Ph.D. in Statistics
Major Description
Statistics has been described as the science of learning from data. Statisticians are involved with collecting data, analyzing it, interpreting it and helping to make decisions based on it. The Ph.D. program in statistics will train statisticians for positions locally and nationally in business, industry, government and academia. Graduates of the program will be able to not only use advanced statistical methods but also to develop new methods to meet the fast growing need for analyses of data arising in many areas.
The Statistics Ph.D. program faculty consists of the committee on statistics and also offers a program leading to the degree Master of Science in statistics. The program is interdisciplinary in that it draws upon faculty research and teaching interests from various academic units so that programs of study can be tailored to reflect individual needs and goals. The committee, which sets program requirements and supervises programs of study, is composed of faculty from departments in the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the W. P. Carey School of Business and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
Degree Requirements
Ph.D. students must complete 84 credit hours of course work which must include 15 credit hours of core course work (mathematical statistics, probability, STP 526, STP 527, STP 530 or IEE 578, STP 531 or IEE 572), 45 credit hours of elective statistics or related area courses approved by the student’s supervisory committee, 12 credit hours of research (792) and 12 credit hours of dissertation (799). Students must pass one written qualifier examination, a written comprehensive examination, an oral comprehensive examination and a dissertation prospectus examination. Each student must write a dissertation and defend it orally before a five-member dissertation committee.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the Graduate College. Applicants must submit the Graduate College online application. Minimum background for consideration of admission includes a bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics or a closely related area with a minimum 3.00 GPA. Applicants should have completed the following courses (equivalents at ASU are given in parentheses): calculus (MAT 270, 271, and 272), advanced calculus (MAT 371), linear algebra (MAT 342), computer programming (CSE 100), and introductory applied statistics (QBA 221 or STP 420). Applicants who lack any of these prerequisite courses must complete the prerequisites before being considered for admission. The general GRE is required.
