If you are in the PhD program, you will automatically fulfill all requirements for a Master's degree in the course of your PhD work! This page exists to tell you how to actually get this degree once you've fulfilled all requirements.

Updated requirements can be found on the math department degree requirements (pure math) page for pure math students, and on the math department degree requirements (applied math) page for applied math students. Note that the “comprehensive exam” is the same as the PhD prelim exams. In the unusual case that you need a Master's degree (e.g. for a summer job) but did not pass your prelims, you should talk to the current graduate program chair. There is a “Master's pass” that is lower score than the PhD pass for prelim exams.

Also note that most students finish all requirements by the end of their second year in the PhD program, since the requirements include fewer courses than the PhD course requirement.

Here are a few reasons to go through the work to get your degree:

• You've earned it!
• Some summer jobs/internships pay you more money if you have a graduate degree
• If you're considering leaving the program, make sure you leave with a degree and not empty-handed

Note: all of this information is for the process when GradSphere was first implemented in Spring 2024. There may be changes to how GradSphere works, if this is the case and you have questions about this process please email gradadvisor@math.ucdavis.edu (and then update this wiki so everyone else can benefit from your knowledge too!)

Step 1: Confirm you have completed all requirements: Check out the requirements linked above! If you are on the standard PhD track, you will likely complete all of these requirements sometime during your second year.

Step 2: Add degree objective: Log into GradSphere, and select “add/change degree objective”. Note: as of 4/1/2026, this form is not officially implemented in GradSphere, which means you need to fill it out yourself and email it to gradadvisor@math.ucdavis.edu. The front office will then sign it and submit the form to grad studies for you.

You can find the form under Home, then Legacy/PDF Academic Forms, and then “Petition to Change/Add Major(s) or Degree Objective(s)”

You will have to fill out form GS301: “Petition to add a degree objective”. You will have to include your personal information and sign at the bottom. Somewhere around the middle of page 2, you will have a few other questions including: “Do you intend to complete your current degree objective?” Check yes if you still plan on finishing your PhD. Then select “Multiple Degree Objectives” under Applicable Box(es). In the table, your present degree objective is PhD and your new degree objective is MA. Under “Briefly explain the reason for the change(s)”, past students have simply written “I have satisfied all requirements for my Master's Degree”.

Step 3: Wait for Approval: The front office needs to approve the form and upload it for you, and then Grad Studies needs to approve it. You should receive an email when Grad Studies approves the form. Then you're ready for the next step!

Step 4: Advance to Candidacy: On GradSphere, under the Home page select “Advance to Candidacy”. Fill out the corresponding form. Note that you should select “Masters Plan II” for Degree pathway.

In Spring 2024, there was a $55 filing fee. You paid this at the GS Forms Store online or in person at Dutton Hall, and then uploaded a receipt. As of Spring 2026, there is no filing fee. Hooray for free degrees!

Step 5: Wait for Approval: Grad Studies will approve the form, and you should receive an email when this is done.

They will also have to “upload to banner”, which can take longer. You'll have to wait until they've done this and the bar at the top shows “complete.”

Step 6: The Math Department Submits a Report For You: The GPC needs to submit the “Master’s II Report” for you in GradSphere. This means that the graduate program coordinator (currently Minh) submits the report, and then it is approved by the chair of GPC before being routed to Grad Studies. If you do not see that a report has been initiated in GradSphere and more than 48 hours have passed since Grad Studies approved your Advancement to Candidacy form, then feel free to email gradadvisor@math.ucdavis.edu. Once this is approved, you should get an email and can find the approved copy in the “My Application” tab in GradSphere. Again, you need to wait until it has moved from “upload to banner” to “completed”, even if you get an email saying it was approved.

Step 7: Complete Your Degree! In GradSphere go to “Home”, then “Degree Completion”, and select “Filing Process”. When you select “Masters Plan II” it should auto complete some information. Fill out the rest of the required information. Upload the approval you got in step 6 (this can be a screenshot of the report).

Step 8: Wait (this is the last time, I promise): Grad Studies will sit on this form for some (hopefully short) amount of time… and then approve it. When that happens, you have your Master’s degree! You should receive an email from Graduate Studies informing you that you officially have completed your Master’s degree, and this email will have information about how you will get your diploma. Make sure to read that email fully, especially if you are moving to a new home/rental place in the next year!

Cheers! Enjoy your graduate degree!! (And go celebrate with your math friends :)