Over the course of their PhD, a student must pass three different exams.
THE DOCTORAL CANDIDACY REQUIREMENT (DCR)
No matter the degree stated on the student’s application to the program, all students are admitted as MS students. A student will be eligible to begin preparations to undertake research for a Ph.D. thesis and to choose a Ph.D. thesis advisor once their Candidacy Portfolio has been evaluated as Pass by the Candidacy Review Committee.
A Candidacy Portfolio consists of performance on the final exams in the Candidacy Courses:
- STAT 520
- STAT 530
- STAT 540
- STAT 640
Annually, the Candidacy Review Committee will review Candidacy Portfolios for all students in May. For each student, the Candidacy Review Committee make an evaluation of Pass, Insufficient, or Fail for the Candidacy Portfolio. In the case of an Insufficient rating, the Candidacy Review Committee will specify a requirement for earning a Pass to replace the Insufficient rating. Earning a Pass for the Candidacy Portfolio satisfies the Doctoral Candidacy Requirement.
Students must pass the Doctoral Candidacy Requirement within two years beginning from the date of first enrollment in the Graduate Program.
The Candidacy Review Committee will consist of all tenure-track faculty.
Amended by faculty vote January 2023.
PHD PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
The Ph.D. preliminary examination is an oral exam administered by the student’s graduate advisory committee after having passed STAT 720 and STAT 730. The Graduate School requires that this examination be administered at least two terms before the final dissertation defense. The student’s graduate advisory committee consists of the advisor(s) and at least three additional faculty members, including at least two faculty members from the Department of Statistics and at least one outside committee member. The student must provide two documents to the preliminary examination committee at least one week before the exam:
- A dissertation outline (up to two pages) that includes a statement of current progress;
- A research statement that includes a description of background, motivation of the problem, and summary of preliminary research results, or a research article
The PhD preliminary Exam consists of a public presentation with period of questions followed by a session involving the graduate advisory committee only. The advisor(s) should confirm details of the exam with the committee before the exam itself.
Amended by faculty vote January 2023.
DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
A satisfactory dissertation must be completed, approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee, and defended in a final oral examination which is open to the University community. The dissertation must constitute original research in statistical theory or applications and must be submitted in a form acceptable to the Graduate School. The student’s dissertation results must be presented in a Departmental seminar.
The defense consists of a public presentation with period of questions followed by a session involving the graduate advisory committee. The advisor(s) should confirm the details of the exam with the committee before the exam itself.
The student must schedule the defense through the main office at least four weeks prior to the proposed date. This involves establishing and providing the following information:
- Date, Time, and Location of the defense
- Title and Abstract of presentation
- List of Committee members
The student must provide a copy of the dissertation to the graduate advisory committee three weeks before the exam.
Amended by faculty vote January 2023.
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Department of Statistics
Colorado State University
Fort Collins CO 80523-1877
Telephone: (970) 491-5269
FAX: (970) 491-7895
E-mail: stats@stat.colostate.edu
