Statistics (PHD) - Statistical Informatics

For admission to the Ph.D. Program in Statistics, applicants must have or be in the process of completing an M.S. in Statistics, Biostatistics, Mathematics, or Applied Mathematics, or an advanced degree in a field that makes significant use of quantitative methods, with at least a 3.0 overall grade point average (GPA). A student who wishes to apply to the Ph.D. program without an M.S. and with only a Baccalaureate degree may do so, but is required to meet all other M.S. and Ph.D. entrance requirements as stipulated herein. If her/his application is successful, the student must earn the M.S. in the GIDP "en route" to her/his Ph.D.

All students entering the Program are required to have a substantive background in mathematics, including at least three semesters of Calculus through multivariable/vector calculus (at the level of MATH 125, MATH 129, MATH 223), one semester of Linear Algebra (at the level of MATH 215), and experience with computer technologies.

For M.S. and Ph.D. applicants, at least one introductory course in statistical methods (at the level of MATH 263) is required. In addition, at least one semester of upper-division Probability (e.g., MATH 464) and (for Ph.D. students) two semesters of upper-division Real Analysis (e.g., MATH 425A-425B) are strongly recommended. M.S. and Ph.D. applicants must also show scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE - general test only) that exceed 75th percentile Quantitative and 50th percentile Verbal. (GRE scores must be dated no older than five years from the time of application to the program.)

Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must exhibit proficiency in English as per the Graduate College's basic requirements for this proficiency: a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 550 paper based (PB) or 79 internet-based (iBT).
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination can be submitted in lieu of the TOEFL. The minimum IELTS score requirement for admissions consideration is a score of 7, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual module.
Note, however, that the GIDP imposes additional English proficiency requirements on applicants in order to be eligible for financial aid through the Program. See the section below on Financial Assistance for further details.

The Graduate College's basic admissions requirements stipulate that scores on the TOEFL or the IELTS must be dated within 24 months of the term of intended enrollment. Scores older than this are considered out-of-date and cannot be used to support a student's application.

Along with these materials, a Statement of Purpose describing the applicant's interests and goals for graduate study in interdisciplinary statistics, a list of college-level statistics and mathematics courses completed (including final grades) or in progress, and a minimum of two letters of recommendation from university faculty members familiar with an applicant's academic and scholarly abilities are also required. (Applicants who wish to submit additional letters may do so; however, letters from non-academic sources are treated with lesser weight by the Recruiting & Admissions Committee.) An attendant curriculum vitae is optional, but recommended. Complete application procedures are given in the Applications section of this website.

Required test(s):
GRE General test
TOEFL test required for international applicants only

Minimum GRE Verbal: must exceed 50th percentile
Minimum GRE Quantitative: must exceed 75th percentile
Minumum GRE Written:

Minimum TOEFL: a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 550 paper based (PB) or 79 internet-based (iBT).
 

Financial assistance is available for qualified applicants, in the form of Graduate Research or Teaching Assistantships. In order to receive financial aid, the GIDP requires that:* each student must exhibit full-time graduate status, which requires registration for a minimum of 9 units each semester; and* each student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher while enrolled in the Statistics graduate program.

To be eligible for financial assistance, applicants from non-English-speaking countries must also demonstrate sufficient English proficiency in order to communicate effectively when instructing or describing modern statistical concepts to fellow scholars and scientists. The GIDP's eligibility requirements are:
* a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT total score at or above 106 and a TOEFL iBT Speaking score at or above 26, or
* an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 8, with a score of no less than 7 on any individual module.

Students from non-English-speaking countries who have not achieved either this TOEFL iBT or this IELTS English proficiency requirement prior to matriculating into the Statistics GIDP may instead meet the University's requirements for Spoken English Proficiency as stipulated by the Graduate College. These requirements are: a minimum score of 26 on the Speaking section of the TOEFL (iBT), or a minimum score of 7 on the University's T-BEST exam, or a minimum score of 50 on the University's TSE/TAU/SPEAK exam, or be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Previous attendance at an English-speaking institution does not satisfy this requirement.

These policies are independent of any specific form of financial assistance (Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Fellowship, etc.) the student receives. No waivers or exceptions are permitted. Additional information on financial support in the GIDP is available in the pertinent section of the Statistics Graduate Student Handbook.

The GIDP in Statistics is a small program, and as such only limited assistance is available. Graduate student support is not guaranteed for any student in the program, and as such competition for this assistance is very high. Consideration is generally given first to students in the Ph.D. program, although financial support for M.S. students is possible when resources permit.

Students are encouraged to seek out funding from a variety of sources; the Graduate College has online resources which can facilitate this effort. Students are also strongly encouraged to apply for Research Assistantship support through faculty and fellowship awards from local and national agencies.

Domestic and International Applicants:

• Fall: January 1
• Spring: September 21 - program permission required

International applicants may be considered for conditional admission to this program at the department's discretion.

ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: http://stat.bio5.org/sites/default/files/GradHandbook1-13.doc