Degree Programs

First Year Qualifying Exams

At the end of the first year of study, all students are required to take the first-year statistical theory exam (administered jointly by Statistics, Biostatistics and QERM) and the first-year applied methods examination (administered by QERM).

Students entering the program with little or no statistical background are advised to consider taking the following courses in their first year for preparation in this area:

Students entering the program with a master’s degree in statistics are not required to take STAT 512-513 (Statistical Inference I and II) if they have already had the necessary background. However, they must take a screening examination in September offered by the Biostatistics Department to determine their competence. This "challenge" examination does not count as one of the two attempts to pass the statistical theory qualifying exam. These students are still required to take the statistical theory examination after their first year of study.

Generally, it is advised that all students take Statistical Inference I and II (STAT 512-513) in the year they take the statistical theory qualifying examination and Analysis of Ecological and Environmental Data (QERM 514), Applied Ecological Modeling (QERM 550), and Introduction to Mathematical Biology (AMATH 422) in the year they take the applied methods qualifying examination.

Master’s students must pass both the applied and statistical theory exams at the master's degree level to remain in the QERM program. Failure to pass either examination after a second attempt will result in the student’s graduate enrollment being terminated. The applied methods or theory exams must be retaken in their entirety.

For students to continue into the QERM doctoral degree program, both the applied methods and statistical theory exams must be passed at the doctoral level. A student receiving at the master's level may be reexamined one additional time to achieve a doctoral level pass. If a doctoral pass is not achieved after the second attempt, the student may not proceed into the doctoral degree program. The applied methods or statistical theory exam must be retaken in their entirety.