PhD in Statistical Science

The 72 hours of required doctoral-level credits typically consist of 48 credits of regular coursework and 24 credits of dissertation research. The following degree plan is based on a student who receives a 24 credit reduction. Students who receive more or less than a 24 credit reduction should consult with their academic advisor. 

Doctoral Coursework: 

Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of advanced emphasis coursework, including six core courses:

¹ STAT 652 and STAT 654 do not count toward advanced emphasis coursework, if a student has received a 24 credit reduction.

More information:

• University Catalog, AP.6 Graduate Policies
• College of Engineering and Computing Graduate Student Handbook
• Graduate Transfer of Credit: Students admitted with a master’s degree may receive a transfer of credit of up to 30 credits (see AP.6.5). To initiate the process, you must submit 
  • Graduate Transfer of Credit form
  • an unofficial copy of the transcript 

to the Admin Office in the Department of Statistics (stat@gmu.edu). Please get this done within two months of your onboarding at GMU.

Written qualifying exams will be taken in the following areas:

• Applied Statistics
• Theoretical Statistics

The Applied Statistics exam will cover the content from 

• STAT 662: Multivariate Analysis and Statistical Learning
• STAT 676: Linear Models and Advanced Regression Modeling
• STAT 778: Statistical Computing

The Theoretical Statistics exam will cover the content from 

• STAT 971: Probability Theory
• STAT 972: Mathematical Statistics I
• STAT 973: Mathematical Statistics II

Qualifying exams are offered in August and January. Full-time students who enter the Ph.D. program with a master’s degree must take the qualifying exams in August of the year following the year of enrollment. Full-time students who enter the Ph.D. program with a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree must take the exams within two years of enrollment. Part-time students must take the qualifying exams within the first three years of enrollment in the doctoral program. Students who do not pass both exams in two consecutive exam periods are terminated from the program.

Students who plan to take a qualifying exam must submit 

• Request Form for Qualifying Exams 

by the deadline announced each semester by the Graduate Program Director.

Upon admission, each PhD student will be assigned a temporary advisor, typically the Graduate Program Director. This advisor will guide the student through department and school regulations and assist in designing his/her Planned Program of Study (PPS). 

Following successfully passing the qualifying exams, students should select a dissertation director (or advisor) who will also serve as their academic advisor. The PhD Dissertation Director must be a full-time faculty member within the Department of Statistics and hold Mason graduate faculty status. Students may also select a Dissertation Co-director, who must also possess Mason graduate faculty status.

Students formally declare their Dissertation Director (or co-director) by updating the Plan of Study (Plan of Study 2022 to present - DocuSign) signed by the student, the Dissertation Director (or co-director), and the Graduate Program Director. 

All PhD students are responsible for ensuring that they have a Planned Program of Study (PPS) on file, within two months of their onboarding at GMU, approved by their academic advisor and the Graduate Program Director. This plan should consist of all the courses that the student plans to apply towards degree. 

Once the student has selected dissertation directors (or advisors), they together should update the student’s PPS. PhD students must include the topic of their dissertation and additionally receive approval from their committee, within one year of passing the qualifying examination. 

The PPS form for Ph.D. students in Statistical Science can be found here: 

• Plan of Study - for catalog year 2022 and beyond
• Plan of Study 2022 and beyond - DocuSign

If the student changes research advisor, a new form must be submitted to the Graduate Program Director by the end of the semester when the change occurs. 

Once students have successfully passed the qualifying exams, they should identify a dissertation director (advisor) who is willing to supervise their research. Together with the dissertation advisor, the student will assemble a Dissertation Committee.

Committee Composition:

• Chair: The chair, also referred to as the dissertation director (advisor), must be a full-time faculty member in the Department of Statistics and hold Mason graduate faculty status.

• Co-chair (optional): A Co-chair, who usually serves as the dissertation co-advisor, may be included on the committee. The only requirement for service as Co-Chair is Mason graduate faculty status. 

• Internal Members: The committee must include two additional Mason faculty members from the Department of Statistics, at least one must be full-time, and both must hold Mason graduate faculty status. The Co-Chair, if designated, may fulfill one of these internal member roles, provided they meet all requirements.

• External Member: There must be one external member who is not part of the core faculty of the Department of Statistics but holds Mason graduate faculty status.

• Full Professor: At least one committee member must hold the rank of Full Professor.

For additional specifications, see AP.6.10.5 of the University Catalog.

Students are required to formally establish their Dissertation Committee by submitting a designated departmental form. This form must be completed with the signatures of all proposed committee members and submitted for approval to the Graduate Program Director. 

In the PhD program in Statistical Science, the Dissertation Committee, chaired by the dissertation director, administers, reviews, and determines the outcome of doctoral degree milestones including the dissertation proposal defense, the dissertation pre-defense, and final defense. The Dissertation Committee may also require a PhD candidate to meet requirements for academic research publications and other academically relevant activities in addition to the minimum formal degree requirements articulated in the university catalog. 

Applying for Mason Graduate Faculty Status: For committee members who require graduate faculty status, please refer to the application instructions provided here. This webpage outlines the eligibility criteria and application process necessary to secure graduate faculty status, enabling faculty from other departments or institutions to participate as committee members.  For more detailed information, please contact the Department Associate Chair for Education.

The PhD dissertation proposal examination includes two main components:

• Proposal Manuscript: The student must submit a manuscript containing a problem statement, a review of related scholarly work, preliminary results, and an outline of the proposed research. The proposal manuscript must be made available to the committee at least two weeks before the oral presentation.

• A guideline on the template of the proposal is available here: Proposal Guideline for PhD students. Students should follow these guidelines when preparing the proposal manuscript.

• Oral Presentation and Examination: The student presents the proposal and undergoes an examination by the Dissertation Committee. This oral examination covers aspects of the proposal and fundamental principles and questions within the field of Statistics. 

If a student fails the dissertation proposal examination, he or she is permitted one retake within six months. A second failure results in termination from the program.

Scheduling

The examination date must be chosen in consultation with the student’s Dissertation Committee Chair (and Co-chair) and the other committee members at least two weeks in advance of the proposed examination date. 

Before scheduling the dissertation proposal examination, make sure you have successfully completed the following:

• Qualifying Exams
• 6 credits minimum of STAT 998
• All required coursework
• Graduate Transfer of Credit form if applicable
• Committee composition in the Plan of Study

After scheduling the exam, the student informs the department by submitting 

• Application for Doctoral Dissertation Proposal form (Application for Doctoral Dissertation Proposal - DocuSign, initiated by the student).

• Finalized written proposal manuscript.

The written proposal manuscript must be distributed to the committee members at least one week in advance of the scheduled examination date.

Post dissertation proposal 

After successfully completing the dissertation proposal, the student submits the following forms:

• Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Report Form (Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Report Form - DocuSign, initiated by the student) along with a copy of the dissertation proposal: These documents, with required signatures, must be submitted to the department admin office to officially record the successful defense of the proposal.
• Plan of Study Form: Ensure that the Plan of Study (Plan of Study Form - DocuSign) is current and accurately reflects the student’s academic plan.
• For advancement to candidacy, additional paperwork is required; see Advancement to Candidacy. 
   

Advancement to candidacy implies that a doctoral student has demonstrated both a breadth and a depth of knowledge in the field of study and is capable of exploring problems on the boundaries of knowledge, and has identified a research area that is likely to lead to a successful dissertation. 

To advance to candidacy, students must complete the following:

• Successful pass the PhD qualifying exams.
• Complete 48 credits of coursework, which may include any credit reductions approved for previous graduate work.
• Successfully defend the dissertation proposal.
• Earn required credits
  • 1 credit of STAT 990 (Doctoral Proposal)
  • 11 credits of STAT 998 (Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Research)
• Submission of required paperwork, including:
  • Advance to Candidacy Form 
  • Plan of Study Form (DocuSign version, initiated by the student)

Time Limit for Advancement to Candidacy: The time limit for advancing to candidacy follows the general university regulations for PhD programs.

PhD students who have advanced to candidacy must maintain enrollment in STAT 999 every semester (Fall/Spring), see AP.6.10.6 of the University Catalog. Inability to make satisfactory progress toward a degree may result in termination. 

As soon as all degree requirements have been satisfied, including completion of the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral candidate may request a doctoral defense. 

• Begin early in the semester to meet all deadlines. Please check the Registrar’s Office for Graduation Timelines for important dates.
• Apply to graduate here: https://registrar.gmu.edu/students/graduation/process/

• Schedule a format review with University Dissertation & Thesis Services (UDTS) prior to the defense. Please check the UDTS webpage for important formatting guidelines and the deadlines for graduation eligibility.

To successfully complete the defense and submission of your doctoral dissertation, please follow the steps outlined below:

• Pre-defense:  Prior to the final public defense, the candidate must hold a pre-defense meeting with the dissertation committee. Only the candidate and committee members are required to attend. The written dissertation must be provided to the committee at least two weeks prior to the pre-defenseand at least four weeks prior to the scheduled defense date. 

• Dissertation Defense Rubrics: All committee members assess the written dissertation and the oral presentation using the grading rubrics. Return the completed form to the Graduate Program Director after the pre-defense.

• Submit the Approval to Defend Form: Following a successful pre-defense, the candidate must submit the Approval to Defend Form (DocuSign Version, initiated by the candidate). This form must be signed by all committee members and the Graduate Program Director.

• Arrange the Defense: Once the committee approves the thesis for defense, the candidate should coordinate the date with them and notify the department admin office at least three weeks in advance to advertise the defense and reserve a room. The defense must be advertised at least two weeks in advance. When submitting your defense announcement, please include the following information on the template:

  • Full name as you would like to appear (adding a middle initial, for example)

  • Name of all degrees, university and year of graduation

  • Title of dissertation

  • Abstract

  • List of Dissertation Committee Members (dissertation director, co-director if applicable, other committee members)

• Defense Process: The final defense consists of a 45-minute presentation by the candidate, followed by an oral examination conducted by the dissertation committee, and both are open to the public.

• Post Defense: The following signed and completed documents must be submitted to the Department of Statistics for inclusion in the student's PhD file:

  • Signature Sheet (signed by all committee members and Department Chair)

  • Final dissertation

  • Transmittal Sheet

  • Embargo Request Form

• University Thesis Requirements: After a successful defense, the candidate should ensure the thesis meets university guidelines (submission info) and submit it by the university’s deadline. Plan the defense date early enough to allow time for any required revisions before the submission deadline. Detailed guidelines for the content and general format of doctoral dissertations are available in the Thesis, Dissertation, or Project Guide. 

• Final Defense Checklist: Be sure to review the Final Defense Checklist to ensure all requirements are completed.

More information and references:

• University Catalog, AP.6 Graduate Policies
• AP.6.10.7 Doctoral Dissertation
• AP.6.10.8 Doctoral Defense
• AP.6.10.9 Dissertation Submission and Embargo
• College of Engineering and Computing Graduate Student Handbook
• University Dissertation & Thesis Services (UDTS)

• Application for Qualifying Exams
• Graduate Transfer of Credit Student Report Form
• Plan of Study - for catalog years up to 2020-2021
• Plan of Study - for catalog year 2021-2022
• Plan of Study - for catalog year 2022 and beyond
• Plan of Study 2022 and beyond - DocuSign
• Application for Comprehensive Exam
• Comprehensive Exam Report Form
• Doctoral Advancement to Candidacy Form 
• Application for Doctoral Dissertation Proposal
• Application for Doctoral Dissertation Proposal - DocuSign
• Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Report Form
• Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Report Form - DocuSign
• Approval to Defend Form
• Approval to Defend Dissertation Form - DocuSign
• Notice and Invitation Template of Oral Defense Template
• Final Defense Checklist