Meeting these milestones on time constitutes adequate progress toward the PhD degree.

• Pass the MS final exam before the start of year 2.
• Petition to go through the PhD qualifying procedure and get admitted to the PhD program in year 2 or earlier.
  • The student will receive an MS degree in Statistics upon fulfilling all of the MS requirements while working towards their PhD.
• Pass the PhD comprehensive exam (prospectus) within 12-18 months (12 months is ideal, 18 months is acceptable) of being admitted to the PhD program.
• Write and defend dissertation within 24-30 months (24 months is ideal, 30 months is acceptable) of passing the prospectus.

Remark. Students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in their MS exam will receive a letter that not only communicates the exam result, but also provides encouragement to apply for the PhD program.

Students enter the PhD program in one of two tracks:

Statistics

After passing the MS final examination, a student who will choose either biostatistics, probability/mathematical statistics, or data science as the selected concentration area, can request, by notifying the director of graduate studies, to go through the PhD qualifying procedure. Upon this request, the faculty evaluates the student's body of work which includes the MS final examination in statistics, course work, and evidence for research potential. Usually, students need to have achieved A in at least one 7000 level course, have completed at least 1 semester hour of STAT:6990 Readings in Statistics (and is enrolled in a second semester of STAT:6990), and have identified a faculty member who agreed to serve as the student’s PhD advisor to get admitted. This evaluation and assessment results in one of three decisions—the student is officially admitted into the PhD program; the student must reapply to go through the PhD qualifying procedure after accumulating a larger body of work for evaluation; or the student is not admitted into the PhD program.

In exceptional cases, a student may petition to go through the PhD qualifying procedure early, or be admitted to the PhD program directly. However, passing the MS final exam is required before any student can take the PhD comprehensive exam (see the Section below on PhD comprehensive exam/prospectus).

Actuarial science

After successfully passing the MS final examination in actuarial science (in exceptional cases, a student may petition to go through the PhD qualifying procedure early), a student who will choose actuarial science/financial mathematics as the selected concentration area, can request, by notifying the director of graduate studies, to go through the PhD qualifying procedure. Upon this request, the faculty evaluates the student's body of work and assesses the student's potential for research. The body of work will include the MS final examination in actuarial science, professional examinations passed, and course work. This evaluation and assessment results in one of two decisions—the student is officially admitted into the PhD program in the actuarial science/financial mathematics concentration area, or the student is not admitted into the PhD program.

Remark 1. A program that does not conform to the requirements described below but is of high quality may be approved by the department chair.

Remark 2. If a PhD student in statistics registers for 6 semester hours or more (not including STAT:6990 Readings in Statistics and STAT:7990 Reading Research) in a semester, then at least 2 semester hours of these need to be from course(s) offered by the statistics department. (This rule is intended to discourage students from taking too many non-statistical courses, especially after they start doing research for their dissertation. Exceptions to the rule require approval by the advisor and the DGS.)

Actuarial science/financial mathematics emphasizes the theory of actuarial science, finance, and risk management.  It is excellent preparation for academic positions in universities that offer actuarial science programs and for positions in the insurance, pension, and financial industries.

Biostatistics emphasizes exposure to various biostatistical methods, such as survival analysis, categorical data analysis, and longitudinal data analysis. It prepares students for consulting and other positions in industry.

The data science track emphasizes the theory, methodology, and application of techniques for working with and learning from data. This concentration area prepares students to develop new methods for visualizing and modeling data, managing reproducible data analysis workflows, and collaborating with scientists and other data stakeholders. It is excellent preparation for students interested in academic, industrial, or government positions that involve data visualization, modeling, and analysis.

Probability/mathematical statistics emphasizes a broad, solid foundation in techniques and underpinnings of mathematical statistics.  Its focus on breadth and depth is intended to produce well-rounded, knowledgeable scholars.  It is excellent preparation for academic positions in mathematical statistics and industrial or government positions that require broadly trained statisticians with a strong understanding of statistical theory.

Finding an adviser and a research topic

Choosing an adviser is an important decision for a PhD student. Here are some suggestions.

• Talk to professors. Email them, read their websites, talk to them after seminars, interview them as a required activity of alpha seminar (STAT:5090), etc.
• Take Readings in Statistics (STAT:6990) with professors you are interested in working with for your dissertation. Note that having registered for STAT:6990 is required before students can petition to go through the PhD qualifying procedure. Students will conduct readings and work on research-oriented or applied problems that are of mutual interest to both parties. See the description of STAT:6990 details.
• Many students might feel nervous about approaching professors outside the classroom. Remind yourself that by working with a professor, you will be a valuable addition to their research program.
• Talk to other students, attend their presentations, and gain insight into their research topics and advisors.

• Attend weekly colloquium, defense of dissertations of other students, etc.

After admission to the PhD program and before taking the PhD comprehensive exam, the candidate chooses a committee of at least four members, which is approved by the advisor. At least three of the faculty members must be University of Iowa tenure-track faculty members. At least two of the faculty members are from the major department (defined as faculty members who hold any appointment in the major department), and are members of the University of Iowa tenure-track faculty.

The department may request the Graduate College dean's permission to replace one of the four committee members by a recognized scholar of professorial rank from another academic institution.

The committee members (including the advisor) of the prospectus and the defense need not be the same. But this is common practice and offers certain advantages.

After passing the MS final exam and within 12 months of being admitted to the PhD program, the candidate should present a written and oral prospectus to the committee, which serves as the PhD Comprehensive Exam. The prospectus describes the problems the student is considering for the thesis, an extensive review of relevant background materials, open problems of interest and ideas for solving the problems, and any preliminary results. Failure to successfully complete the prospectus within 18 months of being admitted to the PhD program will jeopardize the continuation of a student's financial support.

Each PhD committee member will sign the examination report as satisfactory, reservations, or unsatisfactory. A vote of "Reservations" should only be used when a faculty member feels that the deficiencies displayed by the student were modest, and can be readily rectified. In the event of a report with two or more votes of "Reservations," the actions required of the student, by the committee, that are necessary to correct the deficiencies must be recorded and submitted to the Graduate College with the examination report form. The statement must specify the time allowed for completion of the aforementioned actions. For instance, if additional course work is required, a list of suitable courses must be presented. If the candidate needs to rewrite their research prospectus, the deficient areas must be identified, etc. If the candidate satisfies the required actions in the specified period of time, the comprehensive exam will be recorded as "Satisfactory" as of that date. If the actions are not satisfied on time, or if the actions are not of sufficient quality, the comprehensive exam will be recorded as "Unsatisfactory" as of that date. The candidate will not be admitted to the PhD final examination of the dissertation until a grade of "Satisfactory" has been recorded for the comprehensive exam.                                         

In the case of a report of unsatisfactory on a comprehensive examination, the committee may grant the candidate permission to attempt a reexamination not sooner than four months after the first examination. The examination may be repeated only once, at the option of the department.

Students should plan to defend their dissertation within 24 months of passing the PhD comprehensive exam. Failure to successfully defend the dissertation within 30 months of passing the PhD comprehensive exam or within 5 years of starting the graduate program at the University of Iowa, whichever data comes first, will jeopardize the continuation of a student's financial support.

The student must file an application for an anticipated degree with the Registrar not later than ten weeks after the start of the semester or one week after the start of the summer session in which the degree will be conferred. The student must have the application signed by his or her advisor. Failure to file the Application for Degree by the deadline will result in postponement of graduation to a subsequent session.

Standard schedule

A sample plan for students who enter the program with a baccalaureate degree:

Year 1

• Complete at least 18 semester hours of coursework, including courses needed to prepare for the MS final examination.
• Begin working on identifying a potential advisor. Ideally, talk to the advisor and pick a topic, so literature review and preparation for research in STAT:6990 can start in the summer before year 2 starts.

Year 2

• Take the MS Final Exam before classes start in the fall. If the student did not pass either the theoretical or the applied part or both parts of the exam in the first attempt, re-take that part of the exam in January.
• Complete at least 18 semester hours of coursework, including one or more 7000 level courses and at least 2 semester hours of STAT:6990.
• Meet all requirements of the MS in Statistics.
• For STAT:6990, give a short oral presentation to a committee of three professors approved by the advisor by early March. (In some years, the Department may establish a committee to oversee all students' 6990 presentations). All students and faculty members are welcome to attend these presentations
• Petition to go through the PhD qualifying procedure once the oral presentation is completed. Get admitted to the PhD program.
• Identify the dissertation topic and the prospectus committee.

Year 3

• Identify the dissertation topic and the prospectus committee.
• Submit and present the prospectus, which is the same as the PhD Comprehensive exam, within 12 months of admission to the PhD program. Ideally, this is done in Fall.

Year 4

• Complete most remaining courses.
• Conduct research. Give an annual report to the committee in spring.

Year 5

• Meet all course requirements.
• Complete and defend dissertation, within 30 months of passing the PhD comp.

Expedited schedule

A sample plan for students who enter the program with Master’s degree, who has received equivalent trainings to all of STAT:5100-1, 5200-1 and 5400 and pass the MS exam the August before year 1 starts:

Year 1

• Ask the DGS for permission to take the MS Final Examination before classes start in the fall. Pass the exam.
• Complete at least 18 semester hours of coursework, including one or more 7000 level courses.
• Identify a potential research topic and an advisor for research as soon as possible. Register for STAT:6990.
• Give a 15 minute oral presentation to a committee of three professors approved by the advisor in Spring.
• Petition to go through the PhD qualifying procedure once the oral presentation is completed. Get admitted to the PhD program.

Year 2

• Present the dissertation prospectus in spring, which is the same as the PhD Comprehensive exam, within 12 months of admission to the PhD program.
• Complete more courses.

Year 3

• Complete most remaining core and concentration-area.
• Conduct research (Stat:7990). Give an annual report to the committee or in public in spring.

Year 4 (and 5 if needed)

• Conduct research. Give an annual report to the committee or in public in spring.
• Complete and defend the dissertation.