View this page as a pdf document: Graduate Programs in Statistics: Effective Fall 2011 (refer to the pdf document: Graduate Programs in Statistics: Prior to Fall 2011) The master's program in statistics prepares students for careers as professional statisticians or for entry into the Ph.D. program. It includes a solid foundation in statistical computing, statistical modeling, experimental design, and mathematical statistics, plus electives in statistical methods and/or theory. Students have the opportunity to concentrate on theory, applications, or a combination of the two. The Graduate College requires a GPA of at least 2.75 to graduate, but the department requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the M.S. degree. This includes all courses used to meet degree requirements plus additional courses that are relevant to the student's program. A computer programming proficiency test is administered early in the first semester of study. Students who display inadequate programming skills will be assigned activities to build their proficiency. Students must complete at least 33 semester hours of course work to earn the M.S. degree in statistics. Course Requirements All of these: STAT:5090 (22S:170) ALPHA Seminar (1 s.h.) STAT:5100 (22S:193) Statistical Inference I (3 s.h.) STAT:5101 (22S:194) Statistical Inference II (3 s.h.) STAT:5200 (22S:164) Applied Statistics I (4 s.h.) STAT:5201 (22S:165) Applied Statistics II (3 s.h.) STAT:5400 (22S:166) Computing in Statistics (3 s.h.) STAT:6220 (22S:173) Statistical Consulting (3 s.h.) STAT:6300 (22S:195) Probability and Stochastic Processes I (3 s.h.) STAT:6990 (22S:197) Readings in Statistics (2 s.h.) At least three of these: STAT:4520 (22S:138) Bayesian Statistics (3 s.h.) STAT:5120 (22S:190) Mathematical Methods for Statistics (3 s.h.) STAT:6301 (22S:196) Probability and Stochastic Processes II (3 s.h.) STAT:6510 (22S:162) Applied Generalized Regression (3 s.h.) STAT:6530 (22S:167) Environmental and Spatial Statistics (3 s.h.) STAT:6540 (22S:161) Applied Multivariate Analysis (3 s.h.) STAT:6547 (22S:163) Nonparametric Statistical Methods (3 s.h.) STAT:6560 (22S:156) Applied Time Series Analysis (3 s.h.) STAT:6970 (22S:172) Topics in Statistics (3 s.h.) STAT:7000+ (22S:200+) any Ph.D.-level course (3 s.h.) Graduate Core Examination Students must also successfully pass a two-part Graduate Core Examination covering the topics in the core courses. One part covers the topics in STAT:5100 (22S:193) and STAT:5101 (22S:194), and the other part covers the topics in STAT:5200 (22S:164), STAT:5201 (22S:165), and STAT:5400 (22S:166). Each examination will have a few optional problems intended to test readiness for entering the Ph.D. program. Study guides are available in the departmental office. The exams are offered during the week prior to classes in August and in January. Students who are unsuccessful in their first attempt may repeat the exam only one time. A student must graduate with the M.S. degree within one calendar year of passing the Graduate Core Examination; failure to meet this deadline will require re-examination of the student. Creative Component Students must also complete a Creative Component that is related to their application and career interests. This entails writing an 8- to 15-page report on a suitable topic, under an advisor's supervision [via two consecutive 1-s.h. enrollments in STAT:6990 (22S:197) Readings in Statistics, normally during the fall and spring semesters of the second year]. A draft of the paper should be completed by the end of the first enrollment in STAT:6990 (22S:197), and polished by mid-semester in the second enrollment. It will then be presented orally in a public seminar and evaluated by a faculty committee. The M.S. Creative Component requirement may also be satisfied by completing the Creative Component of the Ph.D. program. The Graduate Core Examination and the Creative Component together comprise the Graduate College requirement of the M.S. Final Examination. Plan of Study The applicant for a master's degree must file a Plan of Study, approved by the advisor and the DEO, with the Graduate College within the session in which the M.S. degree is to be awarded, and by a date to be established by the Graduate College dean. The Plan shall meet the requirements for the degree approved by the graduate faculty. If a student makes a change in his or her Plan of Study (i.e., adds a course which is not on the Plan, or deletes a course which is on the Plan), he or she must file an Application for Change in Plan of Study. Application for Degree The student must file an application for an anticipated degree with the Registrar not later than ten weeks after the start of the semester or one week after the start of the summer session in which the degree will be conferred. The student must have the application signed by his or her advisor. Failure to file the Application for Degree by the deadline will result in postponement of graduation to a subsequent session. Students must be registered for the semester in which they graduate. Students who have completed their coursework may register for GRAD:6001 (000:001) Master's Final Registration for 0 s.h. with their advisor's approval. M.S. Timeline The timeline below describes the key milestones in the M.S. program. Meeting these milestones on time constitutes "adequate progress" toward the M.S. degree. See also the sample schedule below. Year 1 Complete at least 16 semester hours of coursework with a GPA of at least 3.0, including courses needed to prepare for the Graduate Core Examination. Participate in STAT:5090 (22S:170) ALPHA Seminar. Year 2 Take the Graduate Core Examination before classes start in the fall. If necessary, re-take the exam in January. Complete the remaining coursework with a GPA of at least 3.0, meeting the requirements of the M.S. program. Satisfactorily complete the creative component requirement (draft by end of fall, polished and presented by mid-spring). Complete the Plan of Study. File the Application for Degree. Sample Schedule for M.S. Students in Statistics Year Fall Semester Spring Semester 1 STAT:5090 ALPHA Seminar STAT:5100 Statistical Inference I STAT:5200 Applied Statistics I STAT:5400 Computing in Statistics STAT:5101 Statistical Inference II STAT:5201 Applied Statistics II STAT:5120 Mathematical Methods for Statistics, or STAT:6301 Probability and Stochastic Processes II, or STAT:6560 Applied Time Series Analysis, or an elective 2 [Graduate Core Examination] STAT:4520 Bayesian Statistics, or STAT:6540 Applied Multivariate Analysis, or STAT:6970 Topics in Statistics, or an elective STAT:6300 Probability and Stochastic Processes I STAT:6990 Readings in Statistics (1 s.h.) STAT:6220 Statistical Consulting STAT:6510 Applied Generalized Regression, or STAT:6530 Environmental and Spatial Statistics, or an elective STAT:6990 Readings in Statistics (1 s.h.)

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