ISDS -- Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Graduation with Distinction: Statistical Science (STA)

Procedure for selection of students

To be eligible for graduation with distinction a student must:

have an overall GPA of at least 3.3 and a statistical science GPA of at least 3.5 maintained until graduation.
submit an application to the Director of Undergraduate Studies at least two semesters prior to graduation. The application must include a research paper (thesis) proposal including a title and a brief plan of implementation. The research proposal should be made in consultation with the student's advisor and a faculty member having expertise in the area in which the student wishes to do independent work. The application should be signed by the student, the major advisor, and the research supervising faculty member.
write a research paper (thesis) demonstrating significant independent work in statistical science, written under the supervision of a regular-rank faculty member of the Department of Statistical Science. Usually the paper will be written as part of the required two-semester STA190 seminar sequence.
present the research paper (thesis) in a seminar open to the public.

The Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Chair of the Department determine whether the applicant will be admitted to candidacy for distinction. The application will be considered in the context of the student's interest, academic record, and professional goals.

Expected Product

To graduate with distinction a student must write a research paper (thesis) demonstrating significant independent work in statistical science. The paper must be completed six weeks prior to graduation. The student must present the paper orally during the month before graduation. This presentation is open to the public.

Evaluative body

Early in the semester of the student's graduation, the Director of Undergraduate Studies will name a three-person committee, normally including the candidate's research supervisor and the major adviser, to evaluate the paper and oral presentation.

Evaluation procedure

The committee will evaluate the candidate's paper and oral presentation for quality of intellectual content, quality of writing/speaking, and originality.

Levels of distinction

The committee will determine whether distinction will be warded, and if so, the level of distinction:

Graduation with Distinction in Statistical Science,
Graduation with High Distinction in Statistical Science, or
Graduation with Highest Distinction in Statistical Science

For high distinction, the paper should represent a major intellectual accomplishment and contain original results derived by the student. For highest distinction, the candidate must produce a paper publishable in a statistical science journal.

Special courses, other activities required, comment

None