Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics

Advisors:
Dr. Joseph McKean and Dr. Jeff Terpstra
Room 5506 and 5504 Everett Tower

The Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics is designed to prepare students for careers in teaching and research 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 electives area allow the program to be designed to suit a variety of career interests.

Admission Requirements

A student must possess a master’s degree in Statistics or a directly comparable degree with a substantial number of statistics credits in order to be admitted to the 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 Statistics Doctoral Committee. Mathematics coursework includes, but is not necessarily limited to, a complete calculus sequence and a linear algebra course. Upon entrance to the program students are expected to meet with an advisor who will assist him/her in planning his/her program until he/she reaches the stage of candidate.

Program Requirements

1. Departmental Graduate Examination in Statistics

Prior to admission or during the first year, students must pass the Departmental Graduate Examination (DGE) in Statistics at the doctoral level. This consists of two, three-hour exams in the areas of theoretical statistics (calculus-based mathematical statistics and probability) and applied statistics (regression and design of experiments). At WMU, this exam material corresponds to the following courses: STAT 5620, 6600, 6620, and 6640. The DGE is given once a year, usually in May during the first week of the Summer I session.

2. Acquire at Least 60 Hours of Course Work

Note: Students admitted to the program with a Masters Degree in Statistics or a closely related field may possibly receive credit for as many as 30 of the 60 hours required.

Note: Up to six credit hours in approved areas related to statistical applications (e.g. computer science, computational or applied mathematics, engineering, biological science, management, or economics) may be substituted as electives upon approval of the Statistics Doctoral Committee.

Core Courses

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

Doctoral Preliminary Examination Courses

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

Course Electives at the 6000 Level

At least seven 6000 level electives are required.

STAT 6670 - Introduction to Random Processes Credits: 3 hours
STAT 6680 - Categorical Data Analysis Credits: 3 hours
STAT 6690 - Studies in Probability and Statistics Credits: 3 hours
STAT 6810 - Survival Data Analysis Credits: 3 hours
STAT 6830 - Robust Statistical Analysis Credits: 3 hours
STAT 6840 - Design of Experiments II Credits: 3 hours

Course Electives at the 5000 Level

No more than three 5000 level electives can be applied to the program of study.

STAT 5610 - Applied Multivariate Statistical Methods Credits: 3 hours
STAT 5630 - Sample Survey Methods Credits: 3 hours
STAT 5650 - Design of Experiments for Quality Improvement Credits: 3 hours
STAT 5660 - Nonparametric Statistical Methods Credits: 3 hours
STAT 5820 - Time Series Analysis Credits: 3 hours

Note:

The following courses may be substituted as electives upon approval of the Statistics Doctoral Committee.

STAT 6910 - Practicum in Statistical Consulting Credits: 1 hour
STAT 6960 - Seminar in Probability and Statistics Credits: 1 to 3 hours

3. Three preliminary examinations

A student must pass preliminary examinations in Multivariate/Linear Models (STAT 6610 and 6630) and in Statistical Inference (STAT 6650 and 6660). The third exam is satisfied by completion of project reports in an area to be chosen, with the approval of the Statistics Doctoral Committee, from two 6000 level statistics courses. Two failures on the same examination will result in dismissal from the program. Students are expected to take the preliminary examinations as soon as they become eligible. Failure to do so can result in a failed attempt.

4. Competency 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 and/or a foreign language. Competence in computer usage can be demonstrated by obtaining a satisfactory grade in STAT 6800, STAT 6880, and/or equivalent statistics courses. 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 Statistics 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, or 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 Statistics Doctoral Committee shall determine the acceptability of the cross-disciplinary research experience.

5. Dissertation

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

STAT 7300 - Doctoral Dissertation Credits: 1 to 15 hours

Administration and Procedures

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

Furthermore, each year the Statistics 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. Grades, performance on preliminary exams, the schedule of completed classes and exams, general progress towards completion of degree, as well as possible other criteria will be considered in this decision. As an example, course grades below a “B” are undesirable and could be grounds for dismissal.

A chronological progression of the program is as follows:

Upon entrance to the doctoral program in Statistics, students are expected to meet with a Ph.D. advisor for help in planning the student’s program until he/she reaches the status of candidate (i.e. when all three preliminary examinations are passed).
During the first semester of study, the student must complete a plan of study and have it approved by the Statistics Doctoral Committee. The selection of preliminary exams and research tools shall also be included.
Students are expected to take preliminary exams at the first opportunity after the necessary course work is completed. Failure to do so can result in a failed attempt. Normally, these exams will be given at most once a year. Two failures on the same examination will result in dismissal from the program.
During the semester in which the student attains the status of candidate he/she will select a dissertation advisor and corresponding committee with the approval of the Statistics Doctoral Committee. The candidate and the dissertation advisor will select, with the approval of the Dissertation Committee, a research topic for the candidate. In each of the above situations final appointment is subject to the approval of the Department Chairperson and the Graduate College.
A student must also pass a Dissertation Proposal Defense, which is an oral presentation of a thesis proposal to his/her Dissertation Committee. This normally takes place at the end of the first year after passing all three preliminary examinations.