Berkeley Mathematics Graduate School

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the language requirements for Ph.D. students at Berkeley's Mathematics Graduate School, specifically the necessity to learn two of three languages: French, German, and Russian. Participants explore the implications of these requirements and share personal experiences related to language proficiency in the context of mathematics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the accuracy of the language requirement, seeking confirmation from others who attended Berkeley.
  • Another participant suggests that the presence of the requirement likely serves a specific purpose, implying its importance.
  • Some participants note that many Math Ph.D. programs in the US require at least one of the languages, with varying methods of assessment, such as language exams or translation tasks.
  • A question is raised about whether language exams or courses are taken during graduate school or undergraduate studies.
  • A link to the Graduate Student Handbook is provided for further details on the requirements.
  • A participant confirms the requirement but clarifies that fluency is not necessary; the focus is on the ability to translate mathematical papers with the aid of a dictionary.
  • This participant shares a personal anecdote about starting to learn German due to the requirement and how it has influenced their academic journey.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the specifics of the language requirement, with some confirming its existence and others questioning its implications. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact nature of the requirements and their enforcement.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the clarity of the requirements, as participants reference different interpretations and experiences. The discussion also highlights the variability in language requirements across different institutions.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective graduate students considering Berkeley's Mathematics program, individuals interested in language requirements for mathematics Ph.D. programs, and those exploring the intersection of language and mathematics in academic settings.

JasonJo
Messages
425
Reaction score
2
I was looking on Berkeley's Mathematics Grad School requirements for Ph.D students, and they require you learn 2 of 3 languages: French, German and Russian. anyone go to Berkeley and can confirm this??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If it's posted, it's probably posted for a reason...
 
From what I have seen, many Math Ph.D programs in the US seem to require at least 1 of: French, German, Russian.

I believe Berkeley actually requires you to take language exams. However, some schools just require you to have taken 3 or 4 semesters of the foreign language, and others want you to translate a few pages of some math journal from whatever language to English.
 
do you take the language exams/courses in grad school or in undergrad?
 
JasonJo said:
I was looking on Berkeley's Mathematics Grad School requirements for Ph.D students, and they require you learn 2 of 3 languages: French, German and Russian. anyone go to Berkeley and can confirm this??
It is true...sort of. You don't have to be fluent in the languages. You essentially only have to be able to translate a foreign paper into English while using a dictionary. That's the "test". It's not anywhere near as bad as it sounds.

Of course that doesn't mean you should avoid actually learning a language well. When I saw that requirement a couple years back, I started learning German. Now I'm studying here in Berlin. Funny where math takes you.
 

Similar threads

Choosing between unis—UC Berkeley, Cornell
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Admissions Advice to enhance my profile for grad school
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Schools Help with shortlisting graduate programs in HEP-PH/TH
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
Admissions Graduate school admission chances
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Schools UBC, Berkeley, or UCLA, for undergrad?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
Schools Down to my last 2 college choices - advice?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Admissions Sincerely seeking graduate school admission advice
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Schools UCB vs UCSD: Grad School & High Energy Physics
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Courses Advanced Math for Computational Material Science Engineering
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Schools Choosing between UC Berkeley and Caltech - Math
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
5K