Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics

Advisor: Dr. Joseph McKean
Room 5506 Everett Tower

The Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics is designed to prepare students for careers in teaching and research in universities, in industry, or in government. It is expected that students, through courses and other experiences, will develop facility in theoretical statistics and in several applied statistics areas. Choices available in the cognate area allow the program to be designed to suit a variety of career interests.

Admission Requirements

A student may enter this program with a master’s degree or directly upon completion of a bachelor’s program. In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements of The Graduate College, the student must have acquired a sufficient level of mathematical training with satisfactory grades as determined by the Doctoral Committee. Upon entrance to the program the student is assigned an advisor who assists him/her in planning his/her program until he/she reaches the stage of having a Dissertation Advisor appointed.

Administration

This program will be administered by the Doctoral Committee. The Doctoral Committee will be responsible for the scheduling, preparation, and grading of preliminary examinations in statistics and for arranging a Thesis Proposal Defense.

Progress Toward Completion

Each year the Doctoral Committee will review the progress of all doctoral students in the Statistics program. Any student not making satisfactory progress may be dropped from the program with approval of the Doctoral Committee. Grades, performance on preliminary exams, the schedule of completed classes, general progress towards completion, etc., will be considered in this decision.

Program Requirements

1. Departmental Graduate Examination in Statistics

As soon as possible, a student must pass the Departmental Graduate Examination in Statistics at the doctoral level. This consists of two 3-hour exams in the areas of theoretical statistics (including probability) and applied statistics from the courses STAT 5620, 6600, 6620, and 6640. The Departmental Graduate Examination will be given once a year, usually in the Spring.

2. Take at least 60 hours of course work including the following:

STAT 5620 - Statistical Theory Credits: 4 hrs.
STAT 6600 - Statistical Inference I Credits: 4 hrs.
STAT 6620 - Applied Linear Models Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6640 - Design of Experiments I Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6800 - SAS Programming Credits: 3 hrs.

The doctoral preliminary examination sequence:

STAT 6610 - Multivariate Statistical Analysis Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6630 - Linear Models Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6650 - Statistical Inference II Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6660 - Nonparametric Statistical Theory Credits: 3 hrs.

Electives

Seven electives are required.

Take at least two of the seven electives from the following advanced statistics courses:

STAT 5820 - Time Series Analysis Credits: 3 hours
STAT 6680 - Categorical Data Analysis Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6810 - Survival Data Analysis Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6830 - Robust Statistical Analysis Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6840 - Design of Experiments II Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6850 - Applied Data Mining Credits: 3 hrs.

Additional Electives

Take the remaining required electives from the following:

STAT 5610 - Applied Multivariate Statistical Methods Credits: 3 hours
STAT 5630 - Sample Survey Methods Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 5650 - Design of Experiments for Quality Improvement Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 5660 - Nonparametric Statistical Methods Credits: 3 hours
STAT 6670 - Introduction to Random Processes Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6690 - Studies in Probability and Statistics Credits: 3 hrs.
STAT 6700 - Statistical Consulting Practicum Credits: 3 hrs.

Cognates

Six credit hours in an approved cognate area related to statistical applications (such as computer science, computational or applied mathematics, engineering, biological science, management, or economics) or statistical electives from the electives listed above.

Seminar Work

STAT 6910 - Practicum in Statistical Consulting Credits: 1 hr.
STAT 6960 - Seminar in Probability and Statistics Credits: 1-3 hrs.

3. Take three preliminary examinations.

A student must pass Preliminary Examinations in Multivariate/Linear Models (STAT 6610, 6630), in Statistical Inference (STAT 6650, 6660) and in a third area to be chosen, with the approval of the Doctoral Committee, from Advanced Statistics or a cognate area depending on the career interests of the student. Two failures on the same examination will result in dismissal from the program.

4. Demonstrate comptency in two research tools.

In accordance with the requirements of The Graduate College, each student is required to attain competence in two approved research tools. Normally for students in Statistics these will consist of demonstrated competence in computer usage or a foreign language. Competence in computer usage can be demonstrated by passing STAT 6800 or an equivalent course with a grade of B or better. Competence in a foreign language can be demonstrated by passing a reading course at the 4000-level in that language or by translating from a language other than English a statistical paper to the satisfaction of the Doctoral Committee. A third option for a research tool is a cross-disciplinary research experience involving concepts and language of a discipline other than Statistics (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Engineering) and resulting in documentation of the student’s competence in the other discipline in a form of written reports and/or published papers. The Doctoral Committee shall determine the acceptability of the cross-disciplinary research experience.

5. Dissertation

Complete and defend the dissertation before the student’s doctoral committee. This requires at least 15 hours of the following course:

STAT 7300 - Doctoral Dissertation Credits: 15 hrs.

Procedures

The Doctoral Committee will be responsible for the advising of students in the statistics doctoral program.

Upon entrance to the doctoral program in Statistics, the student will be assigned an advisor by the Doctoral Committee for planning the student’s program until he/she reaches the status of candidate. During the semester in which the student attains the status of candidate, with the approval and advice of the Doctoral Committee, he/she will be assigned a dissertation advisor. The candidate and the dissertation advisor will select, with the approval of these committees a Dissertation Committee for the candidate. In each of the above situations final appointment is subject to the approval of the Chairperson of the Department and The Graduate College.
During the first semester, the student must have a plan of study written and approved by the Doctoral Committee. The selection of preliminary exams shall be included.
A student is expected to take preliminary exams at the first opportunity after the necessary course work is completed. Normally the exams in statistics will be given at most once a year, and students should be aware that failure to take or pass an exam could cause a delay in their progress and possibly of being dropped from the program.
A student must also pass a Dissertation Proposal Defense, which is an oral presentation of a thesis proposal to the Doctoral Committee. This would take place at the end of the first year after passing all three prelims.