Statistics and Stochastic Modeling (SSM)

The Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics at UCSC offers both a master's program and a doctoral program in Statistics and Stochastic Modeling (SSM). The goal of these programs is to help students develop into independent scholars who are prepared for productive careers in research, teaching, and industry. SSM students use mathematical methods and reasoning to solve real-world problems of a scientific or decision-making nature in a wide variety of subjects, in engineering, medicine, the physical and biological sciences, and the social sciences.

Applications for admission are handled by the School of Engineering.

Academic questions can be addressed to the Graduate Director , 831-459-2122, while administrative questions can be addressed to the Graduate Advisor , 831-459-5737.

Course requirements: All students must complete the first year 5-6 core courses (25-30 units) and a 3 unit course on research and teaching, together with participation in a 2-unit research seminar (AMS 280B) for one quarter per year. M.S. students must complete two additional 5-unit courses from the approved list, bringing the total unit requirements to 43 units. Students with a strong background can be relieved form some of the core courses. The first year of courses for a typical graduate student comprises the following:

Ph.D. students must complete an additional four 5-unit courses from the approved list, for a total requirement of 53 units. All core courses will be taken for a letter grade (except for AMS 280B, which will be given on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis). M.S. students will be allowed to substitute up to two courses with their required research project in which they conduct a research program in one or two of the quarters of their second year. The project will consist of the solution of a problem or problems from the selected area of application and will be presented to the sponsoring faculty member as a written document.

PhD students will be required to serve as teaching assistants for at least two quarters during their graduate study. Certain exceptions may be permitted for those with extensive prior teaching experience or those who are not allowed to be employed due to visa regulations.

Qualifying examinations: At the end of the first year, all students will take a pre-qualifying examination covering the six (non-seminar) core courses. This examination will have two parts: an in-class written exam, followed by a take-home project involving data analysis. Students who do not pass this exam will be allowed to retake it before the start of the following fall quarter; if they fail the second examination they will be dismissed from the program.

PhD students must complete the Oral Proposal Defense, through which they advance to candidacy, by the end of the spring quarter of their third year. The proposal defense is a public seminar as part of an oral qualifying examination given by the qualifying committee.

Thesis and/or dissertation requirements: A capstone project is required for the M.S. degree and a dissertation for the PhD degree. For the M.S. degree, students will conduct a capstone research project in their second year (up to three quarters). Students must submit a proposal to the potential faculty sponsor by the start of the fourth academic quarter. If the proposal is accepted, the faculty member will become the sponsor and will supervise the research and writing of the project. The project will involve the solution of a problem or problems from the selected area of application. When the project is completed and written, it will be submitted to and must be accepted by a committee of two individuals, consisting of the faculty advisor and one additional reader. The additional readers will be chosen appropriately from within AMS or outside of it. Either the advisor or the additional reader must be from within AMS.

A dissertation is required for the Ph.D. degree. Ph.D. students must select a faculty research advisor by the end of the second year. A written dissertation proposal will be submitted to the advisor, and filed with the graduate secretary. A qualifying examination committee will be formed, consisting of the advisor and three additional members, approved by the Chair of the Graduate Program and the Dean of the Graduate Division. The student will submit the written dissertation proposal to all members of the committee and the graduate secretary no less than one month in advance of the qualifying examination. The dissertation proposal will be formally presented in a public oral qualifying examination with the committee, followed by a private examination. Students will advance to candidacy after they have completed all course requirements (including removal of all incompletes), passed the qualifying examination, and paid the filing fee. Under normal progress, a student will advance to candidacy by the end of the spring quarter of her/his third year. A student who has not advanced to candidacy by the start of the fourth year will be subject to academic probation. Upon advancement to candidacy, a dissertation reading committee will be formed, consisting of the dissertation supervisor and at least two additional readers appointed by the Graduate Program Chair upon recommendation of the dissertation supervisor. At least one of these additional readers must be in AMS. The committee is subject to the approval of the Graduate Division.

The dissertation will consist of a minimum of three chapters composed of material suitable for submission and publication in major professional journals in Statistics and Stochastic Modeling. The completed dissertation will be submitted to the reading committee at least one month before the dissertation defense, which consists of a public presentation of the research followed by a private examination by the reading committee. Successful completion of the dissertation defense is the final requirement for the Ph.D. degree.

Relationship of Masters and doctoral programs: The M.S. and Ph.D. programs are freestanding and independent, so that students can be admitted to either. Students completing the M.S. program may proceed into the Ph.D. program, and students in the Ph.D. program will receive a M.S. degree upon completion of M.S. requirements, including the capstone research project. Each Ph.D. student will be required to have knowledge of Statistics and Stochastic Modeling equivalent to that required for the M.S. degree. In addition, Ph.D. candidates will be required to complete coursework beyond the M.S. level.

Transfer Credit: Up to three School of Engineering courses fulfilling the degree requirements of either the M.S. or PhD degrees may be taken before beginning the graduate program through the concurrent enrollment program. PhD students who have previously earned a master's degree in a related field at another institution may substitute courses from their previous university with approval of the adviser and the graduate committee. Courses from other institutions may not be applied to the M.S. degree course requirements. Petitions should be submitted along with the transcript from the other institution or UCSC extension. For courses taken at other institutions, copies of the syllabi, exams, and other course work should accompany the petition. Such petitions are not considered until the completion of at least one quarter at UCSC. At most, a total of three courses may be transferred from concurrent enrollment and other institutions.

Review of Progress: Each year, the faculty reviews the progress of every student. Students not making adequate progress towards completion of degree requirements (see Graduate Handbook for policy on satisfactory academic progress) are subject to dismissal from the program. For specific guidelines on the annual student reviews, please follow this.