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General Description
The M.S. degree program in Statistics is designed for students
who wish to pursue a career as a statistician. The degree is also
valuable for people working in other fields who need mastery of
a broad range of statistical methods. The M.S. program consists
of courses in both theoretical and applied statistics. An incoming
graduate student who has some background in mathematics and statistics
can reasonably expect to complete an M.S. program in 4 semesters
of study, all though in
some cases, it is possible to be done in 3 semesters
.
The Graduate School offers the M.S. degree under two plans: Plan
A, which involves a thesis; and Plan B, which substitutes additional
course work and a special project for the thesis.
The School of Statistics offers this degree under the Plan B only.
Prerequisites
Applicants should have familiarity with basic statistical concepts
and methods, and mathematics through multivariable calculus and
linear algebra. Some additional post-calculus mathematics courses,
including real analysis are highly desirable.
Students who lack familiarity with C, Fortran or some other higher-level
computer programming language should plan on making up this deficiency
during the first year of graduate study. Noncredit courses for this purpose
are offered frequently by the University's Academic Computer Services
and Systems organization.
Degree
Requirements under the Semester System
The basic Graduate School requirements for a Plan B M.S. degree
are
All degree programs are planned with an adviser and are subject
to the approval of the adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Students must file an official "Degree Program" designating
the courses that will be used to satisfy the requirements for
the M.S. This is usually done in the Spring of a student's first
year.
Required courses (courses taken elsewhere may be substituted with the approval of the adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies):
| Stat 8101-2 | Theory of Statistics I, II (3-3 cr) |
and
| Stat 8061-2 | Applied Statistical Methods (4-4 cr) |
At least 9 credits must be taken from the following courses:
| Stat 5041 | Bayesian Decision Making (3 cr) |
| Stat 5201 | Sampling Methodology in Finite Populations (3 cr) |
| Stat 5401 | Applied Multivariate Methods (3 cr) |
| Stat 5601 | Nonparametric Methods (3 cr) |
| Stat 5931-2 | Topics courses (3-3 cr ) |
| Stat 8111-2 | Mathematical Statistics I, II (3-3 cr) |
| Stat 8201 | Topics in Sampling (3 cr) |
| Stat 8311 | Linear Models (4 cr) |
| Stat 8312 | Linear and Nonlinear Regression (3 cr) |
| Stat 8313 | Topics in Experimental Design (3 cr) |
| Stat 8401 | Topics in Multivariate Methods (3 cr) |
| Stat 8421 | Theory of Categorical Data Analysis (3 cr) |
| Stat 8501 | Intro. to Stochastic Processes & Applications (3 cr) |
| Stat 8701 | Computational Statistical Methods (3 cr) |
| Stat 8711 | Statistical Computing (3 cr) |
The following courses are required of all students:
| Stat 8801 | Statistical Consulting (2 cr) |
| Stat 8900 | Student Seminar (1 cr) |
Courses in statistics offered by other units may possibly be used,
with the approval of the adviser and the Director of Graduate
Studies.
Related field. In addition to the courses in the major field, a minimum of two courses is required in one or more disciplines associated with statistics, such as biostatistics, computer science, ecology, economics, public policy, sociology, or mathematics. These courses must total at least 6 credits at the 5xxx- or 8xxx-level. The program of study in a related field must be approved by the student's adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Minor. As an option, courses in a single field outside
the major can constitute an officially designated "minor"
provided that they carry at least 9 credits and are approved as
a minor program by the Director of Graduate Studies of the minor
field.
M.S. students must earn 2 credits in Stat 8801: Statistical Consulting,
as shown in the coursework requirements. This experience may involve
service in the Statistical Consulting Service as described in a later section.
One credit in Stat 8900: Student Seminar is earned through the
presentation of a seminar talk. The topic will often be the same
as the student's Plan B project, but may be simply an exposition
of work on a consulting project, if sufficiently interesting,
or a body of material from the statistical literature, which is
selected with the aid of a member of the graduate faculty.
There is no foreign language requirement.
A written M.S. examination is given twice each year, usually at
the beginning of fall semester and in the middle of spring semester. Full-time students
in the M.S. program normally take the exam in the fall of their
second year. The examination covers theoretical and applied statistics,
and probability at the level of Stat 8101-8102 and Stat 8061-8062.
Results are reported as Fail or Pass. In case of failure the student
should retake the exam the next time it is given. A student may
only take the exam twice. Students who fail a second time will
be considered separately by the School faculty and may be permitted
to proceed to a special oral exam. If this exam is passed, the
student may then proceed to his or her final M.S. oral exam.
The Plan B project is intended to supplement coursework, and provides the student a broader view of the theory and applications of statistics. The student must demonstrate familiarity with the tools of research and scholarship in statistics and the ability to work independently and present results effectively. There are two ways of meeting this requirement in Statistics.
1. By an independent investigation of some subject related to the student's program.
After two semesters of graduate study, the student selects a faculty member to direct work on the Plan B project. This faculty member usually serves as an adviser and chair of the final oral examining committee. Wide latitude is given in the selection of projects. Projects appropriate for a Plan B degree include, for example:
A consulting project in conjunction with a client of the Statistical Consulting Service.
A literature survey of an important area in applied or theoretical statistics.
The preparation of a coordinated set of statistical computer programs.
An original research project.
Projects must be approved by the advising faculty member and the Director of Graduate Studies.
2. By taking three Statistics courses at the 8xxx level, each
carrying at least three credits, and passing the written Ph.D.
preliminary examination. The additional courses must be approved
by the student's adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies,
and cannot be included in the minimum 30 credit requirement for
the M.S. degree.
A final oral examination for the M.S. degree is administered by
an examining committee which consists of two members of the Statistics
graduate faculty and one faculty member from the minor or related
area. The oral examination often focuses on the Plan B project,
but may be a comprehensive examination of the M.S. program course
work.