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The Department offers a broad training program comprised of the main
areas of statisical theory (with emphasis on foundations, Bayes
theory, decision theory, nonparametric statistics), probability theory
(stochastic processes, asymptotics, weak convergence), information
theory, econometrics, classification, statistical computing, and
graphical methods.
With this background, graduates of the program have found excellent
positions in universities, industry, and government. Recent graduates
have accepted appointments at the Duke University, University of
California at Santa Barbara, The City University of New York, Yale
University, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, RAND, Federal Reserve Board, New
York University, Trinity University, Iowa State University, Merck, and
Tulane University.
Admissions
We seek exceptional students for our Ph.D. program. GRE scores for
the General Test and for the Subject Test in the area of the
undergraduate major should accompany an application. All applicants
should have a strong mathematical background, including advanced
calculus, linear algebra, elementary probability theory, and at least
one course providing and introduction to mathematical statistics. An
undergraduate major may be in statistics, mathematics, computer
science, or in a subject in which significant statistical problems may
arise. For those whose native language is not English, the Test of
English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required.
All applications for this program should be submitted directly to the Yale
Graduate
School Office of Admissions.
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Course of Study
Normally during the first
two years, fourteen term courses in this and other departments are
taken to prepare students for research and practice of statistics.
These include courses devoted to case studies and practical work, for
which students prepare a written report and give an oral presentation.
Specific course requirements.
There is no foreign language requirement.
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The SPEAK test
From the web page at http://www.yale.edu/eli/fall/speaktestinfo.html:
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The SPEAK test is required for all international Ph.D. students who are non-native speakers of English. Students must score a 50 before being offered a TA position at Yale. Students who achieve less than 50 are considered for grading positions only.
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For further details consult that web site.
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Teaching requirements
From the Graduate School's Programs and Policies
[page 539]:
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Because the Graduate School considers teaching experience to be an integral part of graduate education, doctoral students receive financial aid packages that include teaching fellowships. In many programs there are specific years when students are expected to teach. For example, most humanities and social science students will teach in their third and fourth years. In the natural sciences, the timing of teaching is earlier or is flexible across several years. When requested by the student for compelling academic reasons, these patterns may be adjusted with the permission of an associate dean and the director of graduate studies contingent on the student's satisfactory academic progress and on sufficient course enrollment.
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See
http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/academics/program.html
for details about the Teaching Fellow Program and the teaching requirement.
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Qualifying Examinations
Course work prepares students for a Ph.D. qualifying examination,
which is usually taken after three semesters of study. The qualifying
examination consists of three parts:
- Practical Exam: a written report on an analysis
of a data set. Held during a five day period in December, following the end of classes.
- Theory Exam: a written paper on theoretical statistics. A one-day exam (9:00 am -- 4:00 pm) held in early January.
- Oral Exam: held shortly after completion of the Theory Exam.
All parts of the qualifying examination must be
competed before beginning the third year.
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A typical theory exam.
[Look at http://www.stat.yale.edu/dept-private/Exams/ for copies of other old exams.Yale login required].
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Well prepared students sometimes take one of the Practical or Theory Exams in their first year. No record is kept of an unsuccesful attempt.
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Students who do not pass the exams during January/December of their second year
have the option of a retake at the end of the spring semester.
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Prospectus and Dissertation
Dissertation research in collaboration with one member of the faculty
is begun during the third year. A prospectus for the dissertation
should be submitted no later than the first week of March in the third
year. The prospectus must be accepted by the department before the end
of the third year.
Upon successful completion of the qualifying
examination and the prospectus (as well as meeting the Graduate School
Honors requirements), the student is admitted to candidacy. Most
students complete the dissertation in the fifth year.
Please see our
Alumni page for a sampling of recent Dissertation topics.
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Dissertation fellowships
From the Graduate School's Programs and Policies
[page 538]:
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The Graduate School offers University Dissertation Fellowships as part of its five-year financial aid package to eligible advanced graduate students in the humanities and social sciences once they have advanced to doctoral candidacy. These awards are made when a student's adviser and director of graduate studies certify that the student will be engaged full-time in research and writing, is making satisfactory progress toward the degree, and has a reasonable schedule for the timely completion of the dissertation. The University Dissertation Fellowship is usually taken in consecutive terms (beginning in either the fall or spring term) and must be completed by the end of the sixth year of study. With the permission of the Graduate School, it may be interrupted in certain circumstances when recommended by the department. It may never be held concurrently with a teaching fellowship of any kind. Students who accept a teaching position in the fall or spring of the year of final eligibility will forfeit that term's dissertation fellowship amount. Prize dissertation fellowships awarded by the Graduate School, such as the Whiting and Leylan fellowships, replace the University Dissertation Fellowship. Students receiving external funding for dissertation research or writing may be eligible for a combined award and should consult the External Fellowships and Combined Award policy. Application materials and additional information can be obtained online at www.yale.edu/graduateschool/funding or from the appropriate associate dean.
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Further information
Consult the Graduate School's Programs and Policies
for general information about Ph.D. study at Yale.
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