2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

Statistical Science, PhD


Banner Code: VS-PHD-STAT

School: Volgenau School of Engineering 

Department: Statistics 

The terminal degree PhD in statistical science represents the highest academic attainment for a statistician and, as such, requires in-depth knowledge of modern statistical theory and practice. The degree program is a hybrid of mathematical theory, computation, and data analysis, and students are expected to be proficient in all three. Current research areas of key department faculty in the program include biometric identification, biostatistics, statistical genetics, statistical graphics, and data exploration.

Admission Requirements

Students should have a master’s degree in a mathematically intensive discipline with a minimum 3.50 GPA.  Students entering with a master’s degree are expected to have completed coursework equivalent to STAT 544, 554, 652, and 656 with exceptional performance. The program also requires a course in advanced calculus (MATH 315 or equivalent) with a B or better.  In exceptional circumstances, talented students with a mathematically intensive undergraduate degree may be admitted.

Degree Requirements


Students are required to complete 72 credits. Typically, a student entering with a master’s degree in statistics, mathematics, or similar discipline is able to receive a reduction of up to 24 credits from approved course work.  The remaining 24 credits of coursework consist of three core courses and five special emphasis electives. In order to advance to candidacy, students must complete all coursework, pass the qualifying and comprehensive examinations, and defend a dissertation proposal. To complete the degree, students must take a minimum of 24 credits among IT 990, STAT 998, and STAT 999, of which 12 must be STAT 999 and pass a final defense.

Written qualifying exams will be taken in the following areas:


  • Applied Probability
  • Applied Statistics and Data Analysis
  • Statistical Inference

Qualifying exams are offered in August and January. Students are required to take the qualifying exams within one year of admission. Students who do not pass all three exams in two consecutive exam periods are terminated from the program.

Plan of Study


Students are required to complete 24 credits of advanced emphasis course work, including three core courses:

Doctoral Committee Selection


Following successfully passing the qualifying exams, students should select a dissertation director and a doctoral studies committee.  The chair of the doctoral studies committee must be a member of the graduate faculty with a regular appointment in the Department of Statistics, and will typically be the dissertation director.  The doctoral studies committee consists of a chair, two members of the graduate faculty who hold regular appointments in the Department of Statistics, and an external member.  The doctoral studies committee must be approved by the director of the doctoral program in statistical science.

Advancement to Candidacy


Admission to candidacy is acquired on completion of an oral comprehensive exam administered by the doctoral supervisory committee, covering the three core courses and five advanced emphasis courses, and a dissertation proposal. The student is evaluated as pass, conditional pass, or fail. A student who fails the comprehensive exam may take it a second time. If the student fails a second time, the student is terminated from the program.

Doctoral Defense


The dissertation defense serves as the student’s final examination and is conducted by the doctoral supervisory committee. Both the comprehensive exam and final exam are scheduled on approval of a written request to the department chair.

For more information, e-mail specific questions to statistics@gmu.edu.

Total: 72 credits