Graduate Programs Committee

• Dr. H. Boas
• Dr. K. Dykema
• Dr. Y. Efendiev
• Dr. P. Lima-Filho (Chair)
• Dr. V. Nekrashevych
• Dr. J. Walton
• Dr. S. Witherspoon

Advising

Special Notes on Degree Plans and Annual Progress Review

1. It is expected that students will maintain a GPR of 3.0 or better overall and on courses taught by the Mathematics Department. In both cases, the GPR is computed only on those courses from either inside or outside the Mathematics Department that can potentially be included in a graduate mathematics degree plan. Students whose GPR falls below 3.0 may be given an additional two semesters in which to bring it back up to 3.0 or above.
   
   
2. It is expected that most students entering the M.S. program with a B.S. degree in mathematics will complete all degree requirements within four academic semesters of full-time course work. Students may be given an additional two academic semesters in which to complete all degree requirements.
   
   
3. Students in the Ph.D. program are expected to pass two departmental Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations within the time frame specified in the Ph.D. guidelines.
   
   
4. It is expected that most students entering the Ph.D. program with a B.S. degree in mathematics will have formed an advisory committee and have completed the Preliminary Examination by the end of the fourth year (third year for students entering the program with an M.S. degree) in the program. Furthermore, it is expected that they will complete all degree requirements within five years (four years for students entering the program with an M.S. degree). Students may be given an additional two years beyond these guidelines in which to complete all degree requirements.
   
   
5. For a student writing an M.S. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation, the student's advisory committee will be asked annually to submit a written assessment of the student's progress to be included as part of the student's annual review by the Graduate Programs Committee.
   

Teaching Assistants

• 9 semester credit hours during a Fall or Spring semester,
• 6 semester credit hours during a 10-week summer semester, or
• 3 semester credit hours during a 5-week summer term.

What to do When You Receive Your TA Assignment

Students are notified of their TA assignments by e-mail about a week prior to the beginning of each semester. Once they receive their assignments, they need to look at the class schedule on the departmental website for specific information on instructors, times and locations of their assignment. The schedule is located at http://www.math.tamu.edu/teaching/operationspg.html. If a student discovers a conflict between their own class schedule and their TA assignment, they need to contact the departmental Graduate Office as soon as possible so that they can be given a new assignment. However, until the student receives their new assignment, they are still responsible for doing their old one even if it means they must miss a class. What follows is some additional information on specific TA assignments:

Help Session

Help Session duty is basically one-on-one tutoring for certain classes in a designated room at specific hours. Once students are notified which Help Session they are working, it's a good idea for them to look up the course home pages for those classes the Help Session covers. That way they can see what is going on in the classes and they can better anticipate the types of problems students are likely to need help with. Help Session TAs can also check out the textbooks (go to Blocker 601) used in the classes to familiarize themselves with the mathematics to be covered.

Recitations and Maple Labs

These types of assignments are for Math 150-151-152-253 courses. Students are responsible for conducting recitations and overseeing computer labs. Once they are notified of their assignments, students need to look up on the schedule to see who the supervising instructor is for their sections and then they need to contact that instructor as soon as possible for instructions. A number of web pages have been established to help TAs with this type of duty. They are:

1. http://calclab.math.tamu.edu/~belmonte
   
   
2. Suggested Maple Lab Assignments: http://calclab.math.tamu.edu/~belmonte/wir/Svenja/labs/Svenjas_labs.html
   
   
3. Suggested Maple Lab Solutions (for TAs only): http://calclab.math.tamu.edu/~belmonte/wir/Svenja/labs/Svenjas_solns.html
   
   
4. Review Handouts for Math 152: http://calclab.math.tamu.edu/~belmonte/wir/Svenja/handouts/Svenjas_handouts.html
   
   

Grading

Once students receive their grading assignment, they need to look up the instructor for the class that they are grading for and then contact that instructor as soon as possible for instructions.

What to do if You Can't Make Your TA Assignment

Whenever students are unable to carry out their TA duties, it is their responsibility to arrange for someone else to cover their duties. TA's should also inform their instructors that they are unable to make their assignment. If a TA is unsuccessful in locating a substitute, he should contact the Graduate Office. A general message will be sent out by the office to all the graduate students asking for volunteers to help (TAs will need to provide the times and locations of classes and assignments so that this information can be included in the message). Please keep in mind that sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. If no volunteers come forward, then a student worker will be sent to the class to give out the assignment and that is all. If a student will miss their duties due to a family emergency or university business (ex: attending a conference), they must fill out a Graduate Assistant Leave Form. This form must be signed by the instructors they are TAing for and submitted to the Graduate Office for approval.

Special Note

Also, while it is understood that students may be away between semesters--they should not leave until final grades have been turned in to the Registrar's Office. This is so we can contact them in case of any grade questions in courses they TA'd/graded for. Students also need to return to campus at least a week before the start of the next semester. This is so they can meet with the instructors they will be TAing for and attend any necessary preparatory meetings.

Various Forms

Degree Plan Form

This is the official form on which students submit their degree plan (prior to 3rd semester of registration for M.S. students, prior to 5th semester of registration for Ph.D. students). It is available online at http://ogs.tamu.edu/forms/student-forms. Students must have their degree plans approved by the Mathematics Graduate Office before obtaining their committee members' signatures.

Final Exam Form

This is the form that students must use for scheduling both the Final Oral Exam for the Master's and the Final Defense for the Ph.D.. It is available online at http://ogs.tamu.edu/forms/student-forms. Students must fill out this form, obtain the necessary signatures and submit it to the Office of Graduate Studies at least 10 working days prior to their exam.

Graduate Assistant Leave Form

See the section above on What to do if You Can't Make Your TA Assignment.

Petition Form

If students wish to change their degree program, major, or department, they must submit a petition form. It is available online at http://ogs.tamu.edu/forms/student-forms. Students must have their petitions approved by the Mathematics Graduate Office before obtaining their committee members' signatures.

Preliminary Exam Checklist and Report Form

These are the forms that students must use for doing their Preliminary Exam for the Ph.D. degree. They are available able at http://ogs.tamu.edu/forms/student-forms. The checklist gets filled out by the student before the Prelim but does not have to be submitted to OGS before the Prelim. The Report form gets filled out by the student's committee at the Prelim. Then both forms get submitted together after the Prelim to OGS.

Proposal Title Page Form

Thesis-option M.S. and Ph.D. students must complete this form to accompany their research proposal. It is available online at http://ogs.tamu.edu/forms/student-forms.

Variable Credit Course Form

Students who wish to enroll in independent study courses MATH 685 and/or MATH 691 must complete this form with their supervising faculty member. It is available online at http://www.math.tamu.edu/teaching/graduate/forms/vcredit.pdf . It is important that each student complete this form for each 685 and/or 691 course that they want to take, and to bring the completed form back to the departmental Graduate Office. The Graduate Office will then request a special section number from the Registrar for each student to register under. Students can not register under the generic number listed in the class schedule, a special section number must be assigned by the departmental Graduate Office.

Departmental Services

Computer Systems

Students are given computer accounts and allowed access to the computer lab in room 201 of Milner Hall and in room 609 of Blocker. General orientation on the computers and the lab will be given at the beginning of each semester. The computer staff consists of:

• Steve Johnson, Senior Systems Analyst, Rm 608H Blocker, 845-4267
• Art Belmonte, System Analyst & Lecturer, Rm 601J Blocker, 845-4299
• Karl Leifeste, System Analyst, Rm 601D Blocker, 845-2395

More detailed information on Computer Systems can be found on the Computing link on the departmental webpage.

Administration

Adminstration offices for the Mathematics Department are located in room 102 Milner and room 601 Blocker. Photocopiers and other office equipment are located in both places. The Department will copy any materials that are required for the classes that students are teaching (handouts, quizzes, tests, ets.). Copy requests should be placed in the copy request basket in either Milner 105 or Blocker 601 (please allow at least 4 hours turn around for the copy job). For personal copies (class notes, study materials, etc.), students should use the copiers located on the 1st floor of Blocker or in Evans library. The Department will also provide miscellaneous office supplies (pens, pencils, paper, chalk, etc.) to students for the purpose of teaching classes and labs. Supplies are not furnished for personal use. More detailed information on Administrative services can by found on the Departmental Administration link on the departmental webpage.

Graduate Office

The Graduate office is in room 625A of Blocker. It serves to provide direction and assistance for graduate students (advising, assigning offices, processing forms, etc.), and maintains records on their graduate careers. The office also acts as a liason to the College of Science and the Office of Graduate Studies for students. The Graduate office staff consists of:

• Paulo Lima-Filho, Associate Head for Graduate Studies, Rm 625B Blocker, 845-1981
• Monique Stewart, Academic Advisor I, Rm 625A Blocker, 862-4137

Students are encouraged to visit the office frequently so we can get to know and serve them better.

Mathematics Graduate Student Organization

This organization within the Mathematics Graduate Program acts as a vehicle for addressing graduate students' concerns and ideas. The organizational structure is informal, students are encouraged to seek out the indentified officers whenever they need to. General meetings will occur throughout each fall and spring semester. The organization also hosts forums given by our graduate students and faculty.

Special Notes on Qualifying Examinations

1. Every new G8 student must enroll in at least 2 qualifier course sequences and take 2 Qualifying Examinations in their first year in the program. For G7 students who are pursuing a Ph.D., the same rule applies in their second year but it is strongly recommended that they enroll in at least 1 qualifier sequence course and take 1 Qualifying Examination during their first year if their background allows it.
   
2. As long as a G8 student has not passed 2 Qualifying Examinations, they must continue to take at least 2 Qualifying Examinations whenever they are offered. For G7 students who wish to pursue a Ph.D., this rule applies to their second year and thereafter.
   
3. If a G8 student has not passed 2 Qualifying Examinations by the end of their second spring semester, they will still be supported for the following summer term. During this summer term, they may choose to switch back to the Master's program.
   
4. For G7 students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. upon completion of a Master's, if they have not passed 2 Qualifying Examinations by the end of their third spring semester, they will still be supported for the following summer term.