Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics

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Program Link:
https://math.wsu.edu/graduate-studies/phd-degrees/
Program Handbook:
https://math.wsu.edu/documents/2025/10/mathematics-and-statistics-graduate-handbook.pdf/
Total Graduate Faculty in Program:
35
Total Core Graduate Faculty in Program:
30
Graduate Students in Program:
57
Students Receiving Assistantships:
55
Priority Deadlines:

  • Fall January 10

Campus:

  • Pullman

International Student English Proficiency Exams

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

  • 540 TOEFL Minimum score for admission
  • 75 TOEFLI Minimum score for admission
  • 6.5 IELTS Minimum score for admission
  • 105 Duolingo Minimum score for admission

Degree Description:

PhD in Mathematics
This degree is awarded in recognition of distinctive scholarship and original contributions to knowledge in Mathematics. The PhD program is especially designed to prepare the student for teaching at the graduate level and doing mathematical research in academic, industrial and business settings. Students studying various fields within the realm of pure mathematics would be included in this PhD program.

PhD in Mathematics (Applied Mathematics Option)
The specialization of modern academic disciplines provides both a challenge to those who wish to do research at the interface of mathematics and its areas of application and many opportunities to make valuable contributions. The Applied Mathematics Option allows students from a range of backgrounds to pursue a traditional applied mathematics program, while retaining the option to thoroughly learn an area of application. Entering students may not necessarily have a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. However, they will be required to demonstrate a grasp of the core areas of advanced calculus and linear algebra at the level of a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. They will then be given great latitude to take specialized courses in Mathematics and their area of application.

PhD in Mathematics with Education Emphasis
The degree of PhD in Mathematics with Education Emphasis is awarded in recognition of scholarship and original contributions to the teaching and learning of mathematics. The main difference from the other PhD choices is in the research focus. The requirements for this PhD include competence in core mathematics, as well as study in the research methodologies applicable to research in mathematics education.

Admission Requirements:

Students should have completed upper-division coursework in real analysis and linear algebra prior to applying, and should have preparation equivalent to an undergraduate degree in mathematics, statistics, or a closely related field. Additional upper-division courses (such as abstract algebra, functional analysis, complex analysis, optimization, applied mathematics, topology, and related topics) will also be considered.

For international students, a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score is required. The minimum score for admission is listed above. The minimum scores for assistantship consideration are TOEFL 100, IELTS 7, or Duolingo 130. Exceptions are described here:
gradschool.wsu.edu/international-requirements

Students applying to the PhD in Mathematics will be automatically considered for an assistantship position.

The application will require:

  • Unofficial transcripts from all previous institutions
  • GPA above a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Resume/CV
  • Email contact information for three references
  • Personal statement. This is your opportunity to highlight relevant experiences and discuss your future research interests.
  • GRE scores are not required but encouraged

Career Opportunities:

Academia (tenure-track positions at universities and colleges worldwide), Bio-statistics (health and pharmaceutical companies), Risk analysis (financial and insurance companies, investment management), Research (state or federal government, software development), Mathematics education (publishing, consulting and developing of educational software).

Career Placements:

Graduates from the Mathematics PhD program begin careers in both academia and government or industry. A few examples of career placements in academia from the past few years include:

  • Postdoc, USDA Northwest Climate Hub and WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture
  • Assistant Professor, Central Washington University
  • Assistant Professor, Marian University (WI)

A few examples of career placements in government and industry from the past few years include:

  • Regulatory Data Scientist, Office of Regulatory Innovation and Assistance, Washington State Government
  • Quantitative Model Validation Analyst, First Tech Federal Credit Union (OR)
  • Data Scientist, Emsi Labor Market Analytics (ID)

Contact Information: