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Published on Department of Mathematics (http://www.math.osu.edu)

Qualifying Examinations

By zheng.31
Created May 9 2007 - 3:56pm
About Mathematics Qualifying Exams at OSU

The Ohio State Mathematics Department conducts Qualifying Exams in Real Analysis and in Abstract Algebra (each 3 hours long) both at the beginning of the Autumn quarter and at the beginning of the Spring quarter. Posted below are the most recent exams for study and review.

Regularly admitted Ph.D. students (after 2008) have to pass both exams during their first year (two attempts each). Students admitted into the Ph.D.-Track (M.S.) program have two years to pass both exams (four attempts each), after which they automatically transfer to the regular Ph.D. program. For students admitted 2008 or earlier previous "600/700-level" rules apply.

In order to pass an exam four out of six problems have to be solved (almost) completely as determined by the respective Qualifying Exam Committees.

The subjects covered by the qualifying exams are outlined in the Qualifying Exams Syllabi [1]. In addition to topics and literature given in these syllabi, the following texts for practicing analysis problems are recommended:
   W.J. Kaczor, M.T. Nowak: Problems in Mathematical Analysis I-III
    G. Pólya, G. Szegö: Problems and theorems in analysis

For Ph.D.-Track students, who need additional time and preparation in order to pass the qualifying exams, the department offers every year the Math 651-653 Analysis [2] course sequence and the Math 670-672 Algebra [3] sequence, which are specifically designed to provide students with the background and training required for the qualifying exams. Additionally, the department runs every summer Math 787 [4] problem solving seminars which allows incoming students to practice for the first qualifying exams at the beginning of the autumn quarter.

Past Qualifying Exams at OSU (2003-present)

Algebra
Analysis
  • Autumn 10 [4]
  • Autumn 09 [4]
  • Autumn 08 [4]
  • Autumn 07 [4]
  • Autumn 06 [4]
  • Autumn 05 [4]
  • Autumn 04 [4]
  • Autumn 03 [4]
  • Spring 11 [4]
  • Spring 10 [4]
  • Spring 09 [4]
  • Spring 08 [4]
  • Spring 07 [4]
  • Spring 06 [4]
  • Spring 05 [4]
  • Spring 04 [4]
  • Spring 03 [4]
    
  • Autumn 10 [4]
  • Autumn 09 [4]
  • Autumn 08 [4]
  • Autumn 07 [4]
  • Autumn 06 [4]
  • Autumn 05 [4]
  • Autumn 04 [4]
  • Autumn 03 [4]
  • Spring 11 [4]
  • Spring 10 [4]
  • Spring 09 [4]
  • Spring 08 [4]
  • Spring 07 [4]
  • Spring 06 [4]
  • Spring 05 [4]
  • Spring 04 [4]
  • Spring 03 [4]

Qualifying/Preliminary/Comprehensive Exams
at selected other Universities

  • Univ. of Michigan: Qualifying Review Examinations [5]
  • UCLA: Qualifying Exams [6]
  • UIUC: Comprehensive Exams [7]
  • Univ. of Iowa : Qualifying (& Comprehensive) Exams [8]
  • Purdue Univ.: Qualifying Exams [9]
  • Northwestern Univ. : Preliminary Exams [10]
  • Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison : Qualifying Exams [11]
  • Indiana Univ. : Tier I Examinations [12]
  • Louisiana State Univ. : Comprehensive Exams (Core-1) [13]
  • Penn State Univ. : Qualifying Examinations [14]
  • Univ. of Texas - Austin : Prelim Exams [15]
  • Univ. of Minnesota : Prelim Exams [16]
  • Univ. of Maryland - College Park: Qualifying Exams [17]
  • Rutgers Univ. : Qualifying Exams [18]
  • Boston Univ.: Algebra & Analysis Examinations [19]
  • Northeastern Univ. : Qualifying Exams [20]
  • Harvard Univ.: Qualifying Exams [21]
  • UC Berkeley: Preliminary Exam [22]

Source URL:
http://www.math.osu.edu/graduate/current/qual

Links:
[1] http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/files/QualExamSyllabi.pdf
[2] http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/files/active/0/651.pdf
[3] http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/files/active/2/670.pdf
[4] http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/courses/787
[5] http://www.math.lsa.umich.edu/graduate/qualifiers/index.html
[6] http://www.math.ucla.edu/grad/handbook/hbquals.shtml
[7] http://www.math.uiuc.edu/GraduateProgram/Study/study.html
[8] http://www.math.uiowa.edu/graduate/degrees/PhDQuals/
[9] http://www.math.purdue.edu/academic/grad/qualexams/
[10] http://www.math.northwestern.edu/graduate/prelims.html
[11] http://math.library.wisc.edu/reserve/qualifying-exams.html
[12] http://www.math.indiana.edu/graduate/tier1.phtml
[13] https://www.math.lsu.edu/dept/grad/pastcomps
[14] http://www.math.psu.edu/grad/requirements/exams/
[15] http://www.ma.utexas.edu/academics/graduate/prelims/old_exams/
[16] http://www.math.umn.edu/grad/Writtens/past_prelims/
[17] http://www.math.umd.edu/graduate/quals/
[18] http://www.math.rutgers.edu/grad/phd_requirements/written_qual.html
[19] http://www.bu.edu/math/graduate-programs/pure-and-applied-mathematics/degree-requirements/
[20] http://www.math.neu.edu/grad/quals/qualifiers.html
[21] http://www.math.harvard.edu/graduate/index.html#past
[22] http://math.berkeley.edu/graduate_prelim.html