PH.D. IN STATISTICS

The Ph.D. program in statistics presupposes a mathematical background which includes linear algebra and advanced calculus. The core of the Ph.D. program consists of coursework in mathematical statistics as well as a variety of applied and theoretical courses in various topical areas.

Required Courses:

1. Mathematics: As required for individual students to reach the mathematical maturity necessary to be successful in the courses Stat 722, 723, 820, 821, 822, and 832. Minimum requirements should be the equivalents of Math 547(4), 548(4), and 549(4).

2. Statistics: 620(4); 621(4); 622(4); 641(5); 645(5); 722(4); 723(4); 742(3); 820(3); 821(3); 822(3); 832(3).

3. Consulting: Stat 600(2) (graded S/U) or PH786

Electives:

An additional 10 hours of 600 level statistics courses, excluding

Stat 600, 601, 602, 603, 610, 623, 628, 629, 630, 641, 645, and 693.

An additional 21 hours of 700 level or above statistics courses, excluding

Stat 801, 893, 895, and 999.

TOTAL COURSE HOUR REQUIREMENT: 82 hours plus the necessary mathematics

Non-statistics elective courses (at 600 level or above) to replace statistics courses must be approved by the student's Ph. D. Examination Committee. A grade of B- or better is required in all courses in the Ph. D. program.

Typical program (first three years)

Year 1

Summer: 602, 603, 628 or 661

Autumn: 620, 645, Math 547

Winter: 621, 641, Math 548

Spring: 622, Elective, Math 549

Year 2

Autumn: 722, 742, 820

Winter: 723, 821, 832

Spring: 822, Elective, Elective

Year 3

600 (Spring Quarter), plus additional elective courses each quarter

Note: Enrollment in Summer Quarter of the first year is optional, but encouraged.

Examinations (None of these examinations may be taken more than twice!)

1. Qualifier I: This six-hour closed book examination covers material presented in Stat 620, 621, 622, 641, and 645. It is given in the second week of Autumn Quarter and, if necessary, in the first week of Winter Quarter.

2. Qualifier II: This is a comprehensive examination testing knowledge acquired in the first two years of study and the ability to integrate and apply such knowledge. It is an eight-hour closed book examination and may not be attempted until Qualifier I has been passed. Preparation for this examination should be obtained in Stat 620, 621, 622, 641, 645, 722, 723, 742, 820, and 821. The examination is given once a year, early in Autumn Quarter. Upon petition of at least 2 students who failed the examination the previous Autumn Quarter, a Winter Quarter examination will also be offered.

   After passing Qualifier II, the student chooses a dissertation advisor, who must be a Category P graduate faculty member. Category P graduate faculty have been approved by the university to formally supervise Ph.D. dissertations. In the Department of Statistics, the Category P faculty are generally all tenured faculty. After a disseration advisor is chosen, the student also forms a Ph.D. Examination Committee, consisting of at least four graduate faculty members from the Statistics Department or other departments consistent with the student's interests. This committee is responsible for approving a Plan of Study to be filed with the Graduate Studies Committee within four quarters after passing Qualifier II.

3. Ph. D. Candidacy Examination: After completion of all required courses (as specified by the student's Ph.D. Examination Committee), the candidate's Ph.D. Examination Committee will administer and grade a Ph. D. Candidacy Examination. The examination consists of two parts. A written portion covers material on some area in the statistical literature as agreed upon by the student and the Examination Committee. This portion will be administered within two years of passing Qualifier II and will discuss open research topics in this area and possible research methodology for solving these problems. This portion will ordinarily be a thesis proposal, but the student is not obliged to follow through with a thesis in this area, and the examination need not be repeated if the thesis topic is changed at a later date. After the Examination Committee accepts the written portion, they will administer an oral examination over this material. The student has two weeks to complete the written portion of the exam. The oral exam should be scheduled at least two weeks after the due date for the written portion of the exam.

4. Final oral examination/thesis defense: Once the student has made sufficient progress (as judged by the Ph.D. Dissertation Committee) on his/her Ph.D. dissertation to warrant holding the Final Oral Examination, the Doctoral Draft Approval/Notification of Final Oral Examination must be filed with the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the actual Final Oral Examination/Thesis Defense. The Ph.D. Dissertation Committee then conducts a two-hour oral examination in which the candidate discusses/defends his/her thesis. The student must file the Application to Graduate Form with the Graduate School no later than the second Friday of the intended quarter of graduation.