Statistics (M.S. and Ph.D.)
Individuals from a variety of backgrounds can make significant contributions to the field of statistics as long as they have sufficient background in statistics, mathematics, and computing.
Undergraduate preparation in statistics, mathematics, and computing should include multivariate calculus (the equivalent of UCI courses Mathematics 2A-B, 2D-E), linear algebra (121A), elementary analysis (140A-B), introductory probability and statistics (Statistics 120A-B-C), and basic computing (ICS 21).
For students with undergraduate majors outside of mathematics and statistics, it is possible to make up one or two missing courses during the first year in the program.
Master of Science in Statistics
- Statistics Course Requirements:
- Intermediate Probability and Statistics (Stats 200A-B-C)
- Statistical Methodology (Stats 210, 211, 212)
- Three quarters of Seminar in Statistics (Stats 280)
- Six other graduate courses in or related to statistics, at least three of which are offered by the Department of Statistics.
At most one of the six elective courses may be an Individual Study (Stats 299), and only with prior approval of the Department Graduate Committee.
The entire program of courses must be approved by the Statistics Department Graduate Committee. Students are required to pass a written comprehensive examination ordinarily at the end of the first year, covering the material from stats 200A-B-C, 210, 211 and 212.
Master of Science for Students Enrolled in a Doctoral Program at UCI
Students who are currently enrolled in a doctoral program at UCI and wish to pursue a Master of Science degree in Statistics at the same time should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies in Statistics to register their interest with the Department, to develop a program of study, and to establish a relationship with a faculty advisor in Statistics.
The degree requirements including the comprehensive examination are the same as those listed under the Master of Science in Statistics. The Statistics Department Graduate Committee must be petitioned for permission to sit for the comprehensive examination.
The petition should include the proposed plan of study and a current official UCI transcript. A petition for the degree must be filed with the Statistics Department Graduate Committee for approval two quarters before the degree is awarded.
Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics
- Statistics Course Requirements:
- Intermediate Probability and Statistics (Stats 200A-B-C)
- Statistical Methodology (Stats 210, 211, 212)
- Advanced Probability and Statistics Topics (Stats 220A-B)
- Bayesian Statistical Analysis (Stats 225)
- Statistical Computing Methods (Stats 230)
- Five other graduate courses in or related to statistics, at least two of which are offered by the Department of Statistics.
- Continual enrollment in Seminar in Statistics (Stats 280) is required in all quarters.
Course requirements must be completed prior to candidacy.
Additional Ph.D. Requirements:
Each Ph.D. student is required to take a written comprehensive examination, ordinarily at the end of the first year, covering the material from Stats 200A-B-C, 210, 211 and 212. In addition, each student is required to take a written comrehensive examination after completion of the second year course work, covering material from Stats 220A-B, 225 and 230.
Ph.D. students who have passed the written comprehensive examination are required to give a post-comprehensive research presentation each year.
Ph.D. students are required to serve as teaching assistants for at least two quarters.
Ph.D. students are required to demonstrate substantive knowledge of an application area outside of statistics. Such knowledge can be demonstrated by course work in the application area (three quarter courses), co-authorship of publishable research in the application area, or other evidence of supervised collaborative work that is substantiated by an expert in the field.
The normative time for advancement to candidacy is three years. The normative time for completion of the Ph.D. is five years, and the maximum time permitted is seven years.