Typically, students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in Statistics will be admitted initially to the M.S. program. After taking certain courses and passing the Ph.D. Candidacy Review, the student can be formally admitted to the Ph.D. program. Although the Graduate College requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 to graduate, the department requires a higher GPA of at least 3.4. This includes all courses used to meet degree requirements plus additional courses that are relevant to the student's program. The doctoral program in statistics prepares students for careers in research, applications, and teaching. Students choose one of four areas of concentration for their course work: biostatistics, probability/mathematical statistics, statistical modeling, and actuarial science/financial mathematics. Regardless of the area of concentration, students must complete a minimum of 72 s.h. of course work (including work done in the M.S. program). Students must pass the Ph.D. Final (Comprehensive) Exam, as well as write and defend a thesis. The Ph.D. program takes about three years to complete once the M.S. has been earned. Biostatistics emphasizes an 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. Probability/Mathematical Statistics emphasizes a broad and solid foundation in the techniques and underpinnings of mathematical statistics. It emphasizes both breadth and depth of training and is intended to produce well-rounded, knowledgeable scholars. This area of concentration is excellent preparation for both academic positions in mathematical statistics or industrial/government positions that require broadly trained statisticians with a strong understanding of statistical theory. Statistical Modeling emphasizes the theory and application of a broad array of statistical models, such as linear, generalized linear, nonlinear, categorical, spatial, correlated response, and nonparametric regression models. This area of concentration prepares students to specify and choose appropriate models; fit the models using available statistical software; and make sound statistical conclusions and interpretive statements. It is excellent preparation for students interested in academic or industrial/government positions which involve the modeling and analysis of data. Actuarial Science/Financial Mathematics emphasizes the theory of actuarial science, finance, and asset and liability management. It is excellent preparation for academic positions in universities offering actuarial science programs or for positions in the insurance, pension, and financial industries. In case you are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in statistics with emphasis in actuarial science/financial mathematics, we want to caution you that this is a very selective and highly mathematical program. For the vast majority of students, admission into this Ph.D. program comes after earning an MS degree in actuarial science at the University of Iowa. A program that does not conform to the prescribed requirements but is of high quality may be approved by the department chair. The Ph.D. Candidacy Review Students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in Statistics must request a Ph.D. candidacy review, which is conducted by the departmental faculty. As part of the review process, the candidate will be classified by the faculty as "qualified," "conditionally qualified," or "not qualified" to pursue a Ph.D. A "qualified" classification means that the faculty believe that the student has a good chance of successfully earning the Ph.D. "Conditionally qualified" means that the student is invited to request a second review after satisfying certain conditions; failure to meet these conditions will result in a "not qualified" classification. In order to continue in the program, the candidate must earn a "qualified" or "conditionally qualified" classification. Candidates should request a review only after completing the courses 22S:164, 165, 166, 190, 193, 194 and 195, or equivalent courses at another university; however, at least three courses numbered 22S:194 and higher must be taken at the University of Iowa. In addition, candidates must have either passed the M.S. comprehensive exam or completed an M.S. thesis in Statistics here. Students transferring with a graduate degree from another university are encouraged to take the M.S. comprehensive exam for qualifying purposes, but may petition to go through the review without taking it. Candidates must request a review within one semester after completing the above requirements. Candidates who fail to meet this deadline will be classified as "not qualified" to pursue the Ph.D. and will not be allowed to continue in the program. The candidate's review will be based on the following data: performance on the M.S. comprehensive exam, or the quality of the M.S. thesis performance in courses, especially those courses listed above faculty evaluations of the student's potential for doctoral study, made by each faculty member who has firsthand knowledge of the academic ability of the student Core Requirements 22S:164-165 Applied Statistics I-II (7 s.h.) 22S:166 Computing in Statistics (3 s.h.) 22S:173 Statistical Consulting (3 s.h.) 22S:190 Mathematical Methods for Statistics (3 s.h.) 22S:193-194 Statistical Inference I-II (6 s.h.) 22S:195 Probability and Stochastic Processes I (3 s.h.) 22S:203-204 Foundations of Probability I-II (6 s.h.) 22S:253-254 Advanced Inference I-II (6 s.h.) 22S:255 Linear Models (4 s.h.) at least 2 semester hours of 22S:291 Seminar: Mathematical Statistics, 22S:293 Seminar: Probability, or 22S:295 Seminar: Applied Statistics at least 18 semester hours of 22S:299 Reading Research In addition, students take at least four courses in one of the following areas of concentration. At least two of these must by 200-level courses. Biostatistics 22S:161 Applied Multivariate Analysis (3 s.h.) 22S:167 Environmental and Spatial Statistics (3 s.h.) 22S:220 Analysis of Categorical Data (3 s.h.) 22S:225 Survival Data Analysis (3 s.h.) 171:241 Statistical Methods in Epidemiology (3 s.h.) 171:263 Statistical Genetics (3 s.h.) 171:264 Longitudinal Data Analysis (3 s.h.) Probability/Mathematical Statistics 22S:196 Probability and Stochastic Processes II (3 s.h.) 22S:235 Time Series Analysis (3 s.h.) 22S:238 Bayesian Analysis (3 s.h.) 22S:256 Multivariate Analysis (3 s.h.) Statistical Modeling 22S:156 Applied Time Series Analysis (3 s.h.) 22S:161 Applied Multivariate Analysis (3 s.h.) 22S:162 Applied Generalized Regression (3 s.h.) 22S:167 Environmental and Spatial Statistics (3 s.h.) 22S:168 Intermediate Experimental Design (3 s.h.) 22S:220 Analysis of Categorical Data (3 s.h.) 22S:235 Time Series Analysis (3 s.h.) 22S:238 Bayesian Analysis (3 s.h.) 22S:248 Computer Intensive Statistics (3 s.h.) Actuarial Science/Financial Mathematics 22S:185 Asset and Liability Management (3 s.h.) 22S:196 Probability and Stochastic Processes II (3 s.h.) 22S:235 Time Series Analysis (3 s.h.) 06F:225 Finance Theory I (3 s.h.) 06F:227 Finance Theory II (3 s.h.) It should also be noted that each semester in which a graduate student registers for at least 6 s.h., he or she must include at least one course of at least 2 s.h. offered by the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, excluding 22S:191, 22S:197, and 22S:299. During the graduate program, students may take course work or seminars in other departments to achieve auxiliary goals of the doctoral program: to relate an area of specialization to other fields of knowledge, to acquire the ability to use electronic digital computing equipment, or to learn the language skills needed to read foreign scientific journals and respond in personal contacts with foreign scholars. Here is a sample schedule for completing the Ph.D. degree requirements for Statistics. Year Fall Semester Spring Semester 1 22S:164 Applied Statistics I 22S:193 Statistical Inference I 22S:195 Probability and Stochastic Processes I 22S:165 Applied Statistics II 22S:190 Mathematical Methods for Statistics 22S:194 Statistical Inference II 2 22S:166 Computing in Statistics 22S:203 Foundations of Probability I, or 22S:253 Advanced Inference I one concentration course 22S:173 Statistical Consulting 22S:204 Foundations of Probability II, or 22S:254 Advanced Inference II one concentration course 3 22S:203 Foundations of Probability I, or 22S:253 Advanced Inference I 22S:255 Linear Models one concentration course 22S:204 Foundations of Probability II, or 22S:254 Advanced Inference II one concentration course Ph.D. Final (Comprehensive) Exam Students take the Ph.D. Final (Comprehensive) Examination after completing most of the course work on their approved Plan of Study, typically during the third year of graduate study. The comprehensive examination consists of a written core examination and an oral examination on statistical inference, linear models, and probability. These topics are generally covered in 22S:193-194-195, 22S:203, 22S:253, and 22S:255. Ph.D. students in the Actuarial Science track may qualify to take an exam designed by his or her advisor and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Plan of Study The development of a Plan of Study at the doctoral level is the responsibility of the student working together with his or her advisor. A formal Plan of Study must accompany the departmental request to the Graduate College for permission to conduct the comprehensive examination. The Plan of Study will provide a listing of all graduate courses taken that apply toward the degree and a listing of courses in progress or yet to be completed. Ph.D. Dissertation Upon passing the Ph.D. Final (Comprehensive) Exam, the Ph.D. candidate will choose a committee of at least five members, which is approved by the advisor. One of the committee members must be from outside the student's home discipline (the "outside member"). The outside member may not serve as the chair of the committee. Faculty who have joint appointments with our department may not be considered as outside members. Within 12 months of passing the Ph.D. Final (Comprehensive) Exam, the Ph.D. candidate should present a written and oral Prospectus to his or her committee. This prospectus should describe the problem(s) the student is considering for the thesis, relevant background material, ideas for solving the problem(s), and preliminary results (if any). Prior to the prospectus meeting, contact Tammy Siegel for the form which must be signed by the committee upon completion of the presentation. Failure to meet this deadline may result in non-renewal of financial support. There are rigid formatting requirements for writing a proper thesis. Please consult the Graduate College's Thesis Manual. Students are required to submit with the first thesis deposit a checksheet signed by their thesis supervisor. Theses without the signed checksheet will not be accepted for first deposit. The Graduate College requires that a student must make a defense of his or her thesis no later than five years after passing the Ph.D. Final (Comprehensive) Exam. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a re-examination of the student to determine his or her qualifications for definding the thesis. Each Ph.D. student is expected to submit a final bound copy of his or her dissertation to the department. Each of these is kept in the departmental office conference room for public reference. To get your bound copies, take as many copies of your complete finished thesis as you want bound to the Main Library's Preservation office, and they will send them to an external binder. These are $30 per copy and will be delivered to you within 4-6 weeks. Pay by check or money order; they do not accept cash. Directions to the library's Preservation office: use the south entrance (facing Burlington St), veer right (don't go upstairs), go through the doorway and down the stairs. Continuous Registration After successful completion of their Ph.D. Final (Comprehensive) Exam, all doctoral students must maintain continuous registration until the completion of their degree. All such students, regardless of location of residence, are considered to be "under instruction" and are thus considered to be accessing University of Iowa faculty and staff time, and University facilities. Tuition is to be paid for such access. Doctoral students will be required to register for course work required by their program and pay the appropriate tuition OR for a new course "Doctoral Continuous Registration" (000:002:000) and pay 2 s.h. tuition. This requirement applies to students conducting research, fieldwork or other scholarly activities related to their graduate programs including the writing of their thesis or dissertation, and consultation with faculty, as well as students taking courses at the University. When doctoral students plan to defend their dissertations, students will register for "Doctoral Final Registration" (000:003:000). During this final registration, all students (master's and doctoral) will be required to pay the 2 s.h. tuition. The final registration may be repeated if the degree requirements are not completed in this session. Residency The Ph.D. student is expected to complete at least three years of residence in the Graduate College. At least part of this residency must be spent in full-time involvement in one's discipline, at this University, beyond the first 24 s.h. of graduate work; this requirement can be met either by: (1) enrollment as a full-time student (9 graduate s.h. minimum) in each of two semesters, or (2) enrollment for a minimum of 6 graduate s.h. in each of three semesters during which the student holds at least a one-third-time assistantship certified by the department as contributing to the student's Ph.D. program. Application for Degree 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.

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