minnesota math phd

PhD in Statistics

The PhD degree in statistics is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in statistics research in academia, government, or industry. The curriculum is designed to provide a strong in-depth and broad training in statistical theory, methodology, computation, and applications. Students begin their research experience in the first year and participate in on- or off-campus internships in the second year. These provide a well-rounded, solid education for graduates to assume and advance their roles as university professors, senior statisticians, or data scientists.

Dissertations

While PhD students are engaged in research from the first year, they formally begin their dissertation work after completing their doctoral preliminary exams. Dissertations may be oriented toward applied statistics, computational methods, theoretical statistics, or probability. It typically takes one to two years to complete and defend the dissertation work. The dissertation is expected to be of publishable quality in reputable academic journals. Almost all PhD students complete the degree in five years.

College Resources for Graduate Students

Visit CLA’s website for graduate students to learn about collegiate funding opportunities, student support, career services, and more.

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University of Minnesota Morris

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Mathematics

As a student at UMN Morris pursuing a major or minor in mathematics, you’ll start by learning mathematical principles to create a framework for the area of mathematics you're interested in or that applies to your desired field. You’ll be able to choose from a wide range of courses that cover a variety of math topics, including those that provide in-depth focus on a specific area of mathematics. Courses are rigorous and taught from multiple approaches. You'll learn quantitative literacy while developing problem-solving and logical thinking skills. 

The math curriculum at UMN Morris is designed to help you develop an expertise in mathematical techniques and methods, sharpen your mathematical intuition and abstract reasoning, and stimulate the type of independent thinking required for research beyond the confines of the textbook. The math curriculum also emphasizes the role mathematics plays in the development of civilization and in our society.

An important component of the liberal arts core, mathematics helps build the analytical and critical thinking skills vital to a well-rounded education, skills that are also highly attractive in a demanding job market in constant change.

Degree Requirements

• Major Requirements
• Minor Requirements
• Four-Year Sample Plan 1
• Four-Year Sample Plan 2
• Four-Year Sample Plan 3
• Three-Year Sample Plan

All mathematics courses, from freshman level to senior level, are taught by experienced, full-time math professors who have a broad expertise. Those with expertise in pure mathematics are able to offer advanced courses in abstract algebra, combinatorics, differential geometry, number theory, real and complex analysis, and topology; faculty members with expertise in applied mathematics are able to offer advanced courses in partial differential equations, mathematical modeling, optimization and operations research, applications of graph theory, and applied numerical analysis. 

Teaching Licensure

If interested in pursuing a teaching license in mathematics, you’ll need to complete the mathematics major with geometry, discrete mathematics, and history of mathematics as part of the curriculum. In addition, you’ll need to fulfill the professional education program , which includes student teaching.

Student Learning Outcomes

By completing a degree in mathematics, you will be able to 

• problem solve using mathematical techniques and methods; 
• use mathematical intuition and abstract reasoning, along with quantitative literacy;
• stimulate the type of independent and critical thinking required for research beyond the confines of the textbook;
• make mathematical contributions to modern society;
• do in-depth and independent mathematics-related research projects that require you to integrate your mathematical knowledge from different areas;
• observe and communicate how the development of mathematics has been part of historical and current cultural and scientific developments; and
• enter graduate school, pursue a career in applied mathematics, or teach mathematics.

General Education Requirements

The University of Minnesota and its faculty are committed to providing an education that invites you to investigate the world from new perspectives, learn new ways of thinking, and grow as an active citizen and lifelong learner. The University’s general education requirements are designed to be integrated throughout your four-year undergraduate experience. These courses provide you an opportunity to explore fields outside your major and complement your major curriculum with a multidisciplinary perspective.

• Learn more about UMN Morris General Education Requirements
• World Language Placement Exam
• Math Placement Exam

Put your credits to work for you at UMN Morris, where you’ll earn a degree from a highly ranked public liberal arts university. 

Learn more about how we transfer credits

Careers & Graduate School

A mathematics degree from UMN Morris gives you the foundation to contribute to our community and society, either as a mathematician or in one of the many careers available to graduates of the program.

While 35 percent of mathematics graduates go on to teach math, many have gone into a variety of industries and have been hired by a variety of companies, some of which include:

• Delta Airlines
• Mayo Clinic
• Federal Express
• Lockheed-Martin
• Office of Naval Research
• Argonne National Laboratory
• National Security Agency

Recent Examples of Occupations

• Financial analyst 
• Data scientist 
• Operations engineer 
• Actuarial scientist 
• Operations consultant
• Insurance analyst
• Patent lawyer
• K-12 teacher 
• Professor/researcher

Graduate School

In addition to careers in the government and private sector, 35-40 percent of UMN Morris mathematics alumni have continued on to graduate and professional studies in mathematical sciences, engineering, computer science, natural and physical sciences, economics and management, law and social science. 

They have enjoyed great success in admission to advanced degree programs at distinguished institutions like:

• Arizona State University
• Baylor University
• Bowling Green State University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Colorado State University
• Cornell University
• Georgetown University School of Law
• George Washington University
• Hamline University
• Harvard University
• Indiana University
• Iowa State University
• Kansas State University
• Naval Postgraduate School
• Northwestern University
• Princeton University
• Purdue University
• Rice University
• Southern Illinois University
• Texas A&M University
• University of Colorado
• University of Idaho
• University of Iowa
• University of Massachusetts
• University of Michigan
• University of Missouri-Columbia
• University of Utah
• University of Nebraska
• University of Texas
• University of Wisconsin
• Washington University
• Yale University School of Law

Cost of Attendance

The University of Minnesota Morris is a national public liberal arts college committed to making a high-quality education available to students from across the country. Expenses for housing, meals, books and supplies, transportation, loan fees, and personal expenditures can vary.

Emil and Lois Anderson Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Denise Anderson ‘83 and Laura Newman ’88 to honor their parents. Emil and Lois consistently encouraged the educational aspirations of all of their children, with their two daughters graduating from the University of Minnesota Morris and their son attending the University of Minnesota. Denise and Laura feel that UMM’s environment, where student education is the top priority, allowed them to thrive. This scholarship is their way to perpetuate that in future generations.

All Available Scholarships

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Research & Engagement

With the research expertise of the UMN Morris mathematics faculty and the dedication of the mathematics program to successfully integrate students into the field, you’ll have ample opportunity to participate in substantive research projects.

In addition to the required math senior seminar course, you’ll have the chance to work with faculty on in-depth, independent mathematics-related research projects outside of classes. You’ll be able to integrate your mathematical knowledge from different areas, to apply techniques to solving complex systems and to enhance your communication skills by way of written reports and oral presentations. 

Examples of Past Research Projects

• "Using Vertex Coloring to Optimize Complex Scheduling Problems"
• "Applications of Graph Theory to Designing Efficient Snow Plow Routes"
• "Mathematical Modeling of Pollution Trends in a Connected Lake System"

Opportunities for Students

Undergraduate research symposium.

The Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) offers students an opportunity to present research plus scholarly and creative work. Types of presentations include posters, oral presentations, and short or abbreviated theatrical, dance, or musical performances.

• Creative Activity

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides University of Minnesota undergraduates from every college, major, and discipline, the opportunity to partner with a faculty member on research or creative projects.

Morris Academic Partnership

The University of Minnesota Morris offers the Morris Academic Partnership (MAP) program, in which faculty select academically talented, qualified second-year and third-year students to assist them in scholarly and creative projects. Selected MAP students undertake assignments intended to enhance their intellectual competence and increase their interest in graduate or professional study.

• Morris Academic Partnership (MAP)

Quick Facts

Admissions University of Minnesota Morris Welcome Center 600 E Fourth Street Morris, MN 56267 888-866-3382 [email protected]

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University of Minnesota: School of Mathematics

The University of Minnesota is a large land grant university located on the banks of the Mississippi River as it flows through Minneapolis. The School of Mathematics has about sixty faculty covering essentially all areas of mathematics. The School has a long history of interdisciplinary research, but is equally strong in the core areas of mathematics.

Students have opportunities to participate in programs at the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, the Minnesota Center for Financial and Actuarial Mathematics, the Minnesota Center for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the School of Mathematics Center for Educational Programs. PhD alumni and alumnae are spread throughout universities, colleges, industry, and national labs.

Programs offered

PhD in mathematics has two tracks: regular track and applied track; MS in mathematics; MS in industrial and applied mathematics; MS in mathematics with an emphasis on education; MS in Financial Mathematics.

Student body profile

Current PhD Student Demographics

• 78 US White
• 2 US African-American
• 3 US Hispanic
• 38 International

Roughly 40% of the PhD students are female.

The MS programs are small, with the exception of Financial Mathematics, which has about 100 students, mostly international.

Funding opportunities

PhD program:

All PhD students are offered six years of funding, conditioned on satisfactory academic progress and satisfactory performance of assigned duties.

Funding consists of a stipend, tuition, and a substantial contribution to health insurance. Most students are funded as teaching assistants, but many are funded as research assistants on the grants of faculty, and some are funded through external fellowships and the University of Minnesota Fellowships.

MS program:

The Masters's programs are not funded, with the exception of the program with an emphasis in education, which offers teaching assistantships.

More information

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Mathematics, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. program does not require an M.A. degree, but applicants who are accepted should show, on the basis of their undergraduate record and recommendations, that they possess not only marked promise in mathematical activities but the potential to perform on a creative level. Like the M.A. program, admission may be granted on a provisional basis.

Advance to Candidacy:  In addition to completing the course requirements below,  students must pass two qualifying exams, and in addition must take and pass four semesters of courses from a specific list with a grade of B or better, and an overall grade point average of at least 3.3 in these four courses.  These four courses must be distinct from the ones supporting the qualifying exams and c onstitute the third and final qualifying exam requirement. The two qualifying exams and four additional courses, must be passed/completed by January of the student's third year in the graduate program. A student may alternatively take and pass a third (and possibly, a fourth) qualifying exam in place of two (or four) qualifying courses. If successful in these written examinations and courses, students must do advanced reading and coursework in their special area of interest before they can be admitted to candidacy and begin dissertation research.  

The purpose of the written qualifying exams is to indicate that the student has the basic knowledge and mathematical ability to begin advanced study. Passing the exams is thus supposed to certify understanding of (selected) first-year graduate material. These examinations are given twice a year, in January and August. A student may take one or more examinations at a time. 

Before advancing to candidacy, students must also obtain the consent of a faculty member who will accept the responsibility of directing a dissertation.

Post-Candidacy:   Complete at least 12 credits of MATH899 Doctoral Dissertation Research and successfully defend a dissertation. The dissertation must represent an original contribution to mathematical knowledge and is usually published in a mathematical journal.

At least 27 credits at the 600-700 level and at least 18 credits in the Department of Mathematics.

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The PhD concentration in finance emphasizes theoretical economics and provides a rigorous, analytically-grounded education. The Finance Department has a long and prominent intellectual history. Ideas that we now take as commonplace, such as moral hazard problems caused by deposit insurance and the Hansen-Jagannathan bounds in asset-pricing, have their origin at the Carlson School.

About the Program

Faculty members are also dedicated to producing top-flight scholars by offering both doctoral courses that focus on cutting edge research as well as collaborative research opportunities. Students who have strong interests and abilities in quantitative methods, mathematics, and economics will find this program both challenging and stimulating.

Our faculty members are more than just educators; they are accomplished leaders in the finance industry and dedicated researchers shaping the future of finance.

The PhD finance concentration requires a strong mastery of economic theory.

Get to know current students in the PhD Finance program.

Learn more about their educational background, expertise, and research interests. 

Finance Seminars & Conferences

Learn more about the events and conferences presented by the Carlson School of Management's Finance Department.

Alumni Perspectives

Hongda Zhong

"I enjoyed each and every day of my five-year PhD study at the Carlson School of Management. Here, we have world-leading scholars who care and nurture PhD students. Faculty and students constantly discuss research ideas and collaborate on joint projects in a collegial atmosphere. The rigorous academic standard and the patient guidance from my advisory team prepared me for my future career in academia. PhD life in Minnesota is fun as well, camping, hiking, road trip, just to name a few. Even in the winter, life is never boring. I miss my time with my classmates to go ice fishing and skiing. The helpful staff in the school also made all administrative processes very straightforward. In short, Carlson offers everything I wished for as a PhD student and I wish you the opportunity to share my joy."

Assistant Professor of Finance Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas

More about Hongda Zhong

Get in touch

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