• Ph.D.
• Undergraduate Programs
• M.A. in Statistics
• M.A. in Mathematics of Finance
• M.A. in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
• M.S. in Actuarial Science

•  CONTACT
•  DIRECTIONS
•  JOBS
•  COMPUTING
•  RESUMES
•  HELP ROOM
•  ALUMNI
•  CALENDAR

PH.D.

Ph.D. Handbook

The department offers the Ph.D. in probability and statistics. Continuing demand exists for well-trained statisticians, and the department has been successful in placing its graduates in universities, research institutes, government, financial institutions, and industry.

The core curriculum includes four sequences: STAT G6101-G6102 (Applied Statistics); STAT G6107-G6108 (Theoretical Statistics); STAT G6105-G6106 and STAT W6501 (Probability), and a new sequence in Stochastic Processes and Computing that will be offered starting in 2010-11. Students wishing additional preparation before embarking on the Probability sequence (STAT G6105-G6106) may take MATH W4061-W4062 (Introduction to Modern Analysis) first. Students typically take three of the four sequences in their first year.

At the end of the first year there are qualifying exams corresponding to the four sequences and students must take two of the four exams, one from Applied Statistics and Stochastic Processes & Computing and one from Theoretical Statistics and Probability.

In the second and subsequent years, students attend advanced graduate courses, participate in graduate seminars and working groups (offered in the regular academic semesters and the Summer semester), attend Departmental seminars, take part in consulting and research activities, and develop a dissertation project. Students who have finished the first-year curriculum take at least one doctoral seminar (8000-level course) each semester of registration during the academic year and the summer (in special circumstances, substitutes for the doctoral seminars may be approved).

Students also participate in the Department's teaching program as teaching fellows or as instructors and take part for at least two semesters in the department's statistical consulting service (approved summer internships in government or industry may be substituted for one semester of the consulting requirement). Many students prefer to take part in the consulting program for more than two semesters.

Until beginning work with a dissertation adviser, students are assigned faculty mentors. Students should discuss their study and research plans regularly with their mentors/advisers and the Director of Graduate Studies. Registration forms must be signed by the Director of Graduate Studies each semester.

Students must register for a total of six Residence Units. After completion of the requisite number of Residence Units, students must register for Full-time Extended Residence.

Students also take an oral qualifying examination (preferably by the end of the third year of study, but not later than the end of the fourth year), after which the M.Phil degree is awarded.

The Ph.D. degree is awarded upon oral defense of an acceptable dissertation. The program typically takes from three to five years.

FAQ's for prospective students.