The Bridge-to-Math-Doctorate Program in the Department of Mathematics

Institution:

University of Texas at Arlington

State:

Texas

Academic Level:

Graduate

Issue Area:

Academic Program

Program Focus:

Mentoring, Scholarship

Website:

https://fermat.uta.edu/bridge/

Key Personnel:

Tuncay Aktosun

Contact Info:

aktosun@uta.edu | 817.272.1545

Overview

The Bridge program's mission is to increase the number and quality of Ph.D. degree recipients among underserved students. It has the goal to transform participating students into strong candidates for standard Ph.D. programs in the mathematical sciences. The graduate mathematics program has an excellent record of enrolling Latino students, mentoring them, retaining them, graduating them with Ph.D. degrees, and helping them move to meaningful careers in industry or academia.

Program Description

The program provides one year of individualized academic preparation to strengthen students’ mathematical background for Ph.D. studies, especially in mathematical analysis and advanced linear algebra. Students are treated as regular Ph.D. students and receive faculty and peer mentoring to foster a strong sense of belonging. Bridge scholars are encouraged and guided in choosing the best doctoral program for themselves. Some scholars move to other institutions while others remain with the institution’s Department of Mathematics. Bridge scholars who receive a Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, are admitted with a graduate assistantship.

Outcome

Even though it is not exclusively meant for underrepresented minority students, most of the Bridge scholars are underrepresented minority students and mostly Latino. Although a comparison with non-program participants is difficult to quantify, in general, an underserved student underprepared for doctoral studies has a low chance of getting admitted to a doctoral program.

The following is data related to the last three years of the Bridge program:

In academic year 2019-2020, there were 12 participants (4 Latinos) and 11 of them moved to standard graduate programs with financial assistantships.
In 2020-2021 there were 6 participants (all Latino) and all moved to standard graduate programs with financial assistantships.
In 2021-2022 there were 7 participants (all Latino) and all moved to standard graduate programs with financial assistantships.

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