Committee will decide whether the change of advisor is approved and whether this is contingent on retaking the advanced exam.
Ph.D. Candidacy
Candidacy requirements are as follows: passing the written qualifying exams, and the advanced oral exam, as well as completing at least 30 hours of coursework (including 6 hours of research MATH 800 and other required courses) approved by the Graduate Committee.
Candidates for the Ph.D. are expected to have attained an overall course grade average of B+ (3.33) or better. If the academic course work is of satisfactory quality, the student's oral exam committee will recommend to the chair of the Graduate Committee that the student be admitted to Ph.D. candidacy.
In less obvious situations, the decision to recommend candidacy may be postponed pending further consideration.
Applications for approval of candidacy for the Ph.D. degree can be downloaded from the Internet and must be filed with the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies before the start of the 9th semester. In all cases, the
final Ph.D. thesis oral examination can be given only after candidacy has been approved.
The formal petition for candidacy must include the title of the thesis approved by the thesis committee, an unofficial transcript, and a list of departmental requirements for candidacy from the General Announcements. The petition should be signed by the chair of the Graduate Committee. It is not necessary that all required courses be completed before Ph.D. candidacy is attained. Students are strongly encouraged to seek Ph.D. candidacy as soon as practicable and not wait until the time boundaries (August 15th, before start of 5th year) are reached.
A student may apply for a Master’s degree upon admission to Ph.D. candidacy. Links to the above-mentioned forms can be found in the Practical Information Section of this handbook under Procedure for Submitting Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Forms.
After the student has been admitted to Ph.D. candidacy, the principal task is to do research.
Master's Requirements and Procedures
There are two paths to a Master’s degree. It is important to distinguish these, as the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requires different paperwork in each situation. The relevant forms are available on their website.
The Non-Thesis Master can be awarded prior to doctoral candidacy. The requirements include satisfactory performance on the written qualifying exams in algebra, analysis and topology; 30 semester hours in a program approved by the Graduate Committee, of which at least 15 hours should be at the 500-level or higher and 24 hours should be taken at Rice; an average of B or better; and at least one full semester in residence at Rice University. Students seeking this degree must file a petition for a Non-Thesis Masters with the Office of Graduateand Postdoctoral Studies.
The Thesis Master also requires 30 semesters hours in a program approved by the Graduate Committee, of which 24 hours should be taken at Rice. The written qualifying exams are not required, but a Master’s Thesis must be submitted and publicly defended. Students seeking this degree must file a petition for Candidacy for a Master's Degree.
Under normal circumstances, students admitted to the doctoral program receive the Non-Thesis Master.
Ph.D. Requirements
- Complete with a grade of B or better a course of study approved by the department (students may transfer credits from another university only with the approval of the Graduate Committee, in accordance with the procedures laid out by the Registrar)
- Have completed four semesters of residency at Rice.
- Pass three written qualifying examinations, covering basic material in algebra, analysis, and topology. The judgement of satisfactory performance on the general examinations for either the MA or PhD degree is the responsibility of the Graduate Committee.
- Pass an advanced examination that covers material in the student's chosen field of specialization.
- Write an original thesis on a topic chosen in consultation with a Ph.D. advisor, and present an oral defense of the thesis acceptable to the department.
- Spend two years in full time study at Rice.
Theses
The Ph.D. thesis is an exposition of the original and independent work performed by the candidate; this statement is also true of the M.A. thesis or research report, but the latter may constitute a "progress report" on research under way, rather than an exposition of completed work. It is expected that the exposition will not only detail the explicit contribution of the candidate, but in addition, will discuss the relationship of that contribution to the general body of knowledge.
It is the candidate's responsibility to arrange with his/her/their committee the date of the Final Thesis Oral Examination.
Departmental Academic Requirements & Policies Life Events
Parental and Sick Leave
A graduate student who is expecting the birth or adoption of a child will be temporarily released from academic and instructional responsibilities as described below, as well as financially supported with a one-time payment equivalent to one month stipend, if they are the primary caregiver. It is important that the student communicate with the Graduate Committee Chair and plan for a meeting in advance of the arrival of the child to ensure timely administration of these additional benefits, as well as the student’s academic advisor to ensure continued success in the graduate program.
During the student’s conversations with the Graduate Committee chair, they will discuss:
- A six (6) weeks release from coursework, CMS and colloquium attendance, and TA responsibilities;
- Postponement of departmental graduate program deadlines, for example, qualifying and advanced exam deadlines; (Note: University deadlines are fixed, however).
- Additional time off from TA responsibilities, up to one semester, for the child's primary caregiver; and
- Any additional financial support possibly available to the student, depending on the student’s needs and department resources.
Similarly, any student who is experiencing medical issues should contact the Graduate Committee Chair to be temporarily released from academic and instructional responsibilities.
University Policies for Leave Absences
The procedure for requesting both parental and medical leave, as well as other types of interruptions of study are handled according to the guidelines in the General Announcements regarding leaves, interruptions of study, and withdrawals. The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies provides information on the types of leave available.The application form can be found in the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies list of forms.
These procedures will be discussed via communications with Graduate Committee Chair.
