Apr 09, 2025  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Statistical Science, Ph.D.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Ph.D. program in statistical science must hold a bachelor’s degree and must have taken mathematics courses through advanced calculus and linear algebra. The GRE graduate school admission test is optional. Applicants must have excellent English communication skills. If required, TOEFL English language proficiency test scores should be in accordance with the requirements specified by the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. See the Language Requirement  section of the Moody School catalog.

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. in statistical science requires a minimum of 60 credit hours, no more than 12 of which can be in dissertation research. 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. In addition, students must pass the Comprehensive Exams, the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam, and the prospectus exam, and complete and defend a dissertation.

Required Courses (27 Credit Hours)

Elective Courses (21-33 Credit Hours)

The Department of Statistical Science offers advanced elective courses each semester. Students complete the remaining required credit hours from among those courses, or from approved courses offered in other departments at the University. Examples of frequently offered electives include the following:

Comprehensive Exams

Students must pass the Comprehensive (Basic) Exams, 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