Ph.D. in Computer and Statistical Sciences

Milestone 1: Qualifying Exam

Computer Science

Students with a non-thesis master’s degree or students with only a bachelor’s degree are expected to take a PhD qualifying exam. Students who join the PhD program with a thesis-based master’s will have their qualifying exam requirement waived. If a student is not sure, they should contact the graduate director to confirm whether their qualifier exam requirement is waived or not. The purpose of the qualifying exam is two-fold: (1) evaluate the research preparedness of PhD students and (2) focus the PhD students toward pursuing research as soon as they start their PhD degree.

The qualifying exam will require the student to have done enough independent research work as a PhD student at URI to publish at least a workshop paper as a lead author.

  • The student should at least have a well-written, submission-ready manuscript of this paper.
  • The student is, of course, welcome to use a paper that has already been accepted or published.
  • Research work done: (1) prior to coming to URI, (2) as an undergraduate, or (3) as a master’ student can count toward the exam provided the majority of the work has to be done at UR while matriculating as a PhD student.

When the student is ready to do their qualifier, the student, in consultation with their major professor, will identify a faculty in the department who has similar lines of research. The major professor and the ONE (1) additional faculty will form a “PhD qualifier committee.” The student will send their paper to this PhD qualifier committee and schedule a time for their oral presentation at least one (1) week before the qualifier exam date.

Statistics

The qualifying examination will consist of written exams, with the purpose of testing the student’s knowledge of specific core areas for their concentration of studies. A waiver could be granted to a student from taking an exam in one of the areas where the student can demonstrate competence in that area. Waivers could be granted at the time of admission.

The qualifying examination should be taken within the first 30 program credits.

Core areas for Statistics Concentration Qualifying Exam

The qualifying examination requirements cover the material of MTH 451 and 452, STA 502, 542, and 545. These requirements are checked at the time of admission.

Milestone 2: Comprehensive Exam

Students must take a comprehensive examination, which is composed of a written examination and an oral examination. Typically, a student would be expected to take the comprehensive examination within two years after joining the program. A candidate whose comprehensive exam performance is deemed as failing by the Graduate Committee may, with the recommendation of the committee and the approval of the Graduate School, be permitted one re-examination, to be taken no sooner than four months and no later than one year after the initial examination.

Milestone 3: Dissertation Defense

Students are expected to write a Ph.D. dissertation, under the supervision of a Major Professor and a graduate committee, according to the rules established by the Graduate School.