Doctoral Program - Qualifying Exams and Candidacy

Qualifying examinations in the statistics department are intended to test the students' level of knowledge when the first-year program, common to all students, has been completed. There are separate examinations in the three core subjects of (1) applied statistics, (2) probability theory, and (3) theoretical statistics.  Exams are typically taken during the summer between the students' first and second years, after the students have completed Stats 302, Qualifying Exams Workshop. Students are expected to attempt all three examinations and show acceptable performance in at least two of them. Letter grades are not given. Qualifying exams may be taken only once. 

After passing the qualifying exams, students must file for Doctoral Candidacy, a university milestone. Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is not an automatic process following qualifying exams. It is a judgment by the department faculty of the student's ability to conduct original research and of their potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program.

The Application to Candidacy form must be submitted by the final study list deadline in Spring Quarter of the second year. Candidacy is valid for five years during which time students are expected to complete their degree.