The Ph.D. option in statistics prepares students for academic positions or positions in Academia, applied statisticians in industry or government. Entering students are expected to have had Linear Algebra, Calculus and Advanced Calculus. Typically an incoming Ph.D. student will have had an introductory course or two in Statistics at the undergraduate level. Student seeking a Ph.D. in statistics must complete the following: coursework, qualifying exams, language requirement and dissertation.
CourseworkThe student must complete successfully 36 hours of coursework, including:Stat 607-608 (Mathematical Statistics I, II), Stat 605 (Probability Theory), Stat 705-706 (Linear Models I, II), Stat 725 (Theory of Estimation and Statistical Inference), two additional graduate courses in Statistics numbered 600 or above, and Math 623 (Real Analysis I).
Additional courses may be required by the student's dissertation Committee.
Any course outside the Department or numbered less than 600 must have the Graduate Program Director's approval if it is to be counted towards the 36 hours. While the required courses focus primarily on theory, all students are strongly encouraged to develop some expertise in applied statistics and statistical computing.
Qualifying ExamsThere are two tiers of written exams, Basic and Advanced, which are intended to measure a student's overall mastery of standard material. The exams are administered during the week preceding each semester (August and January).
Basic Exams: All prospective Ph.D. candidates must pass the Basic Exam at the ``Ph.D. level''. The student must take these exams no later than the beginning of the third semester of graduate study and pass them no later than the start of the fourth semester. If a student fails on an attempt, he or she has to re-take all three parts. The basic exam consists of three parts: Probability, Statistics and Advanced Calculus/Linear Algebra.
Advanced Exams: The advanced exams must be passed in order to proceed to the dissertation level. The student must take these exams no later than the start of the fifth semester and pass both exams no later than the start of the sixth semester. If the student fails, he or she has to re-take both parts.The advanced exam has two parts: Mathematical Statistics (based on Stat 725, and 605) and Linear Models (based on Stat 705 and 706).
Oral PresentationBy completing the required coursework and passing the Advanced Exam, a student becomes a Ph.D. candidate. All students are expected to acquire experience in preparing and presenting high-level material. After passing the Advanced Exam but before registering for any dissertation credits, each Ph.D. candidate must give a public presentation of some topic beyond the textbook level which is relevant to the student's proposed area of specialization. This would typically have the format of a one-hour seminar (either regularly scheduled or ad hoc). It might be coordinated with the forming of the dissertation committee and preparation of the prospectus. The topic presented is to be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and might for example be drawn from a recent research paper.
DissertationAfter passing the Advanced Exam, the student becomes a Ph.D. candidate. The student must write a satisfactory dissertation under the direction of a faculty member and pass a final oral examination (primarily a defense of the dissertation).