Doctoral Program - Qualifying Exams

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 Ph.D. Candidacy, a university milestone.