Overview
In addition to the information below, you can also view a PDF slide presentation about the department.
Undergraduate Preparation
Students who have taken the following undergraduate courses are usually sufficiently prepared to enter our graduate program:
All Students:
- Linear Algebra: UCSB Math 108AB
- Real Analysis: UCSB Math 118ABC
- Complex Analysis: UCSB Math 122AB
And in the case of the M.A. in Mathematics, and Ph.D. students with an interest in pure math:
- Modern Algebra: UCSB Math 111ABC
And in the case of the M.A. in Applied Mathematics, and Ph.D. students with an interest in applied math:
- Numerical Analysis: UCSB Math 104ABC
- Applied Mathematics: UCSB Math 124AB
Student Life
The Department of Mathematics enrolls approximately 75 students from all over the U.S. and the World. We have a very cohesive and cooperative student body with diverse outside interests and pursuits. Weekdays at 3:00 faculty and students gather for tea, cookies, and conversation, and currently groups of Topology and Algebra students are running their own seminars. All graduate students are members of the Graduate Student Association, and our department elects a GSA representative on an annual basis. Our graduate students are essential to the mathematical life of the department, and they are treated accordingly.
Location
UCSB is situated just outside the city of Goleta, about ten miles from downtown Santa Barbara. Surrounded by water on three sides, and mountains on the fourth, our campus provides a beautiful and serene environment for your studies. The city of Santa Barbara, with a population of approximately 90,000, offers a wide variety of cultural activities that far exceeds the normal complement for a medium-sized city. UCSB itself offers a full calendar of performances and events, including art exhibits, concerts, and dance and drama performances.
The University
The University of California at Santa Barbara is the fourth-largest campus of the UC system, offering graduate degrees in over 40 disciplines. UCSB is home to six national research centers, including the National Science Foundation sponsored Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. Among our faculty are some of the most renowned scientists in the world, including five Nobel Laureates. UCSB is a proud member of the Association of American Universities, a group of the 60 most prestigious universities in the U.S. and Canada.
Research and Computing Facilities
The University has an advanced research library with over a million volumes, and subscriptions to all of the major mathematics journals from around the world. This library maintains modern literature-search computer facilities.
The department has various computer systems and a Computer Lab available to all graduate students, consisting of IBM and Macintosh computers with current Mathematical, Scientific, network, and typesetting software. Additional high-performance computing resources are available from the Center for Scientific Computing.
The entire campus, including the graduate student office space, is covered by a WiFi network. Most lecture halls are equipped with video projectors that can be used either with a Macintosh already in the room, or your personal laptop.
Graduate Student Advising
All graduate students will be assigned a faculty advisor upon entering our program. Your faculty advisor is the person you consult in all academic matters of your education. Accordingly, he or she should be consulted before the start of each quarter. When students are more familiar with the department faculty, they may choose their own advisors.
Graduate Program Advisor
The Graduate Program Advisor is the person you see to coordinate virtually all of the administrative aspects of your education and employment at the university. He or she is your liaison to the Graduate Division and to the Math Department's Graduate Committee. The Graduate Program Advisor is available for assistance with any matter that is affecting your life as a graduate student, and will either have or be able to direct you to various resources and services on campus. It is recommended that you get to know the Graduate Program Advisor upon your arrival.
Transfer Work Petitions
Students may petition the Graduate Committee to request an exception to any established departmental policy. Petitions should be drafted by the student and his or her advisor. This petition process is especially important for incoming students who have done substantial graduate work elsewhere. Such students should avoid repeating large portions of graduate work.
