Qualifications needed for a Math PhD

There are many professions coming up that require astute number crunching. Many traditional professions like marketing and banking are increasingly relying on numbers based analytics for effective decision making and formulation of strategies. Stock market trading is done with the use of complicated logarithms and formula based trading strategies. Mathematicians are discovering that their skills are highly in demand in a world that is dominated by the ones and zeros of information technology.

Hence, those who have a knack for discovering the hidden meanings behind equations are enrolling themselves in a Mathematics PhD. Before enrolling in this course, the question arises as to what are the qualifications required for completing the doctorate, and what would the students need to do while they are at the university. The below are some of the factors that will play a decisive role in the successful completion of their program.

Develop a love for research and classroom work

Mathematics researchers will need to have a deep love of research. They know that they will have to spend a lot of their time in the classroom. They look at the science based PhDs in the university and watch them frequenting the laboratories conducting experiments. They watch the social science scholars going out into the real world and taking surveys that give them an insight into people’s thinking. But the math scholars know that their lives are going to be spent in the classroom solving equations and understanding numerical puzzles. They will spend their time preparing papers and getting them evaluated by the professors.

Knowledge of different math fields with a focus on specialization

Different universities have different standards for what qualifications they want their PhDs to complete. But all of them will want them to complete certain seminars and a certain number of classes. Despite the variations in the rules, all candidates for a math doctorate will have to meet certain requirements; they will need to have a basic knowledge of all fields in math, they will need to have in-depth knowledge of their core math specialization, and last but certainly not the least, they will need to formulate a thesis that provides an original and vital contribution to the discipline.

Acquire the specified number of credits

The students work hard all year to complete a certain number of credits if they are enrolled in an American university. If they are enrolled in the universities of other countries then they will have to fulfil other academic requirements. The time limit varies from place to place and from student to student. Some students are exceptionally bright and they are able to complete their credits quickly. Others take longer and if need be they sometimes ask for extension from their universities. However, many students are required to discontinue from the program because they are not able to clear the examinations set by the university.

Develop mastery of computers and a foreign language

In this day and age of excessive and over-reliant use of computers, universities want the students to be competent performing all their calculations using a mouse and a keyboard. They should be able to perform research using these tools. That is why many students become efficient at using computer languages. The concepts that they learn in math can be used with equally efficiency here, and it also leads to a good placement when it comes to the job market. Other students take to learning a foreign language especially a language where plenty of research is done in math. German and French are languages that are very popular in this regard. But the students are careful to pick up skills that they know can be associated with math because they know that only then will it be recognised by the university.

Decide on the post PhD career

It is best if the students work on their PhD with an idea of what they wish to achieve once they have completed their doctoral program. Do they want to become a stock market analyst, a banker, web analyst, or just continue with academic work? This will help them decide on the kind of research project they wish to pursue in their PhD program.