Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in the field of Computational and Applied Mathematics

Program Learning Outcomes for the PhD Degree in the field of Computational and Applied Mathematics

Upon completing the PhD degree in the field of Computational and Applied Mathematics, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a solid foundation in graduate-level computational and applied mathematics, across multiple sub-fields.
2. Propose and conduct original research in the field of computational and applied mathematics.
3. Communicate computational and mathematical results and their consequences professionally and effectively in both written and oral formats.

Requirements for the PhD Degree in Computational and Applied Mathematics

For general university requirements, please see Doctoral Degrees. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the PhD degree in the field of Computational and Applied Mathematics must:

• Complete a course of study approved by the department to establish a broad foundation in applied mathematics.
• Perform satisfactorily on qualifying examinations and reviews.
• Produce an original thesis acceptable to the department.
• Perform satisfactorily on a final public oral examination on the thesis.

The requirements listed in the General Announcements (GA) satisfy the minimum requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses (or requirements) not officially listed here may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor, or where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions or any exceptions to the stated official curricular requirements must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary 

Policies for the PhD Degree in the field of Computational and Applied Mathematics

Department of Computational Applied Mathematics and Operations Research Graduate Program Handbook

The General Announcements (GA) is the official Rice curriculum. As an additional resource for students, the department of Computational Applied Mathematics and Operations Research publishes a graduate program handbook, which can be found here: https://gradhandbooks.rice.edu/2023_24/Computational_Applied_Mathematics_Operations_Research_Graduate_Handbook.pdf

Admission

Admission to graduate study in computational and applied mathematics is open to qualified students holding bachelor’s or master’s degrees (or their equivalent) in engineering; mathematics; or the physical, biological, mathematical, or behavioral sciences. Department faculty evaluate the previous academic record and credentials of each applicant individually. For general information and university requirements, see Graduate Degrees and Admission to Graduate Study.

Applicants should be aware that it normally takes two years to obtain a master’s degree and an additional two to four years for the doctoral degree.

Financial Assistance

Graduate fellowships, research assistantships, and graduate scholarships are available and are awarded on the basis of merit to qualified students. Current practice in the department is for most doctoral students in good academic standing to receive some financial aid.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.

Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the PhD degree in the field of Computational and Applied Mathematics should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:

• Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director on an individual case-by-case basis. 

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Computational Applied Mathematics and Operations Research website: https://cmor.rice.edu/

Opportunities for the PhD Degree in the field of Computational and Applied Mathematics 

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Computational Applied Mathematics and Operations Research website: https://cmor.rice.edu/