Statistics Graduate Student Handbook 08122019 · 2019-08-13 · Graduate Student Handbook The...
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UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH DIETRICH SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS Graduate Student Handbook Updated March 2019
Transcript of Statistics Graduate Student Handbook 08122019 · 2019-08-13 · Graduate Student Handbook The...
UNIVERSITYOFPITTSBURGH
DIETRICHSCHOOLOFARTSANDSCIENCESDEPARTMENTOF
STATISTICS
GraduateStudentHandbookUpdatedMarch2019
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CONTENTS
Overview………………………………………………………………………..2
DepartmentRequirementsfortheMaster’sDegree…………………………3
DepartmentRequirementsforthePhDDegree………………………………7
DietrichSchoolofArtsandSciencesRequirements…………………………..8
GraduateAdvising……………………………………………………………….8
Registration…………………………………………………………………......9
Cross-Registration………………………………………………………………9
Grading…………………………………………………………………………...10
StatuteofLimitations…………………………………………………………...10
AnnualStudentPerformanceEvaluations……………………………………...10
PreliminaryPhDExaminations………………………………………………...…10
DissertationandCommittees……………………………………………………11
Graduation………………………………………………………………………..12
FinancialAssistance………………………………………………………………12
DutiesofaTA/TF………………………………………………………………….13
AdditionalFunding………………………………………………………………..13
GraduateStudentOrganizations…………………………………………............14
JobMarket………………………………………………………………………...14
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GraduateStudentHandbook
TheDepartmentofStatisticsisintheDietrichSchoolofArts&SciencesattheUniversityofPittsburghfoundedin1997.OurdegreeprogramsleadtotheMasterofArtsorMasterofScienceineitherStatisticsorAppliedStatisticsandtheDoctorofPhilosophyinStatistics.Statisticsistheartofmakinginformeddecisionsinthefaceofuncertainty.Ourresearchstrengths,asidefromtraditionalinterestinmultivariateanalysis,reliability,andtimeseries,arenowintheareasofhigh-dimensionalinference,statisticallearning,neuroimaging,statisticsinpsychiatry,andclinicaltrialsmethodology.WecollaboratethroughouttheUniversity.
Ourgraduateprogramscanbepursuedpart-timeorfull-time.TheAppliedStatisticsmaster'sprogramisaprofessionaldegree,intendedforpeoplewhowanttobestatisticiansinindustryorgovernment,orindividualswantingabackgroundinstatisticalmethodsforuseinconnectionwithaPhDinanothersubject.OneofthehighlightsandkeyrequiredcomponentoftheAppliedStatisticsMaster’sdegreeisthecourseofSupervisedStatisticalConsulting,STAT2381.Underthesupervisionofafacultymember,thecourseteachesthestudenthowtomeetandhelpclientswithstatisticalneedsandisanexcellentsourceofpracticalexperienceforgraduatestudentsandthePittcommunity.TheregularMAdegreeinstatisticsisprimarilyanacademicdegreesatisfiedsolelybycourseworkinstatisticsandthuscanbecompletedwhileastudentisinprogresstowardsaPhD.
Thishandbookdescribestherules,requirements,andresponsibilitiesofgraduatestudentsintheDepartmentofStatisticsattheUniversityofPittsburgh,however,isbynomeansinclusive.StudentsshouldreadandabidebythesepoliciesaswellasthosesetforthbytheDietrichSchoolofArtsandSciencesGraduateandProfessionalBulletinhttp://www.bulletins.pitt.edu/graduate/index.htmlandtheUniversityofPittsburgGraduateBulletinforacademicregulationsfoundherehttp://www.bulletins.pitt.edu/graduate/regulations.htm.
Thestudentshouldalwayskeeptheiradvisorandtheacademicadministratorcurrentontheirstatus,progress,andplans,andberesponsiveandtimelytotheemailsandrequestsoftheGraduateAdministratorandtheDepartmentAdministrator.InternationalstudentsshouldadditionallykeepincontactwiththeOfficeofInternationalServices(OIS)andbefamiliarwithpoliciesandproceduresspecificallyforinternationalstudentsstudyinghere
UniversityofPittsburgh
DepartmentofStatistics
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http://www.ois.pitt.edu/.TheDepartmentofStatistics’immigrationspecialistwhoworkswithcurrentstudentsisRichardSherman,412.624.7843,rds59@pitt.eduandheshouldbecontactedregardinganyimmigrationissues.
DepartmentRequirements
I. DepartmentrequirementsfortheMasterofArtsinAppliedStatisticsarethecompletionof33credits:
1. STAT2630(IntermediateProbability)&STAT2131(AppliedStatisticalMethods1)intheFallterm.
2. STAT2640(IntermediateMathematicalStatistics)&STAT2132(AppliedStatisticalMethods2)intheSpring
term.
3. STAT2381Consulting(minimumthreecredits)—oftentakenFallof3rdsemesterbutSpringof4thsemesterisalsook.
4. Fourcourses(12credits)instatisticalmethodsortheoryotherthanthoseinthoselistedabove,distributedasfollows:
a. Atleastthreegraduatestatisticcourses(STAT2000levelorhigher)Coursesatthe3000levelmustbeapprovedbythestudent'sgraduateadvisor.
b. Theremainderofthecoursesmaybechosenfromtheundergraduatestatisticscourses(STAT1200orhigher),excludingSTAT1221,1231,1731and1900.
Note:1231/2230,AppliedExperimentalDesignarenotacceptedforgraduatecreditNote:1221/2220,AppliedRegressionarenotacceptedforgraduatecredit
5. Two(2)graduatecoursesinafieldotherthanstatisticstowhichyoumightapplystatisticalmethods.Thegoalistorequirestudentstoobtainsomesubstantiveknowledgeinadisciplineoutsidewhatistypicallytaughtinastatisticsdepartment.Theoutsidecourseswouldnotnecessarilyhaveanystatisticalcontent,forexample,twograduatecoursesinaccountingortwoinneurosciencewouldbeperfectlyacceptable.(Bothaccountingandneurosciencearestrongusersofstatisticalmethods.)Theoutsidecoursesmayalsoincludesomequantitativecontent,e.g.,quantitativefinanceorqualitymanagement.
Examplesofcoursesortypesofcoursesinclude:
Biostat2046CohortStudiesorBiostat2062clinicaltrials Biostat2063,2064Bayesian&EmpiricalBayesianComputationalMethods Epidemiology(manycourses)
Economics:(manycoursesincludingadvancedeconometrics,gametheory,advancedmicro-ormacro-economics)
InformationScience:2710(databasemgmt),2500(datastructures)IndustrialEngineering2102(sixsigma—togreenbeltlevel—qualitymanagement)
Financialmathematics ComputerScience:2750(machinelearning)
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Psychology(manynon-statisticalgraduatecourses)
NOTE:Theprecedingisnotanall-inclusivelistofcourses.Furthermore,tobeexplicitlyclear,coursesthatduplicatematerialsalreadytaughtinourdepartmentarenotallowed.Studentsarestronglyadvisedtodiscusstheirchoiceswiththeiradvisorforapproval.
6. PassingthePreliminaryEvaluation,equivalenttoreceivinggradesBorhigherinSTAT2630-2640andSTAT2131-2132.Astudentfailingtomeetthegraderequirementneedstore-takethenecessarycourse(s).Studentsareallowedtotakethesamecoursetwice.Theywillbeterminatedfromthemaster’sprogramiftheyfailtoachieveagradeofBorhigherontheirsecondattempt.
II. DepartmentrequirementsfortheMasterofScienceinAppliedStatistics,Thesisoption:
Toqualifyforthisdegreeoption,astudentmustfindafacultymemberinthedepartmenttodirectthestudent’sthesis.Forfull-timestudents,thisshouldbedonenolaterthanthestartofthestudent’ssecondyearingraduateschool.
1. STAT2630(IntermediateProbability)&STAT2131(AppliedStatisticalMethods1)intheFallterm.2. STAT2640(IntermediateMathematicalStatistics)&STAT2132(AppliedStatisticalMethods2)inthe
Springterm.3. STAT2381Consulting—oftentakenFallof3rdsemesterbutSpringof4thsemesterisalsook.4. Twocourses(6credits)instatisticalmethodsortheoryotherthanthoseinthoselistedabove,distributedas
follows:a. Atleastonegraduatestatisticcourses(STAT2000levelorhigher)Coursesatthe3000levelmustbe
approvedbythestudent'sgraduateadvisor.b. Theremainingonecoursemaybechosenfromtheundergraduatestatisticscourses(STAT1200or
higher),excludingSTAT1221,1231,1731and1900.Note:1231/2230,AppliedExperimentalDesignarenotacceptedforgraduatecreditNote:1221/2220,AppliedRegressionarenotacceptedforgraduatecredit5. Two(2)graduatecoursesinafieldotherthanstatisticstowhichyoumightapplystatisticalmethods.
Thegoalistorequirestudentstoobtainsomesubstantiveknowledgeinadisciplineoutsidewhatistypicallytaughtinastatisticsdepartment.Theoutsidecourseswouldnotnecessarilyhaveanystatisticalcontent,forexample,twograduatecoursesinaccountingortwoinneurosciencewouldbeperfectlyacceptable.(Bothaccountingandneurosciencearestrongusersofstatisticalmethods.)Theoutsidecoursesmayalsoincludesomequantitativecontent,e.g.,quantitativefinanceorqualitymanagement.
Examplesofcoursesortypesofcoursesinclude: Biostat2046CohortStudiesorBiostat2062clinicaltrials
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Biostat2063,2064Bayesian&EmpiricalBayesianComputationalMethods Epidemiology(manycourses)
Economics:(manycoursesincludingadvancedeconometrics,gametheory,advancedmicro-ormacro-economics)
InformationScience:2710(databasemgmt),2500(datastructures)IndustrialEngineering2102(sixsigma—togreenbeltlevel—qualitymanagement)
Financialmathematics ComputerScience:2750(machinelearning) Psychology(manynon-statisticalgraduatecourses)
NOTE:Theprecedingisnotanall-inclusivelistofcourses.Furthermore,tobeexplicitlyclear,coursesthatduplicatematerialsalreadytaughtinourdepartmentarenotallowed.Studentsarestronglyadvisedtodiscusstheirchoiceswiththeiradvisorforapproval.
6. Two(2)coursesinSTAT2001,ResearchandThesisfortheMasterofSciencedegree.
7. PassingthePreliminaryEvaluation,equivalenttoreceivinggradesBorhigherinSTAT2630-2640andSTAT2131-2132.Astudentfailingtomeetthegraderequirementneedstore-takethenecessarycourse(s).Studentsareallowedtotakethesamecoursetwice.Theywillbeterminatedfromthemaster’sprogramiftheyfailtoachieveagradeofBorhigherontheirsecondattempt.
8. Anoraldefenseofthethesis.
III. DepartmentrequirementsfortheMasterofArtsinStatisticsarethecompletionof33credits:
1. STAT2630(IntermediateProbability)&STAT2131(AppliedStatisticalMethods1)intheFall2. STAT2640(IntermediateMathematicalStatistics)&STAT2132(AppliedStatisticalMethods2)inthe
Spring3. Seven(7)graduatestatisticscourses,nomorethantwo(2)ofwhichcanbeduallevel(havebothan
undergraduateandagraduatenumber).Examples:1201/2200 AppliedNonparametricStatistics
1211/2210 AppliedCategoricalDataAnalysis 1241/2240 AppliedSampling
1251/2250 QualityControl 1301/2300 StatisticalPackages(SAS&R)
1311/2310 AppliedMultivariateStatistics
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1321/2320 AppliedTimeSeries
Note:1231/2230,AppliedExperimentalDesignarenotacceptedforgraduatecreditNote:1221/2220,AppliedRegressionarenotacceptedforgraduatecredit
4. PassingthePreliminaryEvaluation,equivalenttoreceivinggradesBorhigherinSTAT2630-2640and
STAT2131-2132.Astudentfailingtomeetthegraderequirementneedstore-takethenecessarycourse(s).Studentsareallowedtotakethesamecoursetwice.Theywillbeterminatedfromthemaster’sprogramiftheyfailtoachieveagradeofBorhigherontheirsecondattempt.
5. Note:Ifthisdegreeistakenasanendinitself,withthegoalofworkinginindustry,governmentor
researchlabs,itwillbeagoodideatotakeatleast3creditsofStatisticalConsulting(STAT2381).IfyourultimategoalisaPhDinStatistics,youshouldknowthatitisnotnecessarytoofficiallyobtainthemaster’sdegreeinthecourseofobtainingaPhD,althoughmanystudentselecttodoso.
IV. DepartmentrequirementsfortheMasterofScienceinStatistics-Thesisarethecompletionof33credits:Toqualifyforthisdegreeoption,astudentmustfindafacultymemberinthedepartmenttodirectthestudent’sthesis.Forfull-timestudents,thisshouldbedonenolaterthanthestartofthestudent’ssecondyearingraduateschool.1. STAT2630(IntermediateProbability)&STAT2131(AppliedStatisticalMethods1)intheFall
2. STAT2640(IntermediateMathematicalStatistics)&STAT2132(AppliedStatisticalMethods2)inthe
Spring
3. Five(5)graduatestatisticscourses,nomorethantwo(2)ofwhichcanbeduallevel(havebothanundergraduateandagraduatenumber).Examples:1201/2200 AppliedNonparametricStatistics
1211/2210 AppliedCategoricalDataAnalysis 1241/2240 AppliedSampling
1251/2250 QualityControl 1301/2300 StatisticalPackages(SAS&R)
1311/2310 AppliedMultivariateStatistics 1321/2320 AppliedTimeSeries
Note:Ifthisdegreeistakenasanendinitself,withthegoalofworkinginindustry,governmentorresearchlabs,itwillbeagoodideatotakeatleast3creditsofStatisticalConsulting(STAT2381).IfyourultimategoalisaPhDinStatistics,youshouldknowthatitisnotnecessarytoofficiallyobtainthemaster’sdegreeinthecourseofobtainingaPhD,althoughmanystudentselecttodoso.
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4. Two(2)coursesinSTAT2001,ResearchandThesisfortheMasterofSciencedegree.
5. PassingthePreliminaryEvaluation,equivalenttoreceivinggradesBorhigherinSTAT2630-2640andSTAT2131-2132.Astudentfailingtomeetthegraderequirementneedstore-takethenecessarycourse(s).Theywillbeterminatedfromthemaster’sprogramiftheyfailtoachieveagradeofBorhigherontheirsecondattempt.
V. DepartmentrequirementsforCombinedFive-YearBachelor’sandMaster’sDegreeinStatistics
Admissiontotheprogramrequirestheapprovalofboththeundergraduateandgraduatedirectors.Interestedstudentsshoulddiscussthisfive-yearprogramwiththeDirectorofUndergraduateStudiesandsubmittheirletterofinteresttoDUGSbyMarchoftheirjunioryear.StudentsmusthaveleastaBgradeinSTAT1221and1151tobeconsideredforthefive-yearprogram.
ThosewhoareselectedanddowellmustapplyforMAorMSinStatisticsofficiallythroughGATSbyJanuary15oftheirsenioryear. Uponapplication,studentsmustearnatleastaBgradeinSTAT1631and2131andmaintaina3.0QPAtobeformallyadmittedtoMAorMSinStatistics.
RequirementsforaCombinedBSandMAinStatistics(74creditstotal)
1. IntroductoryMathematicsCourses:MATH0220,0230,0240,and0280or11802. IntroductiontoAppliedStatisticsandAppliedRegression:STAT1000,STAT1221,andSTAT1223whereSTAT
1223isaW(writing)course3. TwoIntroductoryAppliedStatisticsCoursesfromthefollowinglist:STAT1201,1211,1231,1241,1251,1261,1291-
12944. OneIntermediateAppliedStatisticscoursefromthefollowinglist:STAT1301,1311,1321,13615. Oneadvancedelective(usuallySTAT1731)6. Oneopenelectivefromthefollowinglist:anySTAT12xx,13xx,16xx,17xx)7. IntroductiontoProbabilityandMathematicalStatistics:STAT1151and11528. IntermediateProbabilityandMathematicalStatistics:STAT1631and16329. AppliedStatisticalMethods1and2:STAT2131and213210. SupervisedStatisticalConsulting:STAT2381(minimumthreecredits)11. ElectivesinStatistics:threegraduate-levelcoursesandmustbeapprovedbythestudent'sadvisor.12. Twoopengraduate-levelelectives:couldbecoursesfromoutsideofthedepartment,choseninconsultation
withthegraduateadvisor.
13.PassingthePreliminaryEvaluation,equivalenttoreceivinggradesBorhigherinSTAT1631-1632(STAT2630–2640iftakeninthegraduatestatus)andSTAT2131-2132.Astudentfailingtomeetthegraderequirementneedstore-takethenecessarycourse(s).Theywillbeterminatedfromthemaster’sprogramiftheyfailtoachieveagradeofBorhigherontheirsecondattempt.
RequirementsforaCombinedBSandMSinStatistics
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Requirements#1-13asaboveexceptthatrequirement#11arereducedtoonegraduatecourse.Inaddition,thestudentmustwriteandsuccessfullydefendamaster'sthesis.
SampleScheduleFirstYear:MATH0220,STAT1000,MATH0230,STAT1221,STAT1223SecondYear:MATH0240,STAT12xx,MATH0280,STAT12xxThirdYear:STAT1151,STAT12xx,STAT1152,STAT13xxFourthYear:STAT1631,STAT2131,STAT1632,STAT2132,17XX(usually1731StochasticProcesses).
FifthYear:Mustregisterfortwoterms,9creditseach.TakeSTAT2381;atleastthreeSTATgraduate-levelelectives;twoadditionalgraduate-levelcourses.
ComparisonofProgramsSeparately,theBachelorofScienceinStatisticsrequires50creditsandtheMaster'sofStatisticsrequires33credits,ofwhich30mustbegraduatelevel.Thecombinedprogramrequires74creditstotal,ofwhich24mustbegraduatelevel.Atleast18creditsmustbecompletedasagraduatestudent.Inaddition,theMA/MSdegreecannotbeawardeduntil12monthsafterreceivingthebachelor'sdegree.
VI. DepartmentrequirementsforthePhDinStatisticsarethecompletionof72credits:
1. PassingatthePhDlevelthepreliminaryexam,givenrightbeforethebeginningoftheFalltermofthe
2ndyearofgraduatestudy.(Studentswiththebackgroundcoveredbythisexamareencouragedtotakethepreliminaryexamtheirfirstyear.)
Note:StudentswillordinarilybegiventwochancestopassthePhDcomprehensiveexam.Thesecondattemptmustbemadenolaterthantheendofthenextacademicyearsemesterfollowingthefirstattempt.
2. Take the following five (5) required courses:
STAT 2631Advanced MathematicalStatisticsSTAT2641 Large SampleMethods of StatisticsSTAT 2661Theory of LinearModelsSTAT 2711 and 2712 Advanced (measure-theoretic)Probability
3. Three(3)creditsofSTAT2381,SupervisedStatisticalConsulting.Studentsanticipatingacareerinvolving
consultingshouldtakeasubstantialnumberofcreditsofSTAT2381.4. Complete72graduatecredits.Someofthecoursestakencanbetakenoutsideofthedepartment,i.e.,
Biostatistics,Psychologyineducation,Economics,MathematicalfinanceorMachinelearning.Somecreditswillbeforindependentstudy(STAT2991),directedstudy(STAT3901)and/orresearch(3001).
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5. PassthePhDComprehensiveExam.Students,withtheadviceoftheirchosencommitteemembers,read
theliteratureintheareaoftheirproposedresearchandpresentacreativesummaryofthematerialinanopenseminarattendedbytheirdissertationcommitteeandanyotherinterestedindividuals.Aftertheirtalk,studentswillbefurtherquizzedinprivatebytheircommitteeontheirknowledgeofthematerial.
6. Presentawrittenandoralthesisproposaltotheirdissertationcommitteeandobtainapprovalofthe
proposal.
NOTE:#5canbecombinedintoonepresentationordoneseparately.
Oncetheabovestepsarecompleted,thestudentisadmittedtoPhDcandidacyandenrollsinFTDS(FTDS3999)andpaysaflat-ratetuitionof$500plusfees.
7. Completethedissertationresearch,writethedissertationandsuccessfullydefenditorallyinanopenseminar.NOTE:Admissiontocandidacymustbeatleast8monthsbeforethedefenseofthedissertationinordertoprovideanopportunityforthemembersofthedoctoralcommitteetoreview,criticize,andmonitortheproposedresearch.
DietrichSchoolofArtsandSciencesRequirements:
Thegeneralrequirementsforthemaster'sdegreesanddoctoraldegreesaredetailedunderRegulationsPertainingtoMasterofArtsandMasterofScienceDegrees,RegulationsPertainingtoProfessionalMaster'sDegrees(includingtheMFA),andRegulationsPertainingtoDoctoralDegreesintheUniversity’sbulletin:http://www.bulletins.pitt.edu/graduate/index.html.
ThefollowingrequirementsmustbesatisfiedfortheMAandMSdegree:
• Completionof12creditsfromthe2000or3000serieswithagradeofBorhigher.• Allcoursesfromthe2000or3000seriesmustbecompletedwithanaveragegradeofB(3.00)• Atleast30creditsatthegraduatelevelmustbecompletedwithatleastanaveragegradeofB
(3.00)• Directedstudiescancounttowardtheoveralldegreerequirementsbutnottowardtherequired12
creditsof2000/3000-levelcoursework• IndependentstudycreditsdonotcounttowardstheMA/MS/MFAdegrees
ThefollowingrequirementsmustbesatisfiedforthePhDdegree:
TheminimumrequirementforthePhDdegree:72creditsmaybeearnedinformalcoursework,directedstudy,independentstudy,and/orthesisanddissertationresearch.
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GraduateAdvising:
Itisusuallythecasethatstudentswhoareadmittedforamaster’sdegreehavetheGraduateDirectorastheiradvisorthroughouttheirstayinthedepartment.Beforeeachenrollmentperiod,thestudentmeetswiththeGraduateDirectortodiscussandchoosecourses,followingtherequirementsoftheprogram.Beforetheenrollmentofthelastsemesterofthestudent,theGraduateDirectorchecksthatallunfulfilleddegreerequirementswillbecompletedandinformsthestudenttofiletimelyfortheirapplicationforgraduationattheA&SDietrichGraduateOffice.
StudentsareencouragedtospeakwiththeGraduateDirectorandotherfacultyinthedepartmentaboutpossibleemploymentopportunitiesandjobopenings,andtoalsoseekhelponresumesandtipsoninterviewing.IftheMaster’sstudentintendstocontinuehiseducationinanotherdepartmentorschool,theGraduateDirectorhelpsthestudentreviewchoicesandhasrecommendationletterssubmittedonthestudent’sbehalf.Otherfaculty,likewise,canbeaskedtowriterecommendationlettersforthestudent.
PhDstudentswhopassthePreliminaryExaminationatthePhDlevelatthestartoftheir2ndyearofgraduateschoolareencouragedtolookforanadvisortoeventuallydirectthestudent’sdissertationresearch.Oncethestudentselectsadissertationadvisor,he/sheisexpectedtoserveasthestudent’scourseadvisorandmentorfortherestofthetimethestudentspendsinthedepartment.Thedissertationadvisorisexpectedtoeducatethestudentintherequirementsofscientificintegrity,includingcopyrightrulesandco-authorships,tohelpthestudentmakeprofessionalcontacts,tointroducethestudenttobibliographicalanddataresourcesandtoinformthestudentofemploymentopportunities.
Registration:
Full-timegraduatestudentsarethoseregisteredfornineormorecreditsinanygiventerm.(Teachingassistants,fellowsandgraduatestudentresearchersmustbeenrolledfull-timeduringthefallandspringtermsoftheirappointmentandmayregisterforupto15credits.)
AllstudentswillhaveanacademicholdplacedontheiraccountseverysemesterwhichneedstoberemovedbytheAcademicAdministratororthestudent’sadvisor.Forthefirsttwoyears,thisholdisremovedonlyafterthestudenthasmetwiththeadvisoranddiscussedwhichcoursesthestudentstillneedstofulfillthedegreerequirements.Aftertheircompleted2ndyear,theholdisremovedbytheAcademicAdministratoratthestartoftheenrollmentdate,butitisadvisablethatthestudentkeeptheiradvisorpostedontheirenrollmentchoices.
Allgraduatestudentsmustbeinactivestatusandmustregisterforatleastonecreditduringtheterminwhichtheyarecompletinganymilestones,suchaspreliminaryexams,comprehensiveexams,candidacyadmission,dissertationdefensesandgraduation.
Doctoralstudents,whohavecompletedthe72-creditrequirementwithaminimumcumulativegradepointaverageGPAof3.0,havepassedallPhDdepartmentrequiredcourses,andbeenworkingfull-timeontheirdissertation,shouldregisterforFull-TimeDissertationStudy(FTDB3999),whichcarriesnocreditsorlettergrade,butprovidesstudentswithfull-timestatustomeetfundingand/orvisaeligibilityrequirements.3999allowsthestudenttoreceiveanassessedlowertuitionfeeof$500.00plus$400.00feesforatotalof$900.00.
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Cross-Registration:
GraduatestudentscanregisterforcoursesatCarnegieMellonUniversity(orotherapproveduniversities).Cross-registrationrequirespriorapprovalbythedirectorofgraduatestudies,islimitedtoonecourseperterm(FallorSpring),countstowardthedepartmentalgradedcreditrequirementaswellastowardthestudent’sGPA.ThestudentmustberegisteredattheUniversityofPittsburghforatleastninecredits(fulltimestatus)beforecross-registration.Cross-registrationishandledthroughtheArts&SciencesGraduateDean’sOffice,Room5141Sennott
Square.Noadditionaltuitionischarged,however,ifthereareanyspecialcourseorlabfeesassociatedwiththecourse,thestudentmustpaythem.
Grading:
AgraduatestudentmustmaintainaGPAof3.0(Baverage)toremainingoodstanding,tobeappointedtoaTeachingassistantship/Fellowship,andtograduate.Ifthestudent’sGPAfallsbelow3.00,thestudentisautomaticallyplacedonacademicprobation,isnoteligibleforateachingassistantship,fellowship,orparticipationinthedepartment’sexaminations.Thedepartmentwillsowarnthestudentinwriting.
StatuteofLimitations:
Master’sstudentsmustcompleteallrequirementsforamaster’sdegreewithinfourconsecutivecalendaryearsofthefirstregistration.TheMaster’sComprehensiveexamhasastrictlyenforcedstatueoffouryearsandwillnotbeextendedforanyreasonperDietrichSchoolofArtsandSciences.
PhDstudentsmustcompleteallrequirementsforthePhDdegreewithintenconsecutiveyearsfromthefirsttermofregistration.Ifastudententerswithamaster’sdegree(regardlessifcreditsaretransferredornot)thestatuteoflimitationsiseightyearsfromthefirsttermofregistration.TheDoctoralComprehensiveexamhasastrictlyenforcedstatueofsevenyearsandwillnotbeextendedforanyreason.Studentsmayapplyforanextensionofthestatuteoflimitations.Thefollowingmustbesubmittedforanextension:anapplicationforanextensionoftheirstatuteoflimitations(thereisaformformaster'sstudentsandoneforPh.D.students).Adetailedplanofstudywithatimelineforcompletionofallitemsforthedegreesignedbythestudentandcommitteechairstatingthatifmilestonesarenotcompletedthestudentwillbeterminatedfromtheprogram.
AnnualStudentPerformanceEvaluations:
Onceayear,neartheendofthespringsemester,thefacultywillmeettodiscusstheperformanceandacademicprogressofeachstudent.TheGraduateDirectorthenwriteseachstudentalettertoconveytheconclusionsofthefaculty’sreviewofhis/herprogressandtoremindhim/herofimportantdegreerequirementsthatneedfulfilled,toletthemknowofcontinuedfunding,andtomakegeneralcommentsontheiracademicperformance.
PreliminaryPhDExaminations:
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Theseexamsaregivenattheendthe1styearofthestudent’sprogram.TheexamsaretypicallyheldonMondayandFridayofaweekinAugust.Theexamsaregivenintwoparts:Probability/MathematicalStatisticsandAppliedStatistics.Thetheoryexamrequiresthecompletionoffivewrittenquestionsinfourhours.TheAppliedexamconsistsofamorningsessionlastingthreehoursinwhichthestudentsanswer3-4writtenquestions,andanafternoonsessionoftwohoursinwhichthestudentsanswer1-2appliedquestionswithgivendataonacomputerinthestatlab.Aftertheexams,thestudentisnotifiedinwritingofhis/herperformanceontheexaminations,i.e.,pass/failforeachpartandtoldofanyoptionstohim/herintheeventofanon-passingperformance.ThestudentwhofailsonthefirstattemptisallowedtoretakethePreliminaryExamsagaininthefollowingyearandhastopassforboththetheoryandappliedexamsonthesecondattempt.
DissertationandCommittees:
StudentsareresponsiblefortheformationoftheirDoctoralcommittee,whichiscomposedof4members–3(three)membersfrominsidethestudent’sdepartment,allofwhommusthavegraduatefacultystatus.Graduatefacultystatuslistscanbefoundhere:http://www.ir.pitt.edu/gradfac/homepg.htm
AdjunctmembersormemberswithasecondaryappointmentinStatisticsmayalsoserveasaninsidememberaslongastheyhavegraduatefacultystatusandtheappointmentiscurrent.
Acommitteemaybecomprisedofmorethan4members,butallmembersmustparticipatefully.
Committeememberswholeavetheuniversitymaystayonthecommittee,(assuminghehasgraduatefacultystatus)willbeconsideredaninsidememberforaperiodofoneyearfromthedateheleft.Afteroneyear,hewillnolongerbeconsideredtheinsidemember,butrathertheoutsidemember.
Ifacommitteememberretires,theymayremainonthecommitteeaslongastheyarestillwillingtoserveandwillreturnforthedefense.Retiredfacultymaybeappointedonnewcommitteesaslongastheyarestillactiveprofessionallyintheacademiccommunity.
Onememberofthecommitteemustbefromoutsidethestudent’sdepartment.Thisoutsidemembermaybefrom:
• AdifferentdepartmentintheSchoolofArtsandSciences,andmusthavegraduatefacultystatus.• AdifferentschoolintheUniversityofPittsburgh,Pittsburghcampus,andmusthavegraduatefacultystatus.• Anotheruniversityor,insomecircumstances,industrialorprofessionalresearchinstitution.Shouldthe
outsidememberbeinthesecategories,theDeanneedstodeterminewhether,ifthispersonwereatUniversityofPittsburgh,he/shewouldhavegraduatefacultystatus.Inordertodothis,theDeanrequiresacurrentdetailedCVandamemo.AcompleteCVdetailspastandpresentpositionsheld,listspublications,anddemonstratesgraduatestudentmentoringandadvising.Graduatestudentmentoringandadvisingmaybedemonstratedbylistingcoursestaughtatthegraduatelevelandserviceongraduatestudentcommitteesorroughlyequivalentoversightof,forexample,post-graduatefellows.Thismemoshouldaddresstherationaleforinclusionoftheoutsidememberandassurethattheoutsidememberwillbepresentatboththeoverviewanddefense.
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• OnlyinextenuatingcircumstancesistheDeanwillingtopermitacommitteemembernottobephysicallypresentateithertheovervieworthedefense.
• Theoutsidecommitteemembercanonlybeaco-chair,notachair• Ifanoutsidecommitteememberisapprovedforonestudent’scommitteethatapprovalholdsonlyforthat
student. StudentsareresponsibleforcontactingtheircommitteemembersandarrangingfortheirPhDComprehensive/OvervieworPhDDefensetimeanddate.Contacttheacademicadministratorofthedepartmentwhenyouhavethedateandtimeandprovideherwiththefollowinginformation:
Names,department,andemailsofyourcommitteemembers Chairofyourcommittee ThetitleofyourthesisTheacademicadministratorwillobtainaroomforyourPhDoralcomprehensiveandyourfinalDissertationexamandwillsendoutnoticestothedepartmentandtheuniversitycommunity.
Graduation:
AllstudentsmustbeenrolledinatleastonecreditorFTDStoapplyforgraduation.ApplicationformsforgraduationareavailableattheDietrichGraduateSchoolOffice,5141SennottSquare.Applicationsareinitiallyfreeuptoacertaindate,thenafeeisapplied.Payattentiontoemailandpostedannouncementspertainingtothedeadlines.
StudentswhoareapplyingfortheirPhDdegreeshouldcarefullyreadthroughalltheinstructionsandpaycloseattentiontodetailandthedatetheETD/paperworkmustbein.
FinancialAssistance:
Thereisalimitedamountoffinancialassistanceintheformofteachingassistantships(TAs)and/orfellowshipsavailabletoenteringfull-timegraduatestudents.Suchfinancialaidisawardedcompetitively.NotallenteringstudentscanbesupportedfinanciallyandTA’saregivenonlytoPhDstudents.OncePhDstudentshavepassedthePhDqualifyingexamandarebeginningresearchontheirdissertations,theycanbecometeachingfellows(TFs)orgraduatestudentresearchers(GSRs).AfewoftheappointmentsmaybewithotherdepartmentsintheUniversity.Todate,theDepartmentofStatisticshasbeensuccessfulinfindingsuchappointmentsforitsPhDstudents,butnoguaranteescanbemade.
Thecurrentone-termstipendrateforaTAis$8,955.Thus,anewTAcanexpecttoreceive$17,910foratwo-term(two-semester)appointment.TFsandGSRsarepaidslightlymorethanTA’s.NotethatTAs,TFs,andGSRsreceivetuitionscholarshipsproportionatetotheleveloftheiraward(fullorpartial)duringthetermsinwhichtheyhaveappointments.TheUniversityprovidesindividualhealthinsurancetograduatestudentswitheligibleacademicappointments.Supportedgraduatestudentshowever,areresponsibleforpayingthe$30.00graduateactivityfee
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eachsemester.Full-timeTAsandTFsareexpectedtowork20hoursperweekinadditiontothetimetheyrequireforcourseworkandstudy.
SomesupportisavailabletoTAsandTFswhorequestteachingassignmentsduringthesummerterm.Tuitionscholarshipsarelimitedto3credits.Studentswhowanttoregisterformorethan3creditsmustreceiveformalapprovalfromtheGraduateStudiesOfficepriortoregistration.CurrentTAsareencouragedtoapplytobean“instructor”duringthesummerterm,i.e.,teachtheundergrad-levelcourse.
DutiesofaTA/TF
AllDepartmentofStatisticsnewTAsarerequiredtoenrollinSTAT2020,theDepartment’sTeachingSeminar.Additionally,newTA’sarealsorequiredtoattendtheCIDDENewTeachingAssistantOrientationandclasseshttp://www.cidde.pitt.edu/teaching-support/.
TheworkassignedtoTAsintheDepartmentistoleadrecitationsfortheundergraduatelevelcourses,STAT0200,1000,and1100,assistfacultyasgradersforupper-levelundergraduatecoursesandoccasionallyagrad-levelcourse,orworkintheSTATlab.ATAistowork20hoursperweekandwillreceiveastipendbasedonthepercentoftheirassistantship.
TheOfficeofMeasurementandEvaluationofTeaching(OMET)conductsonlinesurveyseachterm.DietrichSchoolpolicyisthatallTA’smustbeevaluatedbytheirstudentseachtermintheirfirsttwoyearsofteachingandatleastonceeachyearthereafter.ResultsofthesurveysaretobesenttotheTA’sandcopieswillbesenttothedesignatedTA/TFcoordinatororChair.
Note:Internationalstudentinstructors,inaccordancewiththeEnglishFluencyinHigherEducationAct,arerequiredtobecertifiedinEnglishfluency.TheDepartmentwillarrangefortheEnglishexamtobegivenbytheEnglishLanguageInstitutetoallinternationalTA’s.Thestudentmustscorea“4”orabovetobequalifiedtoleadarecitation.Ascoreof3willonlyallowtheTAtogradeorworkintheStatLab.TheTAwhoscoresa3willbeadvisedtotakeadditionalEnglishlanguagecoursesandwillbere-tested.
Aguidetitled,TAHandbook:TheTeachingAssistantExperiencecanbefoundatthislink:
http://www.cidde.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/TA-Handbook.pdf
TheTA/TFPolicyStatementcanbefoundathttp://www.pitt.edu/~graduate/tapolicyrev.htm
Ingeneral,studentsareawardedatwo-termteachingcontractandaslongastheyareprogressingsatisfactorilyintheiracademicstudiesandtheirteachingduties,theywillreceivesuchfundingasaTA/TFinthedepartmentforatotalof5years.
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AdditionalFunding:
AndrewMellonPredoctoralFellowships:Theseareaone-yearfellowshipthatprovidethestudentwithalittlemorefunding/stipendandreprievesthemfromallteachingresponsibilities.PhDstudentscanapplyfortheAndrewMellonandthedepartmentfacultywillbepermittedtosubmitacertainnumberofapplicantsbasedontheamountofthepreviousyear’sawards.InformationissentoutaroundNovemberbytheacademicadministrator.
Dean’sTuitionScholarships:TheseareawardedbytheA&SGraduateStudiesOfficetocontinuinggraduatestudentswhodemonstrateacademicachievementandhaveexhaustedtheirdepartmentalfunding,typicallyFTDSstudents.Theawardprovidestuitiononlyforonesemester;thestudentmustpayallfees.
Dean’sResearchScholarships:Theseresearchscholarships(around$3,000)areawardedbytheA&SGraduateStudiesOfficetoexceptionalincomingPhDstudentstosupporttheirresearcheffortsinthefirstsummerafterjoiningthedepartment.
GraduateStudentResearchers:
GSR’smayworkwithprofessorsintheStatisticsdepartment,andsometimesotherdepartmentsorschools,onresearchprojects.Thesepositionsareattheinvitationofindividualfacultymembers.ThecurrentGSRstipendis$7,310-10,240perterm.TheGSRsupportcanalsobecombinedwithTA/TFsupport,e.g.,50%GSRand50%TA.
TravelGrantsforConferences:
Therearevarioustravelgrantsavailabletograduatestudentsattendingorpresentingatconferencesandprofessionalmeetings.ExamplesofthesearetheA&SPBCandAlumniTravelFund,DietrichSchoolofA&SGraduateStudentOrganization(GS),andGraduateandProfessionalStudentGovernmentTravelGrants.PleaseseethefinancialassistancepageoftheDietrichSchoolofArtsandScienceshttp://www.asgraduate.pitt.edu/financial-assistance.
GraduateStudentOrganizations
TheDietrichSchoolofArtsandSciencesGraduateStudentOrganization(A&SGSO)representstheinterestsandconcernsofallgraduatestudentsintheDietrichSchoolofArtsandSciences.MonthlymeetingsoftheGSOofferaplaceforA&SgraduatestudentstohearreportsfromvariousUniversitycommitteesandtodiscussandactonissuesconcerninggraduatestudents,aswellasgettingtoknowwhatishappeninginotherdepartmentswithinA&S.EachA&SdepartmentsendsagraduatestudentrepresentativetothemonthlyA&S-GSOmeetings,butallgraduatestudentsinA&Sareinvitedtoattend.Announcementsregardingmeetingsandfunctionscanbefoundherehttp://www.asgso.pitt.edu/doku.phporcalltheAdministrativeAssistantat(412)624-6698.A&S-GSOalsooffersTravelGrantstostudents.
TheGraduateandProfessionalStudentGovernment(GPSG)istheumbrellaorganizationthatoverseesthestudentgovernmentofeachgraduateandprofessionalschoolwithintheuniversity.Asthegoverningbodyforallgraduateandprofessionalstudents,GPSGtakesanactiveroleinensuringthattheconcernsofthesestudentsareheardthroughoutalllevelsoftheuniversity.Inadditiontoactingasaunifiedvoiceattheuniversity,GPSGprovidesservesandfundingto
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individualsandgroupswhosegoalsandideasfurtherthemissionofthisorganization.AllgraduateandprofessionalstudentsattheUniversityofPittsburgharemembersofGPSG.Theyalsoofferseveralservices,includingfreelegalserviceandtravelgrants.Formoreinformation,seetheirwebsiteof:http://www.gpsa.pitt.edu
JobMarket:
ManyCareeropportunitiesareavailabletostudentsofstatistics.Theprivatesectorneedsstatisticiansinareassuchasmanagement,productquality,medicine,pharmaceuticalresearchandmarketing.Thegovernmentdependsonstatisticiansacrossmanyagencies,suchastheCensusBureau,theBureauofLaborStatisticsandtheFoodandDrugAdministration.CollegeandUniversitiesrequirestatisticiansinallareas,suchasteaching,statisticalresearch,andconsulting.TheAmericanStatisticalAssociationhasmoreinformationoncareeropportunitiesinstatisticshttp://www.amstat.org/careers/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.
