The Master's Degree

Be sure to read the departmental page on the Master's degree program first. Also check out the Graduate School's Policies & Procedures for Master's and Doctoral Degrees web site.

Possible Curricula for the Master's Program

Full-time (supported) graduate students should enroll in 10 credits per quarter (not including summer). In general 2 credits will come from your RA or TA and 1 credit will come from the required seminar course (590).

Here are suggestions for filling up the remaining 7 credits and completing the M.S. requirements. These suggestions are based on what previous students have done.

• Possibilities for filling in the first year gaps (?) include:
  • Stat 533 (linear models),
  • Stat 534 (computing),
  • Stat 542/574 (multivariate statistics),
  • Stat 544 (Bayesian methods),
  • Stat 598 (consulting lecture),
  • Stat 599 (consulting) or
  • other 500 level Stat or Biostat classes.
• Possibilities for filling in the second year gaps (??) include:
  • Stat 533 (linear models),
  • Stat 534 (computing),
  • Stat 542/574 (multivariate statistics),
  • Stat 544 (Bayesian methods),
  • Stat 579 (data analysis),
  • Stat 598 (consulting lecture),
  • Stat 599 (consulting),
  • other 500 level Stat or Biostat classes, or
  • Stat 519-20 (time series).
• You must do one quarter of consulting (599) in either the first or second years. You must attend the lectures (598) either before taking 599 or concurrently with 599.
• All Master's track students candidates must demonstrate proficiency in statistical computing. This is typically satisfied by satisfactory completion of Stat 534.

Master's Prelims

There are two masters exams, the applied and theory. The theory corresponds with the content of 512-513 and the applied to the content of 502-504 and 570-571-572.

Exams are held during summer quarter. The theory exam must be taken at the end of the first year (in June, following completion of 512-513).

A thesis can be done instead of the applied exam. (The thesis will also count towards your credits).

The Ph.D. Program

Be sure to read the departmental page on the Ph.D. program first. Also check out the Graduate School's Policies & Procedures for Master's and Doctoral Degrees web site.

Possible Curricula for the Ph.D. Program

Full-time (supported) graduate students should enroll in 10 credits per quarter (not including summer). In general 2 credits will come from your RA or TA and 1 credit from the required seminar course (590).

Here are suggestions for filling up the remaining 7 credits and completing the Ph.D. requirements. These suggestions are based on what previous students have done. If you are planning on doing the Ph.D. tracks in statistical genetics or statistics in the social sciences, then you will have different requirements so the following will be only a rough guide. Also, if you are coming in without a Master's degree in Statistics, you will typically follow the first year of the suggested Master's curriculum (above) during your first year. The suggested Ph.D. curricula below would then apply to your second and third years, respectively.

• Possibilities for filling in the first year gaps (?) include: Stat 598 (consulting lecture), Stat 599 (consulting) or 500 level (non-core) classes in Stat or Biostat.
• Possibilities for filling in the second year gaps (??) include: Stat 579 (data analysis), Stat 598 (consulting lecture), Stat 599 (consulting), 500 level (non-core) classes in Stat or Biostat, independent study or another core sequence.
• A Ph.D. track student must do two quarters of consulting somewhere in their time here. It helps to get this out of the way in the first two years.
• All Ph.D. track students must demonstrate proficiency in statistical computing. This is typically satisfied by satisfactory completion of Stat 534.

Most people finish a Ph.D. in 4-5 years. Those that arrive without a Master's in Statistics roughly follow this plan.

• First year: First year Master's curriculum.
• Second year: First year Ph.D. curriculum. Pass one prelim.
• Third year: Second year Ph.D. curriculum. Pass another prelim. Find an advisor and start working on topics.
• Fourth year: general exam.
• Fifth year: final exam.

Those that arrive with a Master's in Statistics can often condense the first two years.

• First year: First year Ph.D. curriculum. Pass one prelim.
• Second year: Second year Ph.D. curriculum. Pass another prelim. Find an advisor and start working on topics.
• Third year: general exam.
• Fourth year: final exam.

Again, these are rough guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules. Some people take less time, some take more. The department now has a formal document explaining their definition of "normal progress"; you should reread this document from time to time, and talk to your advisor if you feel you are "behind schedule".

Ph.D. Prelims

With a few exceptions, every Ph.D. student is required to do three sequences and two prelims. There are currently five prelim choices which correspond (roughly) with the five sequences; applied, computing, stochastic, probability and statistical theory. Your chosen prelims do not have to match with your chosen sequences (for instance you may choose to do the applied prelim without doing the applied sequence).

The "written" exams—probability, applied, and theory—are generally held just before fall quarter. (These exams are only offered if there is demand for them. If you are interested in taking one of them be sure to watch your e-mail for announcements.)

Try to get your prelims done early. One a year for the first two years is a good way to do it (if you enter with a Master's or equivalent). This also means that if you fail your first year prelim, you can re-sit it the following year, and not slow your graduation down.