D program requires a minimum of 4 years of study, and 5 years of study is more common. Beginning students should expect to spend all their first year, most of their second year and some of their third year taking formal courses. The balance of time is spent on reading and research. Students entering with advanced training in Statistics may transfer credits at the discretion of their advisor. Possible topics include Design of Experiments, Robust Methods, and Graphical Methods.
Emphasis is always on practice more than theory.
BST 402 may not be offered every year, in which case courses in advanced probability offered by the mathematics department may be substituted, or BST 479 may be taken in the first year. Topics covered vary. Ph.D. students are required to register for at least six semesters. Additional advanced courses, for varying numbers of credits, are offered depending on interests of students and instructors. There are no thesis or language requirements.