Program Overview

Survey and Data Science (SURV)

The Survey and Data Science PhD Program blends together faculty with diverse disciplinary backgrounds, all devoted to teaching state-of-the-art practices in the statistical and methodological aspects of surveys. The program's faculty come primarily from the University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and Westat, supplemented by instructors from a number of federal statistical agencies.

Abstract

Both the Master of Science (program code: SUDS) and PhD in Survey and Data Science degree programs have three areas of concentration: Statistical Science, Social and Psychological Science, and Data Science.

• The statistical science area of concentration is designed for students who wish to specialize in areas such as sample design, estimation in complex samples, variance estimation, statistical measurement error models, and statistical adjustments for missing data.
• The social science area of concentration is designed for students who wish to specialize in areas such as questionnaire design, design of interviewing systems, computer assistance in data collection, effects of mode of data collection, cognitive psychological insights into survey measurement, and efforts to reduce various nonsampling errors in data collection.
• The data science area of concentration is designed for students who wish to specialize in the more computational aspects of survey methodology and research involving "big data," including data visualization, management and analysis of large and messy data sets, human-computer interaction in survey research, and machine learning algorithms.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available in the form of competitive fellowships and graduate assistantships for teaching or research.

General Requirements

• Statement of Purpose
• Transcript(s)
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)

Program-Specific Requirements

• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• CV/Resume
• Description of Research/Work Experience (optional)

Applicants to the M.S. program are expected to hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum of a 'B' average. Post-baccalaureate coursework and relevant work experience will also be used in the application evaluation. Entry to the statistical science concentration requires three undergraduate courses in calculus, one in linear algebra, and one in statistics. Entry to the social science concentration requires two undergraduate quantitative courses, at least one of which is in statistics, and at least two undergraduate courses in the social sciences. Entry to the data science concentration requires some background in computer science, with a minimum of two semesters of programming coursework, and also at least one semester of statistics.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program are expected to have a graduate degree in some field (such as statistics or psychology) that is related to survey methodology. Applicants must also demonstrate an appropriate quantitative background.

Application Deadlines

• Domestic Applicants: January 9, 2026
• International Applicants: January 9, 2026

Faculty

The program has a diverse faculty with expertise in various areas of survey methodology and data science. Some of the faculty members include:

• Katharine Abraham
• Michael Brick
• Frederick G. Conrad
• Mick P. Couper
• Michael Elliott
• Robert E. Fay
• Frauke Kreuter
• Partha Lahiri
• Yan Li
• Jill Montaquila
• Stanley Presser
• Keith Rust
• Brady West

Program Description

The Survey and Data Science PhD Program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in survey methodology and data science. The program has three areas of concentration: Statistical Science, Social and Psychological Science, and Data Science. The program is tailored to meet the needs of working students, with many class times compatible with the work day and a 12-month curriculum that offers core courses throughout the year. Research experience requirements are integrated with work activities, and courses are offered at a Federal agency facility located in Washington, D.C. and transmitted via interactive 2-way audio/video equipment to the College Park campus and the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan.