Graduate assistantships

Students who are receiving financial support as a graduate assistant (TA, RA or Grader) from the department are expected to register for a minimum course load each fall and spring semester of their appointment.

• MS students should take 9 hours minimum during their first year, and 7 hours minimum during their second year, in courses suitable for their program of study.
• Pre-Comp PhD students (those who have passed the PhD Candidacy Review) but have not yet taken the PhD Comps should take 7 hours minimum in courses suitable for their program of study.
• Post-Comp PhD students should take at least 4 hours of seminars and/or Reading Research STAT:7990 (22S:299). Recall that Ph.D. students are required to take at least 18 semester hours of STAT:7990 (22S:299).
• All students will receive tuition support for all courses suitable for their program of study, plus at most one semester-credit hour on other courses
• Exceptions may be made with the approval of both the student's advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Adequate progress milestones

Continued funding is contingent upon satisfactory academic and work performance, and availability of funding.

Support for year 2

• Pass SPEC test at grade B or higher before start of second year (international students only).
• Complete at least 18 s.h. the first two semesters with a GPA of at least 3.00, including at least 9 s.h. the first semester with a GPA of at least 3.00

Support for year 3

• PhD Candidacy (official entry into the PhD program) is established upon successful completion of the Graduate Core Examination and the Creative Component. 

Support for year 4

• Pass: Foundations of Probability I and II, STAT:7300-7301)  22S:203-204 or Advanced Inference I and II, STAT:7100-7101, (22S:253-254), and meet departmental GPA requirements by the end of the first semester of the third year.

Support for year 5

• Pass PhD Final (Comprehensive) Exam by the end of fourth year.
• Within 18 months of passing the PhD Final (Comprehensive) Exam, the PhD candidate should present a written and oral Prospectus to his or her committee. Failure to meet this deadline may result in non-renewal of financial support.