The Drexel doctoral (PhD) in Mathematics program emphasizes original research and scholarly contribution. Students must pass a qualifying exam after their first year and typically complete the program within five years. Doctoral students engage in research seminars, present at conferences, and publish in peer-reviewed journals as part of their academic development.
Drexel's Department of Mathematics explores research interests that include: mathematical biology, applied dynamical systems, combinatorics, matrix and operator theory, geometry, optics, inverse problems, probability, numerical analysis, and partial differential equations.
The Mathematics Department builds a connected community inside and outside of the classroom and across all levels of scholarship. Research seminars and colloquium series led by leading scholars are presented each week. Our department research seminars include: Applied and Computational Math, Functional Analysis and Operator Theory, Combinatorics, and Probability and Statistics. In addition, Drexel's student chapter of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) runs their own seminar series.
At Drexel, you’ll join a vibrant mathematical community where theory meets application—and where your work can make a lasting impact.
Program Format
- Full time, 90 credit program is completed in five years.
- Funding for teaching and research assistants available up to five years.
- Teaching and research assistants are eligible for stipend and tuition remission.
- PhD Student Handbook [PDF]
Program Deadlines
The deadlines below are the dates by which applications must be submitted and all application requirements received.
- Fall (Domestic/International) – December 1
- No Winter, Spring, or Summer Intake
Quicklinks
Core Curriculum
First year core course include:
These courses provide a foundation for the PhD Qualifying Exam taken at the end of the first year.
- Linear Algebra and Matrix Analysis
- Principles of Analysis I,II
- Real Analysis I
- Abstract Algebra I
- Complex Analysis I
In addition to the core courses, recent courses include:
- Ordinary Differential Equations I,II,III
- Partial Differential Equations I,II,III
- Functional Analysis
- Harmonic Analysis
- Operator Theory
- Calculus of Variations
- Optimization
- Mathematical Neuroscience
- Numerical Analysis I,II,III
- Algebraic Combinatorics
Second Year Program Coursework
In the second year, students take advanced courses in preparation for choosing a thesis research area and a PhD thesis adviser. The second year culminates in the PhD Candidacy examination, which has written and oral components.
The bulk of the doctorate Mathematics program is spent in thesis research, which may include delivering research seminars or conference presentations and publishing research articles. The structure of the program allows for completion of a Math PhD in five years.
Math PhD Qualifying Exam
Each student is required to pass a qualifying examination after the first year of study to ensure that they have the potential to complete the Mathematics PhD program. The list of topics is strictly defined (available through the Graduate Program Committee) and parallels roughly the content of MATH 504-506 sequence: Linear Algebra (one term) and Principles of Analysis, I, II (two terms). The syllabi for these courses are standardized. The examinations will be given twice a year, in June and in September.
A student is allowed no more than two attempts for this exam. Unless there are serious extenuating circumstances, the first attempt is to take place no later than June of the first year of study and the second attempt (if it is needed) should take place the next available date.
Qualifier Exam Topics [PDF]
Math PhD Candidacy Exam
The PhD candidacy examination must be attempted for the first time by the end of the second year of study. The examination will take the form of an oral presentation followed by a question period, during which only the PhD candidacy committee will be present. The PhD candidate will prepare a written report corresponding to the presentation and distribute hard copies to the members of the committee no later than 10 days prior to the exam.
The purpose of the oral section of the exam is to present the objectives and merits of the student's proposed research project and to demonstrate his/her knowledge of the methods and techniques used in the general area of the proposed research. The purpose of the written component is to familiarize students with the methods of scientific writing.
This examination will be scheduled individually and is supervised by the PhD candidacy committee. University regulations specify composition of this committee as well as procedures for this examination and re-examination. They currently mandate that the PhD candidacy examination must take place after successful completion of at least one year of graduate work at Drexel, and prior to the end of the second year of doctoral study.
Teaching Fellow Policy for Math PhD Students
The College of Arts and Sciences regards training in pedagogy and instruction to be core to the mission of doctoral education. Therefore, all PhD students in the College are required to perform significant teaching duties (defined over multiple terms) during their pursuit of their degree. These activities may include, but are not limited to:
- Supervising teaching labs
- Running course recitations
- Teaching as the primary instructor
- Running student seminars
- Training junior researchers in core research methods
- Running or actively participating in pedagogical seminars or conferences
Alternate fulfillment of this requirement is at the discretion of the program director and the head of the student's home department.
Recent Dissertations
Mathematics doctoral students complete dissertations on a wide range of topics. We proudly invite prospective students to review recent dissertations authored by our PhD in Physics degree recipients.
Recent Dissertations
Drexel Library: Theses, Dissertations and Projects