Apr 27, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Data Science, Ph.D.


Admission Requirements

Applicants qualify for admission with an undergraduate or master’s degree in an engineering or mathematical field (including coursework mentioned below). Applicants from other fields qualify for consideration if they have successfully completed three semesters of calculus (through multivariate calculus), and one semester each of linear algebra and computer programming (or equivalent experience). The GRE graduate school admission test is optional.  Applicants must have excellent English communication skills. International students applying from countries where English is not the native language are required to provide scores on the TOEFL English language proficiency test. This requirement is waived for a student who has earned an undergraduate degree from an English-language institution in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.

Degree Requirements

All students must complete 60 credit hours, no more than 12 of which may be dissertation credits. The program includes 10 core courses, two research rotations, and four electives, as specified below. Each rotation will count as a 3-hour, one-semester course.  Students must complete a minimum of three years of graduate academic work, at least one of which is in full-time residence on the campus of SMU or at a research facility approved by the departmental faculty and the dean of the Moody School. Students must satisfy all curricular requirements as specified by the University and by the departmental faculty. Students must pass the Comprehensive Exams, the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam, and the prospectus exam, and complete and defend a dissertation.

Required Courses (30 Credit Hours)


Elective Courses (12 Credit Hours)


The participating departments offer advanced elective courses each semester. Students complete the remaining required credit hours, i.e. at least 12 credit hours, from among those courses, or from approved courses offered in other departments at the University.

Data Science Electives


Application Electives


Research Rotations (6 Credit Hours)


Students must take two 3-credit hour research rotations, to be completed during the summer semesters after years one and two.

  • STAT 8305 - Research (repeated twice for credit)

Comprehensive Exams


Students must pass a Comprehensive (Basic) Exam, typically at the end of the first year.

Ph.D. Qualifying Exam


This is a personalized exam that assesses the student’s readiness for research. It is typically taken before the end of the second year.

Prospectus Exam


Students present initial dissertation results and a proposal for the remainder of the dissertation.

Dissertation (0-12 Credit Hours)


Students must write and successfully defend a dissertation. While not required, students may choose to enroll in dissertation research courses, with no more than 12 credit hours counting toward the degree (STAT 8198 , STAT 8398 , STAT 8698 ).

Total: 60 Credit Hours