Degree Requirements
Ph.D. in Statistics
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have completed the course requirements (or their equivalents) for the master's degree in statistics and at least one semester or two quarters of advanced calculus at a level equivalent to Mathematics 127AB and a quarter of linear algebra at a level equivalent to Mathematics 67. While students may be admitted to the program with a less complete background, they would be expected to achieve this level during the first year of graduate work. For more information, please see our Admissions Section.
Program of Study
This is a Plan A program with final oral examination (defense of the dissertation). A Ph.D. student will select an area of specialization and will choose a major professor and dissertation adviser in that area, usually in the second or third year of study. The student's program of study will be developed by the student jointly with the Graduate Adviser.
Required Core Courses:
- Statistical Computing: Statistics 141 (4 units)
- Mathematical Statistics: Statistics 231A-231B-231C (4/4/4 units)
- Applied Statistics: Statistics 232A-232B-232C (4/4/4 units)
- Seminar in Statistics: Statistics 290 (three quarters, graded S/U)
- Methods in Teaching Statistics: Statistics 390 (2 units, once, at the first offering of the course during residence, graded S/U)
- Methods in Statistical Consulting: Statistics 401 (3 units, twice during program, graded S/U)
- An additional 18 units of elective graduate level courses in Statistics or Mathematics at the graduate level.
All coursework (a total of at least 52 units) and the program of study must be approved by the Graduate Adviser.
Ph.D. Pre-Qualifying Written Examination
The Ph.D. Pre-qualifying Written Examination will be given at the beginning of each Spring Quarter and also at the beginning of each Fall Quarter. Students in the Ph.D. program must attempt the exam in the Spring Quarter immediately after they complete both the STA 231AB and STA 232AB core course series. If a student does not attempt the examination at this time, it will be recorded as a ‘no pass’. Every Ph.D. student needs to pass the examination in a maximum of two attempts. In case of not pass at the first attempt, the second attempt must take place at the next time the examination is offered, and if a student does not attempt the exam at that time, it will be counted as a failure. Two ‘not passes’ of the examination will result in a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies for discontinuation of the student in the Ph.D. program. Ph.D. Qualifying Examination
The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination is an oral exam. The exam will be attempted as soon as the Ph.D. Pre-qualifying Written Examination has been passed and all required coursework for the Ph.D. degree in Statistics has been completed. In accordance with university rules, students are requested to take their qualifying examination before the end of the third year to remain eligible for academic appointments such as GSI. The preparation for the exam will be done by working closely with a faculty mentor (independent study). The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination covers a special research topic assigned by an examining committee consisting of five faculty members. A forty-five minute presentation given by the student is followed by a question period which covers the special research topic as well as coursework in general. The examining committee will be appointed by Graduate Council at the recommendation of the graduate adviser who consults with the student prior to making the recommendation. The major professor is not eligible to serve as chair of the examining committee.
Graduate Studies guidelines for Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations apply. These can be obtained from the Graduate Studies Website.
Title and abstract of the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam presentation will be distributed to all faculty and students of the Graduate Program in Statistics, who are invited to attend the presentation.
Dissertation
The doctoral dissertation is the main part of this program. A topic will be selected by the student, under the advice and guidance of a major professor (thesis adviser) and a dissertation committee chaired by the major professor. Students are encouraged to begin some research activity as early as possible during the second year of their graduate studies. The dissertation must contain an original contribution of publishable quality to the knowledge of statistics that may expand the theory or methodology of statistics, or expand or modify statistical methods to solve a critical problem in applied disciplines. Acceptance of the dissertation by three designated members of the dissertation committee follows Graduate Studies guidelines (Plan A with defense). The dissertation must be completed and filed prior to taking the final examination. The final examination must be passed within four years after promotion to candidacy, unless a special exception is granted.
Final Examination
Defense of the dissertation before the five-member dissertation committee (three faculty who read the committee, plus two for the exam only) will constitute the final examination for the Ph.D. degree. The final examination must be passed within four years after promotion to Candidacy, unless a special exception is granted. Pass or no pass is determined by a vote of the dissertation committee. Title and abstract of the Ph.D. Defense presentation will be distributed to all faculty and students of the Graduate Program in Statistics, who are invited to attend the presentation portion of the examination. The subsequent question period is a closed session between the student and the committee.Title and abstract of the Ph.D. Defense presentation will be distributed to all faculty and students of the Graduate Program in Statistics, who are invited to attend the presentation.
Sample Study-Plan
Every full-time student at UC Davis is required to take 12 units of coursework per quarter. Financial support, if granted, is contingent on normal progress towards the degree goal. In addition to the coursework as outlined below, students will take Statistics 290 and generally will take additional electives later on, in consultation with their major professor.
The following would be a typical program for a well-prepared student seeking a Ph.D. degree who opts for the fast track.
Year 1 |
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Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
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Statistics 231A |
Statistics 231B |
Statistics 231C |
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Statistics 232A |
Statistics 232B |
Statistics 232C |
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Statistics 390 |
Statistics 141 |
Statistics 401 |
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Ph.D. Pre-Qualifying Written Exam |
Year 2 |
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Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
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Statistics Elective |
Statistics Elective |
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Statistics Elective |
Statistics Elective |
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Statistics Elective |
Ph.D. Qualifying Exam |
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Statistics 401 |
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Year 3, 4 |
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Complete requirements for the Ph.D. degree, including Dissertation and Defense |
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| GPS Handbook 2009.pdf | 167.03 KB |
