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PhD
Program The University of Michigan offers the degree of Ph.D. in Statistics in recognition of excellent scholarship and research in Statistics. The program is quite flexible and allows a student to pursue a variety of specializations, ranging from statistical methodology and interdisciplinary research to theoretical statistics and probability theory. The various elements of the program are discussed below. A. Dissertation Each doctoral student is expected to write a dissertation which makes a substantial and original contribution to Statistics, or a closely related field. This is the most important element of the doctoral program. B. Courses The specific courses elected by a student will be chosen jointly by the student and a faculty counselor, and the student is encouraged to tailor the program to his/her interests. However, it is expected that the program will typically include the following: Statistics 600-601 (Linear Models; Analysis of Multivariate and Categorical Data) Statistics 610-611 (Statistical Inference; Large Sample Theory) Statistics 620-621 (Applied Probability and Stochastic Modeling; Probability Theory) At least two classes from the set: Statistics 605 and 606 (Advanced Topics in Modeling and Data Analysis; Computational Methods in Statistics) Statistics 612 (Advanced Topics in Theoretical Statistics) Statistics/Math 626 (Probability and Random Processes) Statistics 810 and 811 (Literature Proseminar). Two cognate classes amounting to at least four credits Other advanced classes offered by the Department of Statistics or related departments. Statistics 808/809/818/819 (Department Seminar) Exceptions to the above requirements and credit for graduate work done elsewhere may be granted by the Graduate Chair. All course elections from outside the Statistics Department must be approved by the Graduate Chair. C. Qualifying Review Each doctoral student must pass a qualifying review exam covering topics in applied statistics, probability, and theoretical statistics. The examination is in three parts. Part I covers probability, Part II covers theoretical statistics, and Part III covers applied statistics. Courses that are helpful in preparing for the exams are: Part I: Statistics 620 and 621 Part II: Statistics 610 and 611 Part III: Statistics 600 and 601 Students who perform sufficiently well in course work for a particular part will be permitted to take the exam in just the other two parts. The qualifying review will be given once each year (in May). To remain in good standing, a Ph.D. student is expected to have passed the exam by the end of the second year, and is strongly encouraged to take it at the end of the first year. At most two attempts are permitted. When a student has passed the qualifying review, the Graduate Chair will help him or her seek out a faculty advisor, and the advisor will help the student determine a plan for completing the course requirements and preparing for the dissertation proposal. D. Advancing to Candidacy Every doctoral student is expected to be advanced to candidacy by the end of the third year of Ph.D. study in order to remain in good standing. There are two requirements: a) completing the required coursework and credits and b) writing a dissertation proposal and passing the preliminary exam. D.1. Coursework and Credit Requirements The student must have accumulated at least 36 hours of credit (18 hours of credit if the student has an M.A. in a related field), which must include the following courses: Statistics 600, 601, 610, 611, 620, 621 Literature Proseminar 810, 811 At least four credit hours of cognate courses Statistics 808/809/818/819 (Department Seminar) and similar non-graded courses do not count towards the credit requirement. Exceptions to the above requirements may be granted by the Graduate Chair. D.2. Dissertation Proposal and Preliminary Exam Each doctoral student will develop a dissertation proposal in the form of a prospectus (a short paper). The proposal should identify an interesting problem and provide motivation for studying it. In addition, the proposal should include a review of relevant literature and propose an approach for solving the problem. The student will be asked to present a seminar on the proposal and to take an oral examination covering the proposal and related background material. A preliminary thesis committee consisting of at least three regular members of the faculty chosen by the student and the thesis advisor will evaluate the proposal. When the thesis advisor is a regular faculty member, only two additional regular faculty are required. Up to two faculty members from other departments or visitors to the Statistics Department may be added to the committee. The preliminary thesis committee may continue to serve as the doctoral thesis committee, but this is not required. The committee will elect to accept the proposal as both substantial and feasible, or to ask for specific revisions, or to decline the proposal. The unanimous approval of the committee is necessary for the student to advance to candidacy. The prospectus and the oral examination constitute the Department's preliminary examination. The time at which a student presents a thesis proposal will be determined by the preliminary thesis committee, the student, and his or her advisor. Students will normally be expected to submit a proposal within one year of passing all the requirements of the Qualifying Review Exam. Once a student has completed the course requirements and passed the preliminary examination, he/she will normally be admitted to candidacy. During candidacy a student is expected to work on a thesis under the supervision of the advisor and the doctoral committee and to take or audit a few advanced courses. Rackham Requirements The Rackham Graduate School imposes some additional requirements concerning residency, fees, and time limits. These requirements are detailed in the Regulations of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Students are expected to know them and comply with them. Thesis Copies Students are required to provide a bound copy of their thesis to their thesis advisor and a copy to the Department for archival purposes. |
