Nov 05, 2024  
University of Alberta Calendar 2024-2025 
    
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University of Alberta Calendar 2024-2025

Doctor of Philosophy with a specialization in Statistical Machine Learning (Mathematical and Statistical Sciences)

Students can alternately apply to the Department of Computing Science to participate in this program.

Program Requirements

Students entering the program with no MSc or with an MSc from this Department must complete a minimum of 32 units in coursework, including a 2-unit colloquium requirement, and a thesis. Courses taken during the MSc in this department may be included in this total.

Students entering the program with an MSc from outside the Department must complete a minimum of 20 units in coursework, including a 2-unit colloquium requirement, and a thesis.

Core Courses (12 units)

Core courses must be completed in the Entrance Year of the doctoral program

  • Two of the following:
  • Two 3-unit courses at the Department of Computing Science chosen in consultation with the supervisor.

Optional courses

  • All coursework must be chosen in consultation with the supervisor
  • Approved graduate courses offered by the Department of Computing Science may be used as deemed appropriate
    • Students taking this program through the Department of Computing Science are required to take CMPUT 603 .
    • Students taking this program through the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences may take CMPUT 603  .
  • All coursework to be counted towards the program requirements must be approved by the Associate Chair (Graduate Studies).
  • Additional coursework may be required

Graduate Colloquium (2 units)

  • Students must complete two terms of MATH 601  and give a presentation in the Graduate Colloquium, unless this requirement was fulfilled as an MSc student in the Department.

Thesis

  • Registration in 900-level THES. The principal requirement for the PhD is a substantial contribution to knowledge, embodied in a thesis.

Training and Consulting Centre

As part of the educational experience, PhD students in the Statistical Machine Learning program can participate as consultants in the Training and Consulting Centre (TCC), after having completed 39 hours as TCC observers. They are academically evaluated by the Director of the TCC. Graduate Research Assistantship Fellowships may be provided to the thesis-based graduate students involved in the TCC as consultants.

Candidacy Exam

It is strongly recommended that students take their candidacy exam before the end of their second year in the PhD program. All course requirements should have been met prior to the candidacy exam.

Entrance Year Academic Standing Requirement

By the end of the second term in the program, PhD students must have passed four core courses with a minimum GPA of 3.6. Core courses taken as an undergraduate or MSc student are included in this calculation.

Failure to meet the required GPA may result in a recommendation by the Associate Chair (Graduate Studies) to GPS that the student be placed on academic probation or required to withdraw.

Residence Requirement

To satisfy the residence requirement for the PhD, students must spend at least two years in full-time study.

For part-time students, residence requirements are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Length of Program

The program is designed to be completed within four years.

The maximum time to complete the PhD program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is six years.