Electives must include suitable courses numbered 9000 and above, when offered.
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
Code | Title | Course Units |
---|---|---|
First Year | ||
Fall | ||
Probability Theory | ||
Statistical Methodology | ||
Mathematical Statistics | ||
Spring | ||
Bayesian Statistical Theory and Methods | ||
Stochastic Processes | ||
Introduction to Linear Statistical Models | ||
Summer | ||
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
Advanced Topics in Mathematical Statistics | ||
Spring | ||
Summer | ||
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
Spring | ||
Fourth Year and Beyond | ||
Print this page.
The PDF will include all information unique to this page.
A PDF of the entire 2024-25 catalog.
A PDF of the 2024-25 Undergraduate catalog.
A PDF of the 2024-25 Graduate catalog.
Ph.d. program.
Fields of study include the main areas of statistical theory (with emphasis on foundations, Bayes theory, decision theory, nonparametric statistics), probability theory (stochastic processes, asymptotics, weak convergence), information theory, bioinformatics and genetics, classification, data mining and machine learning, neural nets, network science, optimization, statistical computing, and graphical models and methods.
With this background, graduates of the program have found excellent positions in universities, industry, and government. See the list of alumni for examples.
Dietrich college of humanities and social sciences, ph.d. programs, our ph.d. programs enable students to pursue a wide range of research opportunities, including constructing and implementing advanced methods of data analysis to address crucial cross-disciplinary questions, along with developing the fundamental theory that supports these methods..
Unique opportunities for our Ph.D. students include:
The programs leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics seek to strike a balance between theoretical and applied statistics. The Ph.D. program prepares students for university teaching and research careers, and for industrial and governmental positions involving research in new statistical methods. Four to five years are usually needed to complete all requirements for the Ph.D. degree.
These pages present the requirements for each of our Ph.D. programs.
The page "Core Ph.D. Requirements" lays out the requirements for all Ph.D. students, while each of the four joint programs are described under the Joint Ph.D. Degrees pages. Our Ph.D. students can also earn a Master of Science in Statistics as an intermediate step towards their ultimate goal.
Statistics/machine learning, statistics/public policy, statistics/engineering and public policy, statistics/neural computation .
Mathematical sciences, doctor of philosophy in data science and statistics.
The program offers extensive coursework and intensive research experience in theory, methodology, and applications of statistics (see degree requirements ).
100% of our 22 PhD graduates since 2020, both domestic and international, secured full-time employment within a few months of receiving their degrees.
2023 | Postdoctoral Fellow, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University |
2023 | Assistant Professor, Peter O’Donnell School of Public Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center |
2023 | Principal Biostatistician, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY |
2023 | Biostatistician, Medpace Inc. |
2023 | Assistant Vice President, Citibank, Tampa, FL |
2022 | Senior Data Science Analyst, Discover Financial Services |
2022 | Statistician, MacroStat Clinical Research Co., Ltd., Shanghai |
2022 | Assistant Professor, Saudi Electronic University |
2022 | Analyst, MUFG Bank |
See a more complete list
Graduate Teaching Assistantships are offered to qualified PhD students on a competitive basis. These assistantships include a monthly stipend (currently set at $2,400) along with a full tuition waiver (covering 9 credit hours per term in the Fall and Spring semesters). The assistantship additionally covers the cost of health insurance purchased through the university and most fees. Graduate Research Assistantships for advanced PhD students are also available on some faculty members’ research grants. Typically, assistantship support is provided for five years and encompasses the Summer semester as well.
All admitted students are considered for assistantships; no separate application is necessary.
PhD students are additionally supported through the following awards:
NSM Conference Travel Award and Betty and Gifford Johnson Travel Award are available to provide financial support to PhD students to present their research at professional conferences.
Before you apply, visit our How to Apply page to get familiar with the admission requirements and application process.
4c69b3a36a33a4c1c5b5cd3ef5360949.
The department encourages research in both theoretical and applied statistics. Faculty members of the department have been leaders in research on a multitude of topics that include statistical inference, statistical computing and Monte-Carlo methods, analysis of missing data, causal inference, stochastic processes, multilevel models, experimental design, network models and the interface of statistics and the social, physical, and biological sciences. A unique feature of the department lies in the fact that apart from methodological research, all the faculty members are also heavily involved in applied research, developing novel methodology that can be applied to a wide array of fields like astrophysics, biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, public policy, sociology, education and many others.
Two carefully designed special courses offered to Ph.D. students form a unique feature of our program. Among these, Stat 303 equips students with the basic skills necessary to teach statistics , as well as to be better overall statistics communicators. Stat 399 equips them with generic skills necessary for problem solving abilities.
Our Ph.D. students often receive substantial guidance from several faculty members, not just from their primary advisors, and in several settings. For example, every Ph.D. candidate who passes the qualifying exam gives a 30 minute presentation each semester (in Stat 300 ), in which the faculty ask questions and make comments. The Department recently introduced an award for Best Post-Qualifying Talk (up to two per semester), to further encourage and reward inspired research and presentations.
Advising The vice chair for graduate studies is the chief graduate adviser and heads a committee of faculty advisers who may serve as academic advisers. The research interests of the members of this committee span most of the major areas of statistics. During their first quarter in the program students are required to meet with an academic adviser who assists them in planning a reasonable course of study. In addition, the academic adviser is responsible for monitoring the student’s degree progress and approving the study list each quarter. Students are encouraged to begin thinking about their research interests as early as possible. After the student identifies a dissertation topic, the chair of the dissertation committee becomes the student’s academic adviser.
Continuing students should meet with either the vice chair for graduate studies or their academic adviser at least once each quarter and a record of this interview is placed in the student’s academic file. Each fall a committee consisting of all regular departmental faculty meet to evaluate the progress of all enrolled doctoral students. This committee decides if students are making satisfactory progress, and if not offers specific recommendations to correct the situation. For students who have begun dissertation work, the determination of satisfactory progress is typically delegated to the academic adviser. Students who are found to be consistently performing unsatisfactorily may be recommended for termination by a vote of this committee. Doctoral students normally are considered to be making satisfactory progress if they take the written qualifying examination in the summer following their first year of study and the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of their second year.
Major Fields or Sub-disciplines The strengths of current and prospective faculty dictate the specific fields of emphasis in the department: applied multivariate analysis; bioinformatics ( Center for Statistical Research in Computational Biology ); computational and computer-intensive statistics; computer vision; cognition; artificial intelligence; machine learning ( Center for Vision, Cognition, Learning, and Autonomy ); social statistics ( Center for Social Statistics ); experimental design and environmental statistics.
Foreign Language Requirement None.
Course Requirements Students are required to pass, with a grade of B- or better, 54 units of approved graduate course work (200 series) and to maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or better. At least 40 of these units must be in courses from this department; the remaining units may be from courses in related departments. Students are strongly encouraged to take Statistics 200A-200B-200C, 201A-201B-201C, and 202A-202B-202C. All doctoral students are required to take Statistics 290 for at least six quarters, and strongly encouraged to take Stats 290 during each quarter of enrollment. In addition, all doctoral students can take Statistics 296 and/or 596, or 599 as needed. Please note that up to two units of Statistics 285 and eight units of Statistics 596 can be counted toward the 40 units from our department. Stats 290, 296, and 599 are not counted.
Students with gaps in their previous training are allowed to take, with the approval of their academic adviser, undergraduate courses offered by the department. However, Statistics 100A-100B-100C, 101A-101B-101C and 102A-102B-102C may not be applied toward course requirements for a graduate degree in the department. Students who need a basic refresher course are encouraged to take Statistics 100A-100B-100C.
Teaching Experience Students are required to complete at least one quarter of service as a teaching assistant for a minimum of 25% time appointment. Students who serve as teaching assistants in the department must have taken or be currently enrolled in Statistics 495A-495B-495C. International students for whom English is a second language must pass either the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or the UCLA Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) in English before they may serve as teaching assistants.
Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass university written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations, the University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to university requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.
All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.
The written qualifying examination consists of a high-quality paper, solely authorized by the student. This paper can be a research paper containing an original contribution, or a focused critical survey paper. The paper should demonstrate that the student understands and can integrate and communicate ideas clearly and concisely. The paper should be approximately 10 pages, single-spaced, and the style should be suitable for submission to a first-rate journal or technical conference. Any contributions that are not the student’s, including those of the student’s adviser, must be explicitly acknowledged in detail.
After passing the written qualifying examination, students select a doctoral committee that administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination, required for advancement to candidacy. Students are encouraged to begin thinking about their research interests as early as possible and to seek out faculty members who might serve on their doctoral committee. Students making satisfactory progress are expected to take the written qualifying examination in the summer following their first year of study and the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of their second year.
Advancement to Candidacy Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.
Doctoral Dissertation Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.
Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation) Required for all students in the program. Please see the Advice on Taking the Oral Exam for more information.
Time-to-Degree Students are expected to advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree within six quarters of full-time work. Completion of all degree requirements (including the dissertation) normally takes 15 quarters. The maximum time to degree is 24 quarters.
Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination
University Policy
A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.
Special Departmental or Program Policy for the Ph.D. Program
A student who does not advance to doctoral candidacy within six quarters of full-time study is subject to a recommendation for termination. The graduate vice chair informs a student of such a recommendation and the student is asked to submit a written appeal and to solicit letters of support from members of the faculty. The appeal is considered by the Graduate Studies Committee, which makes the final departmental decision.
For Students Who Entered Before Fall 2022 Please click this link . Then navigate to “Program Requirements” in the tab that opens and select the academic year when you matriculated.
Timeline to Filing Your Dissertation
Faculty Research Interest See the faculty directory listing for current members and their interests at http://directory.stat.ucla.edu/ .
Advanced undergraduate or masters level work in mathematics and statistics will provide a good background for the doctoral program. Quantitatively oriented students with degrees in other scientific fields are also encouraged to apply for admission. In particular, the department has expanded its research and educational activities towards computational biology, mathematical finance and information science. The doctoral program normally takes four to five years to complete.
Statistics phd minor.
The ph.d. in data science at smu is distinctive because of its highly interdisciplinary nature..
Most existing Data Science Ph.D. programs are either housed in a single department, such as Statistics, Computer Science, Operations Management or Business Analytics; or they focus on a single disciplinary area of research, such as Business or Medicine.
The program’s core curriculum consists of courses in Computer Science, Operations Management, Statistics, and Data Science, and elective courses go beyond those disciplines to include Mathematics, Finance, Marketing, Education, Psychology, Chemistry, Game Design, Economics, and more. Student and faculty interest will continue to set directions for how the program evolves in the future.
Another distinctive feature are the research rotations that students engage in after having completed 4 semesters of coursework.
The goal of this program is to recognize that data science research can inform nearly every discipline at the university and beyond; and that the future of research and work in data science will not be limited to specific and restricted areas.
Search the smu website, popular searches.
Dedman College has an active alumni network with over 10,000 alumni in Dallas County and over 36,000 worldwide.
Phd program overview.
The PhD program prepares students for research careers in probability and statistics in academia and industry. Students admitted to the PhD program earn the MA and MPhil along the way. The first year of the program is spent on foundational courses in theoretical statistics, applied statistics, and probability. In the following years, students take advanced topics courses. Research toward the dissertation typically begins in the second year. Students also have opportunities to take part in a wide variety of projects involving applied probability or applications of statistics.
Students are expected to register continuously until they distribute and successfully defend their dissertation. Our core required and elective curricula in Statistics, Probability, and Machine Learning aim to provide our doctoral students with advanced learning that is both broad and focused. We expect our students to make Satisfactory Academic Progress in their advanced learning and research training by meeting the following program milestones through courseworks, independent research, and dissertation research:
By the end of year 1: passing the qualifying exams;
By the end of year 2: fulfilling all course requirements for the MA degree and finding a dissertation advisor;
By the end of year 3: passing the oral exam (dissertation prospectus) and fulfilling all requirements for the MPhil degree
By the end of year 5: distributing and defending the dissertation.
We believe in the Professional Development value of active participation in intellectual exchange and pedagogical practices for future statistical faculty and researchers. Students are required to serve as teaching assistants and present research during their training. In addition, each student is expected to attend seminars regularly and participate in Statistical Practicum activities before graduation.
We provide in the following sections a comprehensive collection of the PhD program requirements and milestones. Also included are policies that outline how these requirements will be enforced with ample flexibility. Questions on these requirements should be directed to ADAA Cindy Meekins at [email protected] and the DGS, Professor John Cunningham at [email protected] .
Can I apply to more than one PhD program? You may not submit more than one PhD application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. However, you may elect to have your application reviewed by a second program or department within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences if you are not offered admission by your first-choice program. Please see the application instructions for a more detailed explanation of this policy and the various restrictions that apply to a second choice. You may apply concurrently to a program housed at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and to programs housed at other divisions of the University. However, since the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences does not share application materials with other divisions, you must complete the application requirements for each school.
How do I apply to a dual- or joint-degree program? The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences refers to these programs as dual-degree programs. Applicants must complete the application requirements for both schools. Application materials are not shared between schools. Students can only apply to an established dual-degree program and may not create their own.
With the sole exception of approved dual-degree programs , students may not pursue a degree in more than one Columbia program concurrently, and may not be registered in more than one degree program at any institution in the same semester. Enrollment in another degree program at Columbia or elsewhere while enrolled in a Graduate School of Arts and Sciences master's or doctoral program is strictly prohibited by the Graduate School. Violation of this policy will lead to the rescission of an offer of admission, or termination for a current student.
When will I receive a decision on my application? Notification of decisions for all PhD applicants generally takes place by the end of March.
Notification of MA decisions varies by department and application deadlines. Some MA decisions are sent out in early spring; others may be released as late as mid-August.
Can I apply to both MA Statistics and PhD statistics simultaneously? For any given entry term, applicants may elect to apply to up to two programs—either one PhD program and one MA program, or two MA programs—by submitting a single (combined) application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Applicants who attempt to submit more than one Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application for the same entry term will be required to withdraw one of the applications.
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences permits applicants to be reviewed by a second program if they do not receive an offer of admission from their first-choice program, with the following restrictions:
For more information please contact us at [email protected] .
For more information please contact us at [email protected]
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS Columbia University Room 1005 SSW, MC 4690 1255 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027 Phone: 212.851.2132 Fax: 212.851.2164 |
Doctoral Program
The PhD in Applied Statistics addresses the growing demand in a wide range of fields for individuals with doctoral training in statistical theory and methodology who can apply statistical methods to solve business problems.
By submitting this form, I agree that UTSA may contact me by email, voice, pre-recorded message and/or text message using automated technology.
Please enable javascript in your browser
With constant technological advancement, the need for individuals who can design experiments and analyze large, complex data sets with the latest tools and technology continues to grow.
The demand for statisticians is high, especially for individuals trained to analyze big data in the areas of biomedical development, fraud detection, cyber security and defense-related issues. Job opportunities exist in a variety of industries including education, energy, finance, government, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing .
Research is carried out while students are taking formal coursework and during the summers. As research assistants, students are involved with faculty in joint research activities and pursue their own research objectives under faculty supervision. These activities should lead to authoring or co-authoring papers presented at academic meetings and possibly submitted for publication by the time the student is ready for dissertation research. (To compete successfully in the job market, students should give high priority to presenting papers at meetings and publications while in the program.)
The primary focus of a doctoral program is to prepare qualified candidates for careers in higher education, teaching, and research. Data predicts a strong demand for business school faculty for the next 15 years. Becoming a university faculty member is a gratifying experience that offers collaboration with students and other faculty, as well as fair compensation.
Outside of academia, Statisticians are in high demand in the growing biomedical field to develop methods for evaluating the efficacy and safety of new medications, surgeries, and other treatments. Additionally, Statisticians are conducting cutting-edge Bioinformatics research to assess topics such as gene therapy, genomics research, aging, and many other newly developed issues.
Interested in learning more about UTSA’s Carlos Alvarez College of Business Applied Statistics PhD program? Register to attend an upcoming Information Session where you’ll have the opportunity to review application procedures, learn admissions requirements and ask questions.
Funding opportunities, career options, admission & application requirements.
Applications are submitted through the UTSA Graduate Application . Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UTSA Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UTSA by the appropriate application deadline.
Applied Statistics (PhD) | ||
---|---|---|
Admission is only available for the Fall semester | ||
Required Degree | ||
Minimum GPA | ||
Coursework | ||
Transcripts* | ||
Credential Evaluation | directly from the graduate admission application platform | |
GRE | ||
English Language Proficiency | ||
Purpose Statement | ||
Resume | ||
Letters of Recommendation | ||
* |
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
Applied Statistics (PhD) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
Spring 2025 | Not Available | Not Available | |
Summer 2025 | Not Available | Not Available | |
Fall 2025 | February 1 | February 1 | |
Spring 2026 | Not Available | Not Available | |
Summer 2026 | Not Available | Not Available | |
PhD’s are generally funded with our financial package which consists of an assistantship in the form of a research or teaching assistantship with paid tuition and fees for up to four (4) years.
For more information about graduate funding, click below.
UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below is data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.
This program is part of the School of Data Science, also known as San Pedro I, and is housed in a cutting-edge facility dedicated to advancing the field of data science and fostering innovation in data-driven research and education. San Pedro I is a state-of-the-art facility specifically designed for hands-on learning and research under renowned faculty with expertise in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and more. The School of Data Science is committed to providing a world-class education that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and career opportunities needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving data landscape.
While in a doctoral program, a student may earn a master’s degree provided the following conditions are satisfied:
The PhD in Applied Statistics is offered at UTSA’s Downtown Campus only and will admit full-time as well as part-time students.
Most courses are offered during the day and full-time students must enroll for nine hours in the fall semester, nine hours in the spring semester and three hours in the summer semester. We do not recommend working full-time if you plan to pursue the full-time program.
This program is does not offer a hybrid or fully online modality. All PhD programs in the college are in-residence and admitted students are expected to complete the program in-person.
PhD full-time students normally serve as either a teaching assistant or research assistant throughout the program. These experiences are an important part of the training and overall doctoral experience.
Admission process, what are the key factors on which admissions are based, and who decides.
Admission is based on
The admission committee is looking for evidence that you understand the specific nature of the program that you are applying for, that you can articulate your scholarly intentions that fit with the research interests of current faculty and that you are academically prepared to succeed in the program.
The most important part of your application is your statement of purpose. Although outstanding grades and test scores are important, you should construct a clear, persuasive, well-written statement of purpose in order to be competitive.
Yes; however, you must take additional leveling courses and complete any graduate coursework where your academic background is insufficient. The catalog states that the PhD requirement is “66 hours beyond the master’s degree.” Therefore, the time required to complete a PhD will most likely be much longer for a candidate without a master’s degree than for a candidate with a master’s degree.
Admission decisions are typically made in March; however, exceptionally qualified candidates are considered earlier.
No. All application documents must be received by the application deadline and incomplete applications will not be considered. You will be required to upload unofficial copies within the Graduate Admissions Application.
No. Foreign credential evaluations must be received by the application deadline for your application to be processed. Processing time may take up to three weeks, and students should plan accordingly with the admission deadlines of the programs for which they are applying.
All NACES accredited evaluators are accepted.
What should i expect as a doctoral student.
Your role and the expectations will change as you progress in the program. Initially, your role will be as a student with the expectation that you attend and participate in doctoral seminars with other students. Expect to read a great deal and write papers.
To prepare to become a university professor, you will work closely with faculty members to learn how to teach. You will start as a teaching assistant and work toward teaching classes independently.
Conducting research is another area of focus where you will work closely with faculty on research projects. Under the direction of a faculty committee, you will conduct original research that will be the basis for your dissertation.
Most students will need four years. Plan for at least two years to complete the coursework. Add another year to pass the comprehensive exams, develop a dissertation topic and defend your dissertation proposal. Dedicate your final year(s) to dissertation research.
Teaching is crucial to your academic career and job prospects. Every PhD student should gain teaching experience before graduating. Initially, students may work as research assistants for faculty members and may also assist in teaching various courses. For students who receive stipends, they will most likely teach an undergraduate course at the Carlos Alvarez College of Business during their program.
The PhD program requires students to research while they complete formal coursework and during the summers. As research assistants, students work with faculty members in joint research activities and pursue their research objectives under the supervision of faculty members. The goal is to create papers to present at academic meetings and submit to research publications by the time the student is ready to begin their dissertation research. To be competitive in the academic job market, students should prioritize producing papers and publications while in the program.
Your program admission will identify an initial PhD advisor. However, as your interests and research agenda develop toward preparing a dissertation proposal, a different faculty member may emerge as the appropriate advisor for your dissertation research. Your initial advisor will help you assemble a program committee of faculty, who will advise you regarding your dissertation.
You may request an application waiver if
Please complete the Request to Waive Doctoral Application Fee if you meet one or more of the above criteria.
Approved applicants will receive a single-use coupon code to enter into the payment field of the online application.
We do not offer waivers for standardized test scores.
TOEFL scores may be waived for international students from countries where English is the official language or for non-citizens of the United States who have earned a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree or higher in the United States (or other countries where English is the official language) as indicated in the Graduate Catalog ( https://catalog.utsa.edu/policies/admission/graduate/internationalgraduatestudents/ ).
Min Wang, PhD
210-458-5381
This program is designed for students who desire academic research careers. The foundation is a sequence of courses in probability, mathematical statistics, linear models and statistical computing. The program also encourages study in a cognate area of application.
Up to four courses per semester may be counted toward the overall requirement of 13 courses. The six core courses are usually taken in the first year.
STAT 9300, STAT 9610, STAT 9700
Two Electives | |
Independent Study Course, Two Electives, Oral Exam/Thesis Proposal Electives or Directed Study Units | |
Independent Study and Dissertation Research |
Electives must include suitable courses numbered 9000 and above, when offered.
STAT 9270 | Bayesian Statistics |
STAT 9300 | Probability |
STAT 9310 | Stochastic Processes |
STAT 9610 | Statistical Methodology |
STAT 9700 | Mathematical Statistics |
STAT 9710 | Introduction to Linear Statistical Models |
More advanced students choose from among various elective courses offered by the faculty of the Statistics and Data Science Department and other departments at the University. There is also considerable opportunity to take individually-structured reading courses with faculty in the department.
In addition to formal coursework, the student is expected to participate in the informal intellectual life of the Department of Statistics and Data Science. This includes attendance at departmental colloquia, where visiting speakers describe current research, plus participation in informal seminars investigating current topics of interest in a non-course setting.
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Academic Research Building 265 South 37th Street, 3rd & 4th Floors Philadelphia, PA 19104-1686
Phone: (215) 898-8222
The ph.d. specialization in data science is an option within the applied mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and operations research, and statistics departments..
Only students already enrolled in one of these doctoral programs at Columbia are eligible to participate in this specialization. Students should fulfill the requirements below in addition to those of their respective department's Ph.D. program. Students should discuss this specialization option with their Ph.D. advisor and their department's director for graduate studies.
Applied Mathematics Doctoral Program
Computer Science Doctoral Program
Decision, Risk, and Operations (DRO) Program
Electrical Engineering Doctoral Program
Industrial Engineering and Operations Research Doctoral Program
Statistics Doctoral Program
The specialization consists of either five (5) courses from the lists below, or four (4) courses plus one (1) additional course approved by the curriculum committee. All courses must be taken for a letter grade and students must pass with a B+ or above. At least three (3) of the courses should come from outside the student’s home department. At least one (1) course has to come from each of the three (3) thematic areas listed below.
Ph.d. specialization committee.
Rocco a. servedio, clifford stein.
The Statistics PhD program is rigorous, yet welcoming to students with interdisciplinary interests and different levels of preparation. Students in the PhD program take core courses on the theory and application of probability and statistics during their first year. The second year typically includes additional course work and a transition to research leading to a dissertation. PhD thesis topics are diverse and varied, reflecting the scope of faculty research interests. Many students are involved in interdisciplinary research. Students may also have the option to pursue a designated emphasis (DE) which is an interdisciplinary specialization: Designated Emphasis in Computational and Genomic Biology , Designated Emphasis in Computational Precision Health , Designated Emphasis in Computational and Data Science and Engineering . The program requires four semesters of residence.
Year 1 . Perform satisfactorily in preliminary coursework. In the summer, students are required to embark on a short-term research project, internship, graduate student instructorship, reading course, or on another research activity. Years 2-3 . Continue coursework. Find a thesis advisor and an area for the oral qualifying exam. Formally choose a chair for qualifying exam committee, who will also serve as faculty mentor separate from the thesis advisor. Pass the oral qualifying exam and advance to candidacy by the end of Year 3. Present research at BSTARS each year. Years 4-5 . Finish the thesis and give a lecture based on it in a department seminar.
Preliminary stage: the first year.
Effective Fall 2019, students are expected to take four semester-long courses for a letter grade during their first year which should be selected from the core first-year PhD courses offered in the department: Probability (204/205A, 205B,), Theoretical Statistics (210A, 210B), and Applied Statistics (215A, 215B). These requirements can be altered by a member of the PhD Program Committee (in consultation with the faculty mentor and by submitting a graduate student petition ) in the following cases:
Students entering the program before 2022 are required to take five additional graduate courses beyond the four required in the first year, resulting in a total of nine graduate courses required for completion of their PhD. In their second year, students are required to take three graduate courses, at least two of them from the department offerings, and in their third year, they are required to take at least two graduate courses. Students are allowed to change the timing of these five courses with approval of their faculty mentor. Of the nine required graduate courses, students are required to take for credit a total of 24 semester hours of courses offered by the Statistics department numbered 204-272 inclusive. The Head Graduate Advisor (in consultation with the faculty mentor and after submission of a graduate student petition) may consent to substitute courses at a comparable level in other disciplines for some of these departmental graduate courses. In addition, the HGA may waive part of this unit requirement.
Starting with the cohort entering in the 2022-23 academic year , students are required to take at least three additional graduate courses beyond the four required in the first year, resulting in a total of seven graduate courses required for completion of their PhD. Of the seven required graduate courses, five of these courses must be from courses offered by the Statistics department and numbered 204-272, inclusive. With these reduced requirements, there is an expectation of very few waivers from the HGA. We emphasize that these are minimum requirements, and we expect that students will take additional classes of interest, for example on a S/U basis, to further their breadth of knowledge.
For courses to count toward the coursework requirements students must receive at least a B+ in the course (courses taken S/U do not count, except for STAT 272 which is only offered S/U). Courses that are research credits, directed study, reading groups, or departmental seminars do not satisfy coursework requirements (for courses offered by the Statistics department the course should be numbered 204-272 to satisfy the requirements). Upper-division undergraduate courses in other departments can be counted toward course requirements with the permission of the Head Graduate Advisor. This will normally only be approved if the courses provide necessary breadth in an application area relevant to the student’s thesis research.
First year course work: For the purposes of satisfactory progression in the first year, grades in the core PhD courses are evaluated as: A+: Excellent performance in PhD program A: Good performance in PhD program A-: Satisfactory performance B+: Performance marginal, needs improvement B: Unsatisfactory performance First year and beyond: At the end of each year, students must meet with his or her faculty mentor to review their progress and assess whether the student is meeting expected milestones. The result of this meeting should be the completion of the student’s annual review form, signed by the mentor ( available here ). If the student has a thesis advisor, the thesis advisor must also sign the annual review form.
Choice of courses in the first year: Students enrolling in the fall of 2019 or later are required to take four semesters of the core PhD courses, at least three of which must be taken in their first year. Students have two options for how to schedule their four core courses:
After the first year: Students with interests primarily in statistics are expected to take at least one semester of each of the core PhD sequences during their studies. Therefore at least one semester (if not both semesters) of the remaining core sequence would normally be completed during the second year. The remaining curriculum for the second and third years would be filled out with further graduate courses in Statistics and with courses from other departments. Students are expected to acquire some experience and proficiency in computing. Students are also expected to attend at least one departmental seminar per week. The precise program of study will be decided in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor.
Remark. Stat 204 is a graduate level probability course that is an alternative to 205AB series that covers probability concepts most commonly found in the applications of probability. It is not taught all years, but does fulfill the requirements of the first year core PhD courses. Students taking Stat 204, who wish to continue in Stat 205B, can do so (after obtaining the approval of the 205B instructor), by taking an intensive one month reading course over winter break.
Designated Emphasis: Students with a Designated Emphasis in Computational and Genomic Biology or Designated Emphasis in Computational and Data Science and Engineering should, like other statistics students, acquire a firm foundation in statistics and probability, with a program of study similar to those above. These programs have additional requirements as well. Interested students should consult with the graduate advisor of these programs.
Starting in the Fall of 2019, PhD students are required in their first year to take four semesters of the core PhD courses. Students intending to specialize in Probability, however, have the option to substitute an advanced mathematics class for one of these four courses. Such students will thus be required to take Stat 205A/B in the first year, at least one of Stat 210A/B or Stat 215A/B in the first year, in addition to an advanced mathematics course. This substitute course will be selected in consultation with their faculty mentor, with some possible courses suggested below. Students arriving with advanced coursework equivalent to that of 205AB can obtain permission to substitute in other advanced probability and mathematics coursework during their first year, and should consult with the PhD committee for such a waiver.
During their second and third years, students with a probability focus are expected to take advanced probability courses (e.g., Stat 206 and Stat 260) to fulfill the coursework requirements that follow the first year. Students are also expected to attend at least one departmental seminar per week, usually the probability seminar. If they are not sufficiently familiar with measure theory and functional analysis, then they should take one or both of Math 202A and Math 202B. Other recommended courses from the department of Mathematics or EECS include:
Math 204, 222 (ODE, PDE) Math 205 (Complex Analysis) Math 258 (Classical harmonic analysis) EE 229 (Information Theory and Coding) CS 271 (Randomness and computation)
The oral qualifying examination is meant to determine whether the student is ready to enter the research phase of graduate studies. It consists of a 50-minute lecture by the student on a topic selected jointly by the student and the thesis advisor. The examination committee consists of at least four faculty members to be approved by the department. At least two members of the committee must consist of faculty from the Statistics and must be members of the Academic Senate. The chair must be a member of the student’s degree-granting program.
Qualifying Exam Chair. For qualifying exam committees formed in the Fall of 2019 or later, the qualifying exam chair will also serve as the student’s departmental mentor, unless a student already has two thesis advisors. The student must select a qualifying exam chair and obtain their agreement to serve as their qualifying exam chair and faculty mentor. The student's prospective thesis advisor cannot chair the examination committee. Selection of the chair can be done well in advance of the qualifying exam and the rest of the qualifying committee, and because the qualifying exam chair also serves as the student’s departmental mentor (unless the student has co-advisors), the chair is expected to be selected by the beginning of the third year or at the beginning of the semester of the qualifying exam, whichever comes earlier. For more details regarding the selection of the Qualifying Exam Chair, see the "Mentoring" tab.
Paperwork and Application. Students at the point of taking a qualifying exam are assumed to have already found a thesis advisor and to should have already submitted the internal departmental form to the Graduate Student Services Advisor ( found here ). Selection of a qualifying exam chair requires that the faculty member formally agree by signing the internal department form ( found here ) and the student must submit this form to the Graduate Student Services Advisor. In order to apply to take the exam, the student must submit the Application for the Qualifying Exam via CalCentral at least three weeks prior to the exam. If the student passes the exam, they can then officially advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. If the student fails the exam, the committee may vote to allow a second attempt. Regulations of the Graduate Division permit at most two attempts to pass the oral qualifying exam. After passing the exam, the student must submit the Application for Candidacy via CalCentral .
The Ph.D. degree is granted upon completion of an original thesis acceptable to a committee of at least three faculty members. The majority or at least half of the committee must consist of faculty from Statistics and must be members of the Academic Senate. The thesis should be presented at an appropriate seminar in the department prior to filing with the Dean of the Graduate Division. See Alumni if you would like to view thesis titles of former PhD Students.
Graduate Division offers various resources, including a workshop, on how to write a thesis, from beginning to end. Requirements for the format of the thesis are rather strict. For workshop dates and guidelines for submitting a dissertation, visit the Graduate Division website.
Students who have advanced from candidacy (i.e. have taken their qualifying exam and submitted the advancement to candidacy application) must have a joint meeting with their QE chair and their PhD advisor to discuss their thesis progression; if students are co-advised, this should be a joint meeting with their co-advisors. This annual review is required by Graduate Division. For more information regarding this requirement, please see https://grad.berkeley.edu/ policy/degrees-policy/#f35- annual-review-of-doctoral- candidates .
For students enrolled in the graduate program before Fall 2016, students are required to serve as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for a minimum of 20 hours (equivalent to a 50% GSI appointment) during a regular academic semester by the end of their third year in the program.
Effective with the Fall 2016 entering class, students are required to serve as a GSI for a minimum of two 50% GSI appointment during the regular academic semesters prior to graduation (20 hours a week is equivalent to a 50% GSI appointment for a semester) for Statistics courses numbered 150 and above. Exceptions to this policy are routinely made by the department.
Each spring, the department hosts an annual conference called BSTARS . Both students and industry alliance partners present research in the form of posters and lightning talks. All students in their second year and beyond are required to present a poster at BSTARS each year. This requirement is intended to acclimate students to presenting their research and allow the department generally to see the fruits of their research. It is also an opportunity for less advanced students to see examples of research of more senior students. However, any students who do not yet have research to present can be exempted at the request of their thesis advisor (or their faculty mentors if an advisor has not yet been determined).
Initial Mentoring: PhD students will be assigned a faculty mentor in the summer before their first year. This faculty mentor at this stage is not expected to be the student’s PhD advisor nor even have research interests that closely align with the student. The job of this faculty mentor is primarily to advise the student on how to find a thesis advisor and in selecting appropriate courses, as well as other degree-related topics such as applying for fellowships. Students should meet with their faculty mentors twice a semester. This faculty member will be the designated faculty mentor for the student during roughly their first two years, at which point students will find a qualifying exam chair who will take over the role of mentoring the student.
Research-focused mentoring : Once students have found a thesis advisor, that person will naturally be the faculty member most directly overseeing the student’s progression. However, students will also choose an additional faculty member to serve as a the chair of their qualifying exam and who will also serve as a faculty mentor for the student and as a member of his/her thesis committee. (For students who have two thesis advisors, however, there is not an additional faculty mentor, and the quals chair does NOT serve as the faculty mentor).
The student will be responsible for identifying and asking a faculty member to be the chair of his/her quals committee. Students should determine their qualifying exam chair either at the beginning of the semester of the qualifying exam or in the fall semester of the third year, whichever is earlier. Students are expected to have narrowed in on a thesis advisor and research topic by the fall semester of their third year (and may have already taken qualifying exams), but in the case where this has not happened, such students should find a quals chair as soon as feasible afterward to serve as faculty mentor.
Students are required to meet with their QE chair once a semester during the academic year. In the fall, this meeting will generally be just a meeting with the student and the QE chair, but in the spring it must be a joint meeting with the student, the QE chair, and the PhD advisor. If students are co-advised, this should be a joint meeting with their co-advisors.
If there is a need for a substitute faculty mentor (e.g. existing faculty mentor is on sabbatical or there has been a significant shift in research direction), the student should bring this to the attention of the PhD Committee for assistance.
Important milestones: .
Each of these milestones is not complete until you have filled out the requisite form and submitted it to the GSAO. If you are not meeting these milestones by the below deadline, you need to meet with the Head Graduate Advisor to ask for an extension. Otherwise, you will be in danger of not being in good academic standing and being ineligible for continued funding (including GSI or GSR appointments, and many fellowships).
Identify PhD Advisor† | End of 2nd year |
Identify Research Mentor (QE Chair) | Fall semester of 3rd year |
Pass Qualifying Exam and Advance to Candidacy | End of 3rd year |
Thesis Submission | End of 4th or 5th year |
†Students who are considering a co-advisor, should have at least one advisor formally identified by the end of the second year; the co-advisor should be identified by the end of the fall semester of the 3rd year in lieu of finding a Research Mentor/QE Chair.
Spring 1st year | Annual Progress Review | Faculty Mentor |
Review of 1st year progress | Head Graduate Advisor | |
Spring 2nd year | Annual Progress Review | Faculty Mentor or Thesis Advisor(s) (if identified) |
Fall 3+ year | Research progress report* | Research mentor** |
Spring 3+ year | Annual Progress Review* | Jointly with PhD advisor(s) and Research mentor |
* These meetings do not need to be held in the semester that you take your Qualifying Exam, since the relevant people should be members of your exam committee and will discuss your research progress during your qualifying exam
** If you are being co-advised by someone who is not your primary advisor because your primary advisor cannot be your sole advisor, you should be meeting with that person like a research mentor, if not more frequently, to keep them apprised of your progress. However, if both of your co-advisors are leading your research (perhaps independently) and meeting with you frequently throughout the semester, you do not need to give a fall research progress report.
The Interdisciplinary PhD in Statistics (IDPS) is designed for students currently enrolled in a participating MIT doctoral program who wish to develop their understanding of 21st century statistics, using concepts of computation and data analysis as well as elements of classical statistics and probability within their chosen field of study.
Participating programs: Aeronautics & Astronautics Brain and Cognitive Sciences Economics Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Physics Political Science Social and Engineering Systems
How to join IDPS:
Doctoral students in participating programs may submit a selection form between the end of their second semester and penultimate semester in their doctoral program. Selection forms are due by the current semester add date, and students will be notified of a decision by the drop date.
Required documents include a CV, unofficial transcript, anticipated course plan and thesis proposal or statement of interest in statistics. For access to the selection form or for further information, please contact the IDSS Academic Office at [email protected]
Graduate Departments:
MIT Statistics + Data Science Center Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 617-253-1764
30 (9 credits earned as an undergraduate)
The combined Quantitative Methodology: Measurement and Statistics, Fifth Year B.A./B.S. & M.S. program enables highly motivated undergraduate students the opportunity to complete both a bachelor's and master's degrees in (typically) 5 years. Almost any undergraduate major would be appropriate for this program, including psychology, sociology, mathematics, statistics, computer science, communications, business, economics, and even English or history. The critical quality that you need to bring is a high quantitative ability. This program provides you with advanced training in quantitative research methods and statistical analysis.
You will learn to design and conduct research studies, analyze data using sophisticated statistical techniques, and interpret and present research findings effectively. The program emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, preparing you for careers in academia, research institutions, government agencies, and private industry. Whether pursuing further graduate studies or entering the workforce directly, you will be well-prepared to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in your chosen field.
This program offers a wide range of career pathways, including:
You should apply to the master’s program in the fall of your senior year. It is open to all undergraduate majors.
Information on admissions and application to the master’s program can be found on the University Graduate Admissions website and the program handbook.
Admission Requirements Guide to Applying
You are required to submit all required documents before submitting the application.
Program Specific Requirements
Marieh Arnett, student, Quantitative Methodology: Measurement and Statistics
This master’s degree requires 30 graduate-level credits, but the benefit of doing the 5th year program is that 9 of your undergraduate credits can count toward that total. You should consult with your undergraduate major and the QMMS program early in your undergraduate study to ensure that you are able to count the maximum number of credits.
Courses in the master’s program are carefully selected from offerings of Quantitative Methodology: Measurement and Statistics program and other departments at the University. Your specific program of study will be structured to take into account your background and future aims. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available.
QMMS Graduate Student Handbook
There is a common core of courses comprised of:
For more information, please contact:
Office of Student Services [email protected] 301-405-2364.
If you are interested in applying to the program, contact one of the QMMS faculty members or:
Dr. Gregory R. Hancock Program Director [email protected]
{{item.snippet}} |
Year Enrolled: 2024
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Based in San Diego, California, National University (NU) offers a variety of online programs, including a Ph.D. in data science. NU's program requires 60 credits and takes an estimated 40 months ...
Program Description The Data Science and Statistics PhD degree curriculum at The University of Texas at Dallas offers extensive coursework and intensive research experience in theory, methodology and applications of statistics. During their study, PhD students acquire the necessary skills to prepare them for careers in academia or in fields that require sophisticated data analysis […]
Research Areas. The Statistics faculty within the department engage in a broad range of research topics. Our expertise spans classical statistical problems, such as hypothesis testing, high-dimensional data analysis, dimension reduction, time-series analysis, and nonparametric statistics, as well as contemporary topics, including network modeling, graph learning, neural networks, computational ...
Wharton offers a PhD program in Statistics that covers both theory and applications of statistics. Students can work on problems from various fields within and outside Wharton, such as finance, marketing, biostatistics, and computer science.
Learn about Wharton's PhD program in Statistics and Data Science, which covers theoretical and applied research in various fields. Find out the program requirements, courses, faculty, and contact information.
PhD Program Overview. The doctoral program in Statistics and Data Science is designed to provide students with comprehensive training in theory and methodology in statistics and data science, and their applications to problems in a wide range of fields. The program is flexible and may be arranged to reflect students' interests and career goals.
Learn about the Ph.D. program in statistics at UT Austin, a leading department in statistics and data sciences. The program offers a flexible curriculum, research opportunities, and financial support for up to five years.
Doctor of Philosophy in Data Science. Make informed decisions and drive growth with the 100% online Doctor of Philosophy in Data Science (PhD-DS) degree program at National University. Get an edge in the dynamic data science field by increasing your knowledge through a PhD-DS that's aligned with industry needs, including the CRISP structure.
Statistics PhD Travel Support. The Department of Statistics and Data Science has established a fund for professional travel for graduate students. The intent of the Department is to encourage travel that enhances the Statistics community at Cornell by providing funding for graduate students in statistics that will be presenting at conferences.
Statistics and Data Science, PhD. Wharton's PhD program in Statistics and Data Science provides the foundational education that allows students to engage both cutting-edge theory and applied problems. These include problems from a wide variety of fields within Wharton, such as finance, marketing, and public policy, as well as fields across ...
See the list of alumni for examples. Department of Statistics and Data Science. Yale University. Kline Tower. 219 Prospect Street. New Haven, CT 06511. Mailing Address: PO Box 208290, New Haven, CT 06520-8290. Shipping Address (packages and Federal Express): 266 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511.
The Ph.D. programs of the Department of Statistics at Carnegie Mellon University enable students to pursue a wide range of research opportunities, including constructing and implementing advanced methods of data analysis to address crucial cross-disciplinary questions, along with developing the fundamental theory that supports these methods.
Students have opportunities to participate in active Statistics Seminar series and the departmental Colloquium series. To enhance career prospects, students can pursue Graduate Certificate in Data Science, and possibly use the certificate courses to fulfill the PhD degree elective requirements.
PhD Program. A unique aspect of our Ph.D. program is our integrated and balanced training, covering research, teaching, and career development. The department encourages research in both theoretical and applied statistics. Faculty members of the department have been leaders in research on a multitude of topics that include statistical inference ...
Ph.D. Program. Ph.D. Program. Advising The vice chair for graduate studies is the chief graduate adviser and heads a committee of faculty advisers who may serve as academic advisers. The research interests of the members of this committee span most of the major areas of statistics. During their first quarter in the program students are required ...
Students are required to. The PhD requires a minimum of 135 units. Students are required to take a minimum of nine units of advanced topics courses (for depth) offered by the department (not including literature, research, consulting or Year 1 coursework), and a minimum of nine units outside of the Statistics Department (for breadth).
Advanced undergraduate or masters level work in mathematics and statistics will provide a good background for the doctoral program. Quantitatively oriented students with degrees in other scientific fields are also encouraged to apply for admission. In particular, the department has expanded its research and educational activities towards ...
The Data Science Ph.D. at SMU is housed in the Department of Statistics and Data Science, which belongs to three different academic units: The Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences; the Cox School of Business; and the Lyle School of Engineering. Faculty from all three of these schools and colleges participate in the program, and faculty ...
PhD Program Overview. The PhD program prepares students for research careers in probability and statistics in academia and industry. Students admitted to the PhD program earn the MA and MPhil along the way. The first year of the program is spent on foundational courses in theoretical statistics, applied statistics, and probability.
Applied Statistics (PhD) Admission is only available for the Fall semester. Required Degree. Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. Minimum GPA. 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours. Coursework.
Doctoral Curriculum. This program is designed for students who desire academic research careers. The foundation is a sequence of courses in probability, mathematical statistics, linear models and statistical computing. The program also encourages study in a cognate area of application. Up to four courses per semester may be counted toward the ...
Students should discuss this specialization option with their Ph.D. advisor and their department's director for graduate studies. The specialization consists of either five (5) courses from the lists below, or four (4) courses plus one (1) additional course approved by the curriculum committee. All courses must be taken for a letter grade and ...
The Statistics PhD program is rigorous, yet welcoming to students with interdisciplinary interests and different levels of preparation. Students in the PhD program take core courses on the theory and application of probability and statistics during their first year. The second year typically includes additional course work and a transition to ...
The Interdisciplinary PhD in Statistics (IDPS) is designed for students currently enrolled in a participating MIT doctoral program who wish to develop their understanding of 21st century statistics, using concepts of computation and data analysis as well as elements of classical statistics and probability within their chosen field of study. How ...
Statistics PhD Alumni; Statistics Career Placements; Directory; Master's Students of Data Science; James Hyunbin Jung... James Hyunbin Jung; Directory; Master's Students of Data Science [X] close; Directory; Department Administration; Administrative Offices; Administrative Staff; Faculty; Postdoctoral Research Fellows; Ph.D. Students; Bridge ...
The highly ranked Quantitative Methodology: Measurement and Statistics, Fifth Year B.A./B.S. & M.S. program provides undergraduates with an accelerated pathway to earn both their bachelor's and master's degrees in approximately five years. With the ability to analyze and interpret data is in high demand across many industries in today's data-driven world, the program is designed for highly ...
Statistics PhD Alumni; Statistics Career Placements; Directory; Master's Students of Data Science; Jiadong Zhu... Jiadong Zhu; Directory; Master's Students of Data Science [X] close; Directory; Department Administration; Administrative Offices; Administrative Staff; Faculty; Postdoctoral Research Fellows;