Ph.D. / Research

Focus Track - PhD/Research logo

Some of our MSS graduates move into post-MS Ph.D. programs in statistics and allied disciplines. The MSS core and recommended courses define a firm basis for students on this track. Such students take several advanced MSS elective courses in year 2 and in consultation with their MSS advisors and the MSD, will customize their choice of electives to match their intended Ph.D. field. In addition, we strongly recommend that students aiming to apply to Ph.D. programs complete the MSS thesis requirement rather than the MS portfolio. The demonstration of research interests and achievement in a thesis is generally a strong positive in Ph.D. applications. We also strongly recommend these students go to the weekly department seminars and the social/reception following the seminar to network with faculty members and other students.

For course selection, students planning to pursue a Ph.D. in statistics benefit from electives covering more theoretical as well as advanced material in core areas of statistics (e.g., STA 571, 640, 641, 642, 643, 841, 944). Some students with relevant prerequisites and with permission of course instructors may take one or more STA Ph.D. level course. One example is STA 711 which provides a theoretical background that some leading Ph.D. programs regard as beneficial at the time of Ph.D. application. In other cases, students may propose to substitute a core MSS course with a Ph.D. level course such as STA 732 in place of STA 532, or STA 831. In all such cases, the student will consult with their MSS advisor and MSD prior to requesting permission from the instructor of the advanced course; the decision whether or not to admit a student to the class is up to the course instructor. Students without a background in mathematical analysis may also consider taking Math 531/532 (analysis sequence). We recommend these students to regularly attend the STA 901S class (weekly graduate student research seminars).

Some of our MSS graduates plan to pursue Ph.D. programs in related areas requiring and involving a major aspect of statistics.  In such cases, the MSS tracks linked to key areas provide guidance on course selection.  For example, students interested in Ph.D. programs in economics/econometrics or business administration are recommended to consider electives highlighted in the Economics & Finance track. Similarly, students interested in Ph.D. programs in biostatistics, biology and allied areas are recommended to consider electives highlighted in the Health Data Science track, while students interested in Ph.D. studies in computer science and/or machine learning will typically emphasize electives noted in the Data Science & Analytics track.

Selected Universities/Ph.D. Programs for Past MSS alumni:
  • Carnegie Mellon University, Information Systems
  • Columbia University, Statistics
  • Duke University, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
  • Duke University, Computer Science
  • Duke University, Statistical Science
  • Florida State University, Statistics
  • Harvard, Biostatistics
  • Iowa State University, Statistics
  • National University of Singapore, Statistics
  • Rice University, Statistics Department
  • Stanford University, Geological Science
  • University of California, Berkeley, Finance
  • University of California, Los Angeles, Statistics
  • University of California, Santa Cruz, Statistics
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Industrial Engineering
  • University of Michigan, Statistics
  • University of North Carolina, Biostatistics
  • University of Pittsburgh, Statistics
  • University of Rochester, Biostatistics
  • University of Toronto, Statistics
  • University of Washington, Information Science
  • University of Wisconsin, Economics
  • University of Wisconsin - Madison, Statistics
  • Virginia Tech University, Statistics
  • Wirtschaftsunivertität Wien, Vienna, Statistics/Mathematics