Rules

1.

The examination will consist of three tests: two subject tests and one specialty test.

2.

Each subject test is a closed-book, written test of duration three hours. It covers roughly the equivalent of two semesters of study of the subject at the graduate level. The subjects are:

(a)

Ordinary Differential Equations

(b)

Partial Differential Equations

(c)

Numerical Optimization/Numerical Linear Algebra

(d)

Algebra

(e)

Coding Theory and Cryptography

(f)

Design Theory

(g)

Mathematical Statistics

(h)

Linear Statistical Models

The specialty test is either written or oral or a combination of both. The format is determined by the student's advisor.

3.

The three tests will be administered within a fourteen-day period and may be on three consecutive days, but no two tests can be on the same day.

4.

The examination will be given in August (before the fall semester) and January (before or during the first week of the spring semester).

5.

Each test will be graded by a committee of two or more faculty members, which will grade each paper on a pass/fail basis. If the committee is unable to agree on whether a particular paper should be graded as pass or fail, then the Director of Graduate Studies shall appoint an arbitrator. If the specialty test is oral, a committee of three faculty members will attend and grade the test.

6.

Students must pass the comprehensive examination within five years from the time of their first enrollment in the PhD program.

7.

Students have two chances to pass, and may be given a third chance at the discretion of the graduate committee. A student who fails to pass the comprehensive examination within the time limit must leave the graduate program at the end of the semester in which the last failure occurs.

8.

A student failing only one of the three tests need retake only that test, but if two or three tests are failed, the entire examination must be retaken.

9.

Each subject test will follow the corresponding syllabus (attached).

10.

The Director of Graduate Studies will maintain a collection of subject tests from previous years. The syllabi and the test bank will be available to students at all times.

11.

The Director of Graduate Studies shall apply these rules. If a dispute arises, the final interpretation shall be made by the Graduate Committee.