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The PhD degree program is designed for those with a strong background in both mathematics and mathematics education who wish to be leading researchers in mathematics education. The degree combines graduate-level study of mathematics and mathematics education with work in qualitative and quantitative research methodology and other supporting fields as appropriate to the student’s area of interest. Comprehensive written and oral examinations as well as original research presented in a dissertation are required.

For additional information about the doctoral program, please click here to read a letter from the Graduate Coordinator describing the various opportunities available to doctoral students at UGA.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

We base admissions decisions on a variety of factors including past performance in course work, especially mathematics course work, GPAs in past degree programs, entrance exam scores, and letters of recommendation.

The Graduate School requires a minimum 3.0 grade point average in your undergraduate degree.

The Graduate School requires a minimum 3.5 grade point average in your graduate degree.

In recent years, domestic students admitted to our Ph.D. degree programs have earned an average Graduate Record Examination (GRE) quantitative score in the high 700’s (old scale) and an average verbal score in the mid 500’s (old scale). The approximate corresponding percentiles are 80^th to 85^th for quantitative and 65^th for verbal. International students admitted to our Ph.D. degree programs have earned an average Graduate Record Examination (GRE) quantitative score in the high 700’s (old scale) and an average verbal score around 500 (old scale). The approximate corresponding percentiles are 80^th to 85^th for quantitative and 55^th to 60^th for verbal. The Graduate School does not accept the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) for admission to Ph.D. programs at the University of Georgia.

Strong mathematics background equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in mathematics/mathematical sciences.

K-16 mathematics teaching experience strongly preferred prior to admission.

NOTE: We offer a variety of competitively awarded assistantships. Some are funded by the Graduate School, and some are funded by the department. To be competitive for the Graduate School assistantships, GPAs close to 4.0 on a 4 point scale and GRE scores (quantitative plus verbal) above 310 (new scale) are recommended. We also need to receive completed application materials by January 15 to consider you for the greatest range of assistantship opportunities.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

A program of study is constructed by a student and the advisory committee to build a bridge between the student’s background and career aspirations. A typical program of study includes substantial study of

• mathematics through the equivalent of a master’s degree
• qualitative and quantitative research methods
• mathematics education research in learning, curriculum, teaching, and critical issues
• other supporting fields (e.g., educational psychology, statistics, sociology, etc.) as appropriate

Download a sample list of courses available to doctoral students

Obtaining the degree includes passing written and oral comprehensive examinations and writing a dissertation that reflects the highest levels of scholarship in mathematics education.

Students who do not have K-16 mathematics teaching experience (by which we mean working with students in mathematics in some substantial way, not necessarily as a classroom teacher of record) will be expected to acquire this experience during the program.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

To apply, go to the online application. Application deadlines are posted here. After you apply, you will receive an email from the Graduate School with a link to a tracking screen, which you will use to monitor our receipt of your application materials. Please retain this email as there is no other way to access the link (we do not have it and therefore cannot give it to you).

In addition to an application, you will need to provide:

• 3 letters of recommendation. You will identify your letter writers and their email addresses when you apply, and they will receive an email from the Graduate School asking them to complete the form online. Choose recommenders who know your academic work well and can speak to your capacity to engage in graduate level study of mathematics and mathematics education, to perform well in courses requiring high levels of reading and writing, and to conceptualize and carry out a research study. Letters should be at least a page in length to provide the faculty with the details needed to help make an admissions decision. Do not solicit “character references” from friends, family, or people you know socially.
• Sample of scholarly writing. Submit a piece of scholarly writing that demonstrates both your technical writing skills and your ability to make claims and support them with references and chains of logic. A paper that you have written for a previous course may suffice, or you may wish to construct a new paper. A critique of a piece of mathematics education scholarship could be an example of such a paper.
• Current curriculum vita/resume
• Statement of purpose for pursuing doctoral study. Submit a statement explaining why you are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in mathematics education at the University of Georgia. Identify the educational problem or concern that drives you to pursue a PhD. Because the PhD is a research degree, identify a potential topic (or topics) of investigation and provisionally identify members of the faculty with whom you might work.
• Transcripts. You must submit 2 official (sealed) transcripts from every higher institution you have attended, except the University of Georgia. The address for submitting transcripts to the Graduate School is:

  The University of Georgia
  Office of Graduate Admissions
  320 E. Clayton Street, Suite 400
  Athens, GA 30602-4401

  For details about transcript requirements see http://www.grad.uga.edu/admissions/requirements.html

• Test Scores. Have your GRE scores sent directly to UGA using the institution code 5813. For additional details about the GRE see http://www.grad.uga.edu/admissions/requirements.html