Graduate Student Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How can I obtain application materials for the graduate programs in either Mathematics or Statistics?
A: The applications can be found on-line here
Q: Who is the Department contact for information about the graduate program?
A: Donna George is the Coordinator Program Advisement and may be reached at 505-277-5250 or emailed at rxlitfil@math.unm.edu
Q: Are GRE exam results required at this time?
A: Currently the Department is not requiring GRE exams. This may change so be sure and check our web pages for any updates on that information.
Q: What is the location like?
A: UNM is located in Albuquerque, NM which is the largest city in the state with a population of over 500,000. It is located at the juncture of Interstate 40 and Interstate 25 on the historic Route 66 highway. The area surrounding Albuquerque ranges from a small mountain range to the east to a vast desert like area to the far west of the city. There is hiking, biking, many outdoor recreational activities as well as the amenities offered by a fairly large metropolitan area. There is very little water for recreational uses, but usually a good snowfall in the mountains of New Mexico make skiing a favorite winter activity of many.
Q: How large is the UNM student population?
A: The main campus has a student population of 25,000 students and then there are another 10,000 students who attend our several branch campuses.
Q: How many graduate students are in your programs?
A: We have a total of about 130 graduate students in all three of our programs, Applied Math, Pure Math, and Statistics.
Q: Is the Statistics Program admitting students?
A: Due to the unforeseen drop in Statistics faculty this year, we will admit Master, Statistics students who will only have the option of exams to complete the MS.
PhD admissions will be on hold for a least one year (until Fall 2007.) If the faculty number is not at usual levels by that time, that may delay PhD admissions longer.
Q: What kind of financial aid is available for graduate students in the Department?
A: The Department has a total of 45 TA's that are funded each year. We generally have from four to eight of those TA's available for new awards, but on occasion we may have even less available for funding. Generally, we have very few available for Spring admits, so Fall is the best time to apply for financial assistance.
Q: How many years does it take to get through the program?
A: For a Master's degree it can take as little as two years to complete the coursework and take the exam. It may take up to five semesters if a student does a thesis option. For the Ph.D. it will depend on what you have when you arrive to the program. Generally for those starting fresh from an undergraduate degree we feel that 10 semesters is a reasonable amount of time to do coursework and to finish a dissertation. This is based on a student attending classes full time at 9 hours a semester.
Q: Are there scholarships available?
A: The Department has no scholarships, but you may contact the Office of Graduate Studies to check about financial aid in the form of scholarships. The number for OGS is 505-277-2711.
Q: What are the requirements for graduation?
A: The information you are looking for can be found in the Graduate Student Handbooks found here.
Q: Are graduates from your program successful in placing into jobs?
A: We have an excellent success rate with our graduate students, many place into faculty positions upon completion of the Ph.D. Some have gone on to prestigious post-doctoral work, and industry lures several of our graduates their way.
Q: What should I know about the Department?
A: The Department of Mathematics and Statistics has a faculty that is well-respected nationally. We have faculty involved in many forms of research and you can visit their web sites by going here.
Our faculty, staff, and graduate student population is friendly and very supportive. There is an overall atmosphere of cooperation in this Department and collaboration is highly encouraged among faculty and students. We have a diverse faculty and staff and we are very nice.