Q. What is the mission of the program; that is, in what areas (sub-disciplines, applied/interdisciplinary work, internships, preparation for university teaching, etc.) does it specialize and what are its goals in those areas?
A. If you look at our website, as well as the Guide for Graduate Students, you will find detailed information about the program.

Q. At what level does the program begin?
A. The program begins with the 500 level core courses listed in the Graduate Guide. It may be necessary for a student to make up some of the upper division undergraduate material. This is acceptable.

Q. What percentage of students pass the Comprehension Exams the first time? How many times may you repeat the exam?
A. The percentage varies from 20% to 80%. The exams can be repeated as often as required up to the time limit of 2 years.

Q. Is it possible to pass a Comprehension Exam without having taken the corresponding core course?
A. Yes. There are no required classes except for Math 499. You can take a comprehensive exam whenever you are ready for it, including in August before classes start.

Q. What is the completion rate? Are a large percentage of the students graduating with a terminal Masters degree?
A. About 50% of declared Ph.D. candidates complete the degree. The remainder leave with a Masters degree. Also, perhaps 30% of the students admitted are Masters degree candidates from the beginning.

Q. What is the average time to obtain a Ph.D.?
A. 6.3 years.

Q. What is the placement record for new Ph.D. graduates? Where have the recent graduates been placed?
A. About 50% of our graduates take positions in 4-year colleges and about 35% are awarded postdoctoral positions at peer institutions. A small percentage accept positions in industry.

Q. How many students will be in my entering class?
A. The number varies from 15 to 50.

Q. When (and how) do you choose your advisor? How difficult is it to switch advisors after a year?
A. When you get here you are assigned to a "temporary" advisor to consult with about courses, etc. This advisor can be changed at any time. After you finish the comprehensive exams, you begin taking reading courses with various professors. This is how professors and students decide if they can work together on a Ph.D. thesis. It may take a year or more to make an appropriate match.

Q. Who selects the dissertation committee?
A. The student together with the thesis advisor selects the dissertation committee.

Q. How many working hours per week is expected for a TA? What is the actual time commitment for a TA? Is the stipend enough to live on in that area?
A. A 50%-time TA has 4 class contact hours per week which means about 20 hours actual work. The stipend is adequate to live in Champaign-Urbana.

Q. What type of training do TAs receive (workshops, classes, etc.)?
A. Teacher training begins during Fall Orientation and continues in workshop form throughout the academic year. Beginning teaching assistants are usually assigned recitation sections in support of a large lecture class taught by a faculty member, or they are graders for faculty-taught classes. International students whose native language is not English must satisfy Graduate College English proficiency requirements in order to be eligible for classroom instruction as a teaching assistant.

Q. Am I guaranteed support for the entire time to complete my doctorate degree, or is it on a year by year basis?
A. Support is guaranteed for 6 years, assuming progress towards the degree as defined in the Graduate Guide.

Q. For how many years is my offer, and under what conditions is it renewable? Does it stay the same every year?
A. You can expect to be reappointed for up to 6 years, assuming normal progress towards the degree. You are also eligible for possible RA positions (allocated by individual faculty) and there is a competition for fellowships every year. The stipend normally increases by about 3-5% each year.

Q. Is there a possibility of finding summer funding as a TA or RA, etc., and how much funding could I possibly receive for it?
A. We do not offer summer TA positions to students before they enter Illinois. There are about 25 summer positions per year. The summer stipend is about $3,000 this year.

Q. How are teaching assignments made (lottery or choice)?
A. Teaching assignments are made by choice. The program is large enough so that almost all reasonable requests can be met.

Q. What kind of computing facilities do you have? Do students have easy access to electronic mail?
A. We have two Sun workstation labs reserved for graduate students. There are increasing numbers of computers in student offices. Everybody uses e-mail. It is our main way to contact students.

Q. What are the provisions for health insurance?
A. Health insurance is part of the fees you are required to pay each semester.

Q. What are the provisions for graduate housing?
A. There are graduate dorms which offer a room and 20 meals per week for about $580 per month. Two bedroom apartments suitable for two students rent for $600 to $800 per month. The dorms are on campus and some apartments are within walking distance. However, there is a very good bus system so it is quite possible to live several miles from campus.