About PhD Program,
The Department of Statistics offers an exciting and recently revamped PhD program that involves students in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in a wide variety of fields. Statistics has become a core component of research in the biological, physical, and social sciences, as well as in traditional computer science domains such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. The massive increase in the data acquired, through scientific measurement on one hand and through web-based collection on the other, makes the development of statistical analysis and prediction methodologies more relevant than ever.
Our graduate program prepares students to address these issues through rigorous training in scientific computation, and in the theory, methodology, and applications of statistics. The course work includes four core sequences:
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
A student applying to the PhD program normally should have taken courses in advanced calculus, linear algebra, probability, and statistics. Additional courses in mathematics, especially a course in real analysis, will be helpful. Some facility with computer programming is expected. Students without background in all of these areas, however, should not be discouraged from applying, especially if they have a substantial background, through study or experience, in some area of science or other discipline involving quantitative reasoning and empirical investigation. Statistics is an empirical and interdisciplinary field, and a strong background in some area of potential application of statistics is a considerable asset. Indeed, a student’s background in mathematics and in science or another quantitative discipline is more important than his or her background in statistics.
PhD Funding Coverage,
In recent years our department has been able to provide full support (tuition, most fees, health insurance, and a stipend) for most of its PhD students, and we expect to do so for the foreseeable future. Ordinarily, students are supported for at least four years. Support is not tied to working with a particular faculty member. At present, most fifth-year students receive full support, and most PhD students receive summer support.
Decisions on departmental financial aid are made by the Statistics Department, not by the University. Assistantships are awarded on the basis of our assessment of your scholarly promise and are subject to the availability of funds.
We adhere to the policy of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) concerning offers of financial support in the form of a scholarship, assistantship, fellowship, or traineeship. Under that policy, acceptance of such an offer from any institution does not become binding until April 15. Complete details are given in the CGS resolution, a copy of which accompanies any offer of a scholarship, assistantship, fellowship, or traineeship.
You should also investigate other possibilities for financial support for graduate study. In particular, the National Science Foundation (NSF) offers several fellowship programs for graduate study. Other opportunities are listed on the University’s Fellowships and Funding site. We strongly encourage all eligible applicants to apply to these programs. Since the application deadlines are quite early in the fall, we suggest that you investigate your options early in the process.
If you might receive a fellowship or grant that would allow you to attend our PhD program without full support from us, please bring that to our attention in the Financial Data section of the application.
Application Requirement,
The Transcript
Letters of Recommendation
Graduate Record Examinations
Candidate Statement
Fee
Application Deadline,
Jan 04, 2025
Application Fee,
The application fee is $90. The fee is nonrefundable.
