QUALIFYING EXAMINATION POLICY

of the UNT Department of Mathematics

(Policy adopted May, 1999 by the UNT Graduate Committee)

Posted October 7, 2005

These policies will be enforced for students entering the program Fall

1999 forward.  Note that item no. "7" applies to students who are

currently in the program but have not yet passed two qualifying exams.

1. The department will provide information concerning the exams in the

graduate studies catalog as well as any literature put out by the

department that describes our graduate program. The information should

include the number of exams to be taken, topics, times exams are

offered, and amount of time including number of allowed attempts given

to pass the exams.  It will be emphasized to students (both in writing

in the catalog, and in person by either the chair or the relevant

graduate advisor) that passing the qualifying exams is necessary but by

no means sufficient for earning a Ph.D. in mathematics.

2. A student must pass two qualifying examinations (in different areas:

real analysis, complex analysis, topology and algebra)prior to

registering for dissertation hours (in mathematics).

3. The exam times will be at the beginning of the fall and spring

semesters: August and January. Both qualifying examinations must be

completed by the end of the fourth year of graduate studies in

mathematics (initiated at University of North Texas).

4. A student has at most five attempts to pass two exams within the time

constraints mentioned above.  A student may attempt examinations in all

four areas (real analysis, complex analysis, topology, and algebra).

Students are not allowed to continue in the graduate program if they

have not passed both qualifying examinations by the end of the fourth

year, except under extenuating circumstances and with the approval of

the Graduate Affairs Committee.

5. Each year the chair of the department will appoint a committee and a

chair for each subject area (real analysis, complex analysis, algebra,

and topology). Ideally these committees are as large as possible, and

individuals may serve on more than one committee. Each committee is in

charge of composing two exams in the given subject area to be

administered in January and August. The two exams in each area should be

composed simultaneously so that they are comparable in difficulty. Any

unused exams may be recycled for the following year.

6. Each exam subject area will have a syllabus that contains a detailed

list of topics covered by the exam, together with suggested readings.

Also old exams will be made available to students. The area committee is

responsible for keeping the syllabus current and accurate.

7. These policies go into effect May, 1999. Students enrolled in the

graduate program when these policies go into effect have the option of

staying with the former system or adopting the new system.