This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. We may add courses that expose our students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning. We may also add content to the general education program that focuses on racial literacy and a racial literacy graduation requirement, and may receive notification of additional program approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

Program goal

The Ph.D. in Systems Modeling and Analysis is offered jointly by the Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research and the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. The program focuses on the development of the mathematical and computational skills used to conceptualize and analyze real-world systems. Faculty and students will engage and collaborate to contribute to the knowledge base used in the fields of science, medicine, business and engineering. The continued development of applied mathematics, discrete mathematics, operations research and statistics is critical to scientific advancement in the 21st century. The curriculum enables students to expand the frontiers of knowledge through original, relevant research involving quantitative and qualitative complex systems derived from real, contemporary problems facing our world.

Student learning outcomes

  1. Gain a solid foundation in the theory and application of applied mathematics, and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of these concepts
  2. Learn to perform appropriate collection, modeling and analysis of data using statistical methods
  3. Demonstrate the ability to identify situations in which mathematics can be applied and model the situation
  4. Demonstrate the ability to solve a wide variety of mathematics using the software commonly used in industry
  5. Demonstrate the ability to write code using appropriate research programming environments to implement research ideas
  6. Learn how to interpret the analysis from mathematical models to draw meaningful conclusions about the systems being studied
  7. Gain the ability to successfully communicate research ideas through writing and presentations
  8. Gain the skills needed to successfully participate in research under the guidance of faculty

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Degree candidacy requirements

A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.