Welcome!

We are glad that you are interested in our mathematics graduate programs at CMU. The Mathematics Department at CMU offers an M.A. in Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Mathematics, where students can write their master’s thesis or dissertation either in mathematics or in collegiate mathematics education.

Our doctoral program is designed to prepare our graduates not only to do research but also to be successful at teaching collegiate mathematics. As such, our doctoral program has many unique features which makes it stand out from many other doctoral programs in mathematics. First, all of our doctoral students take a year-long sequence on teaching mathematics at the collegiate level (MTH 761 and MTH 762). Each of our doctoral students also participate in two semester-long teaching internships, where they have the opportunity to teach an upper level mathematics course under the supervision of an experienced faculty member. Our graduates find that these features of our program provide them with much needed knowledge and skills to prepare them for their future careers.

Applications of Admissions and Financial Support

Application for admission to one of our graduate programs and the application for financial support are two separate processes.

  • Applications for admission to one of our graduate programs in the Department of Mathematics are considered at any time.  
  • Applications for financial support from the Department of Mathematics should be completed by February 15 to be guaranteed full consideration for funding for the following year.
Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences:Mathematics Concentration
Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences: Collegiate Mathematics Ed. Concentration

  • Applicants must meet all CMU Graduate Studies admission requirements. International students should take note of any special admission considerations required by the College of Graduate Studies, including TOEFL requirements.
  • Applicants with a Bachelor's degree must have successfully completed 20 semester hours of mathematics including Multivariate Calculus (equivalent to MTH 233), Abstract Algebra (equivalent to MTH 523), and Advanced Calculus (equivalent to MTH 532). A minimum GPA of 2.7 overall (or 3.0 in the final sixty semester hours of graded coursework toward the bachelor's degree) and 3.0 in mathematics is required.
  • Applicants with a Master's degree in mathematics equivalent to the M .A. degree at Central Michigan University must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their graduate work.
  • Applicants must submit general GRE examination scores and three letters of recommendation directly to the Department of Mathematics.
  • Applicants must submit a Statement of Purpose of at least 100 words and not to exceed two pages. The Statement of Purpose should explain their relevant academic and professional experiences, discuss motivation for applying to the program, and describe their goals after completing the program.
  • Full consideration is guaranteed for applicants who submit all materials before February 15. Application materials received after February 15 are on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
  • Both admission to the program and awards of Graduate Assistantships are competitive, with evaluation based on the nature of previous coursework, grades, general GRE scores, and letters of recommendation. Applicants interested in a Graduate Assistantship position must submit a Graduate Assistantship Application directly to the Mathematics Department. The deadline for applying for a Graduate Assistantship is February 15. Application materials received after February 15 are considered on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. 
M.A. in Mathematics
  • Applicants must meet all CMU Graduate Studies admission requirements. International students should take note of any special admission considerations required by the College of Graduate Studies, including TOEFL requirements.
  • Applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of 20 semester hours of mathematics including Multivariate Calculus (equivalent to MTH 233), Abstract Algebra (equivalent to MTH 523), and Advanced Calculus (equivalent to MTH 532). Students missing one or more of these courses may be considered for Conditional Admission. Applicants granted Conditional Admission will be asked to take the missing course(s) when they begin the program. A grade point average of 2.7 overall and a 2.7 in mathematics are required.
  • Applicants must submit a Statement of Purpose of at least 100 words and not to exceed two pages. The Statement of Purpose should explain their relevant academic and professional experiences, discuss motivation for applying to the program, and describe their goals after completing the program.
  • Both admission to the program and awards of Graduate Assistantships are competitive. Applicants interested in a Graduate Assistantship position must submit a Graduate Assistantship Application along with General GRE scores and three letters of recommendation directly to the Department of Mathematics. Evaluation for Graduate Assistantships is based on the nature of previous coursework, grades, general GRE scores, and letters of recommendation. The deadline for applying for a Graduate Assistantship is February 15. Application materials received after February 15 are considered on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. 

For detailed information about different graduate programs and admission requirements in the Department of Mathematics, please see the: 
International students must demonstrate competency in English by either satisfactory completion of a baccalaureate or graduate degree in which the language of instruction was English or a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  

For more information for international students, please see:
Office of International Affairs
oiainfo@cmich.edu
989-774-4308
To Apply for Admission to any Graduate Program in the Department of Mathematics: Required documents for every program are:
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Official Transcripts
  • TOEFL (for international students)
Minimum TOEFL for international students: 550 PBT, 79 IBT, 6.5 IELTS, 53 PTE, 5 IB or 77 MELAB.

For submission of online application for admission, visit the College of Graduate Studies Website HERE.

For questions about Graduate Admissions:
 Note that it takes the College of Graduate Studies up to 4 weeks to process an application and forward it to the Department of Mathematics.  Please plan accordingly so that your application material is received before the department application deadlines (admission deadline is June 1.  Financial support deadline is February 15).
As a graduate student, you'll have opportunities to apply for financial assistance through Graduate Assistantships offered by the Department of Mathematics.

For more information, visit the Mathematics Graduate Assistantship Page here

GA positions for Ph.D., M.A. in Mathematics requrie:
  • General GRE 
  • 3 letters of reference
Procedure of submitting the required additional documents for financial support to the Department of Mathematics
  • Complete the form: Mathematics Graduate Program Application (WordDoc or Fillable ​PDF​) and e-mail the completed form as an attachment to Graduate Committee at mthgrad@cmich.edu with the subject line on the email: Graduate Program Financial Support Application by (last name, first name).
  • Arrange for the GRE Exam Agency to send the official copy of the GRE scores directly to the Department of Mathematics.  The institution code for Central Michigan University is 1106 and the department code is 0703
  • Arrange for three letters of reference to be sent directly to Graduate Committee at mthgrad@cmich.edu with the subject line on the email: Letter of Recommendation for (last name, first name).
Deadline for the departmental financial support application is February 15 to be guaranteed full consideration.
For information on other financial assistance programs, visit Tuition & Awards on the College of Graduate Studies page here.

Meet Some of our Ph.D. Graduates

We have had more than 50 students graduate from our doctoral program, since the first cohort of students in the year 2000. Our graduates have accepted positions in more than 21 states within the USA and more than 6 other countries around the world. Many of our graduates work in four-year colleges and liberal arts colleges and some work in industry. A few of our graduates are highlighted below.

Dr. Katherine Soller | Graduated 2015
Faculty Member at Edgewood College, Wisconsin

Katherine Soller“I felt very well-supported during my time in the Mathematics PhD program at CMU. The professors in the Mathematics Department are amazing. They have created a rigorous curriculum that is challenging and pushes students to grow academically in order to be their best, all while providing invaluable assistance and encouragement along the way.

Being a Teaching Assistant and doing a year-long teaching internship during my time in the Mathematics PhD program provided me with invaluable experience and knowledge, both about undergraduate teaching and about myself as a mathematician, that was vital to my future as a professor.”
Dr. Tharanga Wijetunge | Graduated 2013
Faculty Member at Lyon College, Arkansas

Tharanga Wijetunge"The opportunity to specialize in mathematics education while continuing learning graduate level mathematics courses helped in many different ways. First, the transition from undergraduate life to graduate life was much smoother. Second, pedagogical and content knowledge provided by the program made me a better candidate in finding a job immediately after graduation. Knowledgeable and friendly faculty are always there for you to guide you in the right direction."
Dr. Ansam Al-Aqtash | Graduated 2014
Faculty Member at Marshall University, West Virginia

Ansam Al-Aqtash“I think Central Michigan University is a wonderful university! It's not a very large campus which in my opinion is a good thing, and it's very pretty. The atmosphere is great and the people in town are friendly. There are a variety of organizations on campus that are all very active which makes it easy to find a group that you fit in well with on campus. I think the best thing about this school is the staff. The staff genuinely care to help students succeed; they are very dedicated and do their very best to provide students with the tools and resources to complete the program successfully. I really enjoyed being a graduate assistant at the math department while completing my PhD degree. I felt the program at CMU prepared me for my career as a math professor. I strongly recommend the program; I cannot stress how satisfied I was the entire time with the program, the professors, and the students."
Dr. Cleland Loszewski | Graduated 2014
Manager of Business Intelligence, kaléo, Inc., Virginia

Cleland Loszewski"The math program at CMU gave me the opportunity to gain one of my most cherished achievements; my doctorate degree is something that I will carry with me in high esteem for the rest of my life! There were a ton of advantages that came from choosing Central's program. I was able to learn from, be coached by, and grow with a close community of super talented and caring people, making some life long contacts in friends, in my classmates, and in the faculty! Exiting the program, I have a good foundation in nearly all fields in the study. I also want to call out the graduate seminars. Being able to witness and learn from some of the greats, Terence Tao, Sir William Timothy Gowers, that was really special!

With my degree, I have a unique position in industry and was able to join a segment that is always growing! Not many data scientists can say they have a PhD in Mathematics, but math is almost always listed as a preferred degree! Today, I'm on the forefront of modern technologies and methods, working and managing teams in big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cloud technologies, and this field is only getting bigger and more widely adopted! I will forever be grateful for my time at CMU and for the mathematics program there!"
For a complete list of our doctoral graduates, please see the following links: