Prerequisites
- Three semesters of calculus
- Linear algebra
- Year of mathematical statistics (equivalent to STAT 1151-1152)
Students lacking some of these prerequisites may be admitted at the discretion of the Graduate Committee. They should include a paragraph in the personal statement describing their experience/coursework regarding these prerequisites.
While both MA (non-thesis option) and MS (thesis option) are valid options, we do not directly admit students into the MS program. Students who are admitted into the MA program may request to switch to the MS program during their course of study if they find faculty members to direct their master's thesis. Detailed requirements are given below.
The Master of Arts (Nonthesis) Option Requirements
Department requirements for the Master of Arts in Statistics are the completion of 30 credits
- STAT 2630-2640, Intermediate Probability and Intermediate Mathematical Statistics
- STAT 2131-2132, Applied Statistical Methods 1 and 2
- Six graduate level 3-credit statistics courses of which no more than two can be cross-listed with undergraduate courses.
- Passing the Preliminary Evaluation, equivalent to receiving grades B or higher in STAT 2630-2640 and STAT 2131-2132.
The Master of Science (Thesis) Option Requirements
Requirements #1-4 as above except that requirement #3 is reduced to four graduate courses. In addition, the student should enroll in two courses (6 credits) in STAT 2001, Research and Thesis for the Master of Science degree. To qualify for this degree option, the student must find a faculty member in the department to direct the student's thesis. For full-time students, this should be done no later than the beginning of the student's second year in graduate school. The student must write and successfully defend a master's thesis.