The goal of our PhD program is to train graduate students to become research mathematicians. Our students go on to exciting careers in mathematics both inside and outside of academia.
Faculty research interests in the Johns Hopkins University Department of Mathematics are concentrated in several areas of pure mathematics, including algebraic geometry, algebraic topology, category theory, geometric analysis, harmonic analysis, mathematical physics, number theory, and partial differential equations. The department also has an active group in data science, in collaboration with the Applied Math Department.
The Department values diversity among its members, is committed to building a diverse intellectual community, and strongly encourages applications from all interested parties.
A brief overview of our graduate program is below. For more detailed information, please see the links at the right.
Program Overview
PhD candidates take two or three courses per semester over the first several years of the program. These are a mix of required and intermediate-level graduate courses, independent studies, and special topics classes offered by our faculty. Candidates must take, attend, participate in, and pass the course 110.771 (GTA Teaching Seminar). The seminar is an important part of the preparation for classroom teaching, and thus an essential part of mathematics graduate education. The seminar is generally required in a student's first year at JHU. A student supported by an external fellowship may delay taking the seminar until the spring before they are required to TA (but may not postpone the seminar entirely).
By the beginning of their second year, students are asked to demonstrate competency in algebra and in analysis by passing written qualifying exams in these two broad areas. Students are then expected to choose an advisor, who will supervise their dissertation and also administer an oral qualifying exam to be taken in the second or third year. More specifics about all these requirements are described on the requirements page.
All graduate students are invited to attend weekly research seminars in a variety of topic areas as well as regular department teas and a weekly wine and cheese gathering attended by many junior and senior members of the department. A graduate student lunch seminar series provides an opportunity for our students to practice their presentation skills to a general audience.
Teaching experience is regarded as an important part of the graduate program, and graduate students are required to teach during their program.
Each student is awarded a travel allowance to enable them to attend conferences for which limited funding is available, or to visit researchers at other institutions.