Degree Requirements
Ph.D. in Statistics (Biostatistics Track)
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 a defense examination. A Ph.D. student will select an area of specialization within Biostatistics and will choose a major dissertation adviser from GPS faculty working in Biostatistics, usually in the second or third year of study. Financial support is contingent on normal progress towards the degree goal. The student’s program of study will be developed by the student jointly with the Graduate Adviser.
The required core courses are as follows:
- Statistical Computing: Statistics 141 (4 units)
- Biostatistics: Survival Analysis: Statistics 222 (4 units)
- Biostatistics: Generalized Linear Models: Statistics 223 (4 units)
- Biostatistics: Clinical Trials and Advanced Topics: Statistics 224 (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 (1 unit, each quarter, to be taken until advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D., 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)
In addition, one life sciences course (non-quantitative biology course) at the upper division or graduate level (4 units)and one elective graduate level course from Statistics or Biostatistics (at least 3 units). All coursework (a total of at least 53 units) 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.
The Chair of the Graduate Program in Statistics (GPS) will appoint an examination committee that will be responsible for preparing, administering and grading the examination. This committee will forward its recommendation to the GPS, which will make the final decision on each student.
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.
