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Welcome to Visitor’s Day!

February 21, 2025

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Welcome & Introductions

Department Chair: Sarah Reznikoff

Graduate Program Coordinator: Sadie Powell�Graduate Program Director: Andy Norton

Graduate Admissions Chair: Tao Lin

Advising Chair: Eyvi Palsson

GTA Coordinator: Kelly Karcher

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Bio page with two pictures and two names and text

Master of Science

        • 2 years of GTA/GRA support
        • Standard or Interdisciplinary
        • Thesis or Non-thesis
        • 30 credit hours of coursework
        • Thesis, or 2 written prelims, or master’s presentation

Doctor of Philosophy

        • Acceptance by Graduate Program Committee, based on good progress
        • 4 years of (additional) GTA/GRA support (for students who began in MS)
        • 90 hours (courses + research hours + M.S. hours)
        • 2 written prelims + oral exam
        • Dissertation and defense

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DOCTORAL PROGRAM

Compared to undergraduate degrees, the MS and especially the PhD programs are less about coursework and more about research.

Thesis

Preliminary Exams

Coursework

Oral Defense

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PRELIMINARY EXAMS

ALGEBRA

MATH 5125-26

ANALYSIS

MATH 5225 (Real), 5235 (Complex), 5214/6255 (Functional)

COMPUTATIONAL MATH

MATH 5424, 5554, 5484, 5544

DIFFERENTIAL �EQUATIONS

MATH 5245 (ODE), 5425 (PDE), Dynamical Systems

Exams offered in

January & August

of Each Year

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TYPICAL SEMESTER FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS

  • Full load 12 credit hours
  • Typical load: 9 credits of courses + 3 credits of research (Math 5994)
  • GTA/GRA Assignment
  • GTA Training
  • Participation in Seminars & Colloquia
  • Participation in student organizations (AWM, SIAM, & GSO)
  • Developing research interests, including possible conference presentations (travel support provided)

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PROGRESS TOWARD DEGREE

COURSES, COMMITTEE, ETHICS & DIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS

“QUALIFYING EXAM”: PASS 2 EXAMS, AMONG THE 4 OFFERED

“PRELIMINARY EXAM”: RESEARCH PLANS

“FINAL EXAM”: APPLY FOR DEGREE, DEFEND DISSERTATION, SUBMIT ETD

PLAN OF STUDY

PRELIM EXAMS

ORAL DEFENSE

FINAL DEFENSE

PHD

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PROGRESS TOWARD DEGREE

COURSES, COMMITTEE, ETHICS & DIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS

“QUALIFYING EXAM”: PASS 2 EXAMS, AMONG THE 4 OFFERED

“PRELIMINARY EXAM”: RESEARCH PLANS

THESIS, OR PRESENTATION, OR PASS ONE OF THE PRELIM EXAMS

PLAN OF STUDY

PRELIM EXAMS

ORAL DEFENSE

FINAL DEFENSE

MS

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COLLOQUIA & SEMINARS

Colloquia generally Fridays, 4-5pm in Commons Room (reception begins at 3:30)

Attend 6+ seminars or colloquia per semester

These and other department events can be found in the Calendar.

Applied Algebra

Math Bio

Geometry/Topology

Math Education, Algebra, Analysis & Math Physics…

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FACULTY RESEARCH AREAS

https://math.vt.edu/�research.html

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Yingda Cheng�Numerical Analysis

High dimensional scientific computing

  • Numerical methods for high-dimensional PDEs
  • Adaptive sparse grid, adaptive low rank techniques
  • Structure preserving and multiscale

Numerical and data-driven modeling

  • Reduced basis method and reduced order model for kinetic systems

Plasma Applications

  • Fusion energy, astrophysics, semiconductor

Collaborations

  • National lab collaborators (LANL, ORNL etc)
  • DOE MMICC center on fusion plasmas
  • International collaborations (China and Sweden)

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BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA

Often Listed among Top Places to Live and Top College Towns!

https://www.aier.org/top-20-college-towns-7-blacksburg-christiansburg-radford-va/

https://www.newrivervalleyva.org/news/blacksburg-ranked-among-top-100-small-cities-towns-in-us/

https://dwellics.com/virginia/moving-to-blacksburg

https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/snapshots/PL5107784.html

https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-03-29-emerging-cities_x.htm

virginia.org

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LIVING IN BLACKSBURG

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  • Low cost of living:
    • Blacksburg Transit is free to students
    • Overall cost of living about 5% below the national average
  • Safe, clean environment, nestled �in the Appalachian Mountains
  • Many recreational opportunities

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  • Graduate housing
  • Graduate student life
  • Graduate school

GRADUATE LIFE CENTER

AT DONALDSON BROWN

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A SPACE FOR GRAD STUDENTS

  • Housing for over 100 graduate students
  • Graduate School offices
  • Graduate student organization offices
  • Seminar, conference, video conference, and computer rooms
  • Career, health, and wellness resources
  • Reading and television lounges
  • Au Bon Pain coffee shop
  • Conveniently located near library, downtown, bus route

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WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR US?