Frequently asked questions: sample graduate student courses of study
Our students have a great deal of flexibility in terms of the courses chosen for their degree as well as how quickly they complete the program. Here are a few possible ways of completing the program, with different emphases and at different paces. There are many other possibilities, of course!
These sample programs are for students who have satisfied all undergraduate prerequisites.
Completing the program in one year requires a total of 8 courses, typically done as four courses each semester. Here are some recent examples:
A full-time one year plan, more emphasis on pure mathematics,
starting even-year Fall:
even Fall | A32 Complex I, A35 PDE I, A49 Algebra I, A77 Stochastic Processes I |
odd Spring | B32 Complex II, B35 PDE II, B49
Algebra II, A61 Diff Geom |
A full-time one year plan, more emphasis on pure mathematics,
starting odd-year Fall:
odd Fall | A34 Real I, A49 Algebra I, A63
Topology I, A78 Adv. Stat |
even Spring | B34 Real II, B49 Algebra II, B63
Toplogy II, A43 Logic |
Many of our students are working while studying, including those who are teaching at other institutions or as adjuncts at CUNY. For those, part-time study is more feasible. Here are some sample programs for part-time study:
A part-time two year plan, focusing on pure
mathematics:
odd Fall | A34 Real I, A63 Topology I |
even Spring | B34 Real II, B63 Toplogy II, |
even Fall | A32 Complex I, A49 Algebra I |
odd Spring | B32 Complex II, B49 Algebra II |
A part-time two year plan, focusing more on probability and
statistics:
even Fall | A77 Stochastic Processes I, A35
PDE I |
odd Spring | B77 Stochastic Processes II, B35
PDE II |
odd Fall | A34 Real I, A78 Adv. Stat |
even Spring | B34 Real II, B78 Stat.
Topics |
A part-time three year plan, focusing more on probability,
statistics, and applications:
even Fall | A77 Stochastic Processes I, A34
Real I |
odd Spring | B77 Stochastic Processes
II |
odd Fall | A78 Adv. Stat, A68 Combinatorial
Analysis |
even Spring | B78 Stat. Topics |
even Fall | A35 PDE I |
odd Spring | B35 PDE II. |
For students needing undergraduate prerequisites such as one or more Advanced Calculus courses (of Math 32300 and Math 32404 ) , additional semesters will be required. Though many of the graduate courses require 32404, some do not so it may be possible to take a graduate course or two while completing the undergraduate requirement.
A part-time two-and-a-half year plan, for a student needing
undergraduate prerequisites:
odd Fall | 32300 Adv Calc I, A49 Algebra I |
even Spring | 32404 Adv Calc II, B49 Algebra II |
even Fall | A32 Complex I, A77 Stochastic Processes I |
odd Spring | B32 Complex II, B77 Stochastic Processes II |
odd Fall | A34 Real I, A78 Adv. Stat |
Since the year-long courses start in the fall, depending upon background and interests, it may work out well to begin in the spring if one semester of undergraduate prerequisites are needed. For example:
A part-time two-and-a-half year plan, for a student needing 324
and beginning in spring:
even Spring | 32404 Adv Calc II, A43 Set Theory |
even Fall | A32 Complex I, A49 Algebra I |
odd Spring | B32 Complex II, B49 Algebra II |
odd Fall | A34 Real I, A63 Toplogy I |
even Springl | B34 Real II |
These are some sample courses of study, drawn from examples of what students have done recently. Schedules and interests can vary; please contact the graduate advisor for more specific guidance.