Studying Mathematics and Statistics and Boston University

Our department offers graduate degree programs for PhDs in Mathematics and in Statistics, an MS in Statistical Practice, and MAs in Mathematics and in Statistics. Students have the opportunity to interact with our cutting-edge research community to explore the beauty and power of these fields, and utilize our courses to obtain a solid foundation in key skills such as problem solving, computation, abstract thinking, and data analysis. More information can be found via the links.

Graduate Program Handbook

It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the policies set forth in the Graduate Program Handbook. These policies may change or be added to on a per-semester basis. Changes will be reflected timely on this webpage. 

Updated: February 25, 2026

The authority on BU’s academic policies is the BU Bulletin Policy Section. Similarly, the authority for student-life policies is the Student Lifebook. Some of the most relevant policies for graduate students are linked below for your convenience.

Bulletin

Full polices can be found in the BU Bulletin, and students are responsible for being familiar with them.

Bulletin Requirements:

PhD in Mathematics

PhD in Statistics

MA in Mathematics

MA in Statistics 

Degree Requirements from GRS: Students are expected to be aware of and meet the degree requirements of GRS.

Important Semester Dates: Students are expected to be aware of semester dates, as outlined on the Registrar’s website. Students should pay particular attention to:

  • Last day to add a class
  • Last day to drop a class without a “W”
  • Last day to drop a class with a “W”
    • If a student drops a class with a W, this class will show up on their transcript with a “W” instead of a grade. The class will not impact the student’s GPA.
  • Any schedule changes due to University-observed holidays (e.g. substituting a Monday schedule on a Tuesday, due to a Monday holiday).

Petitioning to Transfer Credits: PhD PtPhD students are allowed to transfer up to 32.0 credits from relevant, graduate-level courses earned at accredited institutions towards their BU degree credit requirement. 

  • Students must complete the request webform to GRS. Then, they will receive a notification that the request has been received and sent to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Program Administrator. The Program Administrator, and Director of Graduate Studies will confirm with GRS if the petition is approved. 
    • Note: This process is separate from requesting to waive a breadth course requirement. See Breadth Course Requirements, below.

    Other Course Information: GRS requires a minimum of 64.0 credits to earn a PhD degree. PhD students may count courses taken within the department toward this requirement. Courses taken outside the department may also count, provided they are approved by the student’s faculty advisor. Students should email the Graduate Program Administrator with advisor approval so their academic record can be updated accordingly.

    2.0 credit courses do not count towards the degree requirement.

    Directed Study Courses: PhD students can be registered for a graduate directed study course with their advisor, or any other faculty they are working with, each semester for at least 4.0 credits. A student can be registered for up to 12.0 credits of directed study in each semester.

    Directed study courses taken to count towards the degree requirements must be taken for 4.0 credits and receive a letter grade.

    The course requirements and grading are determined between the student and their Directed Study Advisor.

    Grade Requirement: Courses taken towards the PhD degree must receive a grade of B- or higher to count.

        • For the breadth requirements, the number of B- grades must not exceed the number of grades of B+ or higher, and the overall GPA in the breadth classes need to be 3.5 or higher.
        • Pass/Fail grades (P/F) are not allowed for any regular 4.0 credit course taken toward the PhD degree.

    Good Academic Standing: Per the GRS Bulletin, good academic standing is required to remain enrolled in the program and retain the GRS Scholarship. Specific requirements to remain in good academic standing include:

        • Have no more than two failing or W grades.
        • Meet all milestones of the degree, such as comprehensive exams, subject qualifying exams, and dissertation prospectus, on the schedule specified by the program.
        • Meet all milestones of the degree with sufficient quality of work as specified by the program.

    The full policy can be read here.

    Registration

    Class Registration (Fall and Spring)

    Discuss your course selection with your advisor, and, with permissions provided by the Graduate Program Administrator, register at MyBU Student. PhD students typically take between two and three courses (8-12 credits) per semester until all course requirements are fulfilled. It is permissible to take fewer than 8 or 12 credits upon conferring with your advisor. For example, the courses that you need may not be offered in each semester, or you may have an off-campus precludes a substantial course load.

    Maintaining Full-Time Status/Continuing Study: As part of their visa requirements, International Students must maintain full-time status every semester. Full-time status means a student is taking 12.0 or more credits in each semester. However, doctoral students are manually certified as full-time each semester, regardless of credit amount being taken each semester, as long as the student is registered each semester. 

    The 0.0-credit research course Continuing Study will count as registered full-time for doctoral students.

    Complete this form, being sure to check the box next to Continuing Study, and send it to the Graduate Program Administrator.

    International students are not allowed to withdraw from classes if this would cause them to fall below the 12.0 credit minimum.

    If you want to drop courses from your schedule, please contact your program administrator.

    CPT/OPT and Student Visa Requirements

    International students should be aware of their Student Visa requirements before engaging in any kind of off-campus employment.

    All applications must be made through the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO). You must read carefully through ISSO’s instructions for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT).

    Advising

    The authority on degree requirements is the BU Bulletin. The following information is pulled from this publication. The handbook is not intended to be a replacement for the Bulletin, but rather a supplement that clarifies and extends the Bulletin’s information base.