Program Description
The Master of Science in Statistical Practice (MSSP) is designed for students who want to acquire fundamental training in statistics and how it is applied in fields like economics, education, law, management, science, and social science, to real world problems. In addition to students with traditional undergraduate training in statistics and mathematics, it also It is suitable for students with backgrounds in fields like biology, bioinformatics, economics, management, neuroscience, psychology, and various areas of engineering. The program requires 32 credits (8 courses), which can be completed in as little as 1 year as a full-time student.
Part-time Status
Domestic s
tudents admitted to the MSSP program are eligible to enroll in part-time status. International students are not eligible for part-time status.
While enrollment in fewer than 12 credits is considered part-time, part-time students typically register for 8 credits (2 courses) per semester.
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Requirements for the MS Degree in Statistical Practice
Mathematics Bootcamp — Pre-Prepare in the Summer
Students admitted to the MSSP program attend a “bootcamp” in the weeks immediately prior to beginning their first semester. Bootcamp provides review and an extension of each student’s current mathematical knowledge to ensure that you are well-prepared for the required coursework. Bootcamp will focus particularly on key topics from probability and linear algebra, as well as reviewing relevant aspects of calculus and basic programming. Bootcamp is an integral component of the MSSP program, and critical for building successful teams throughout the rest of the year. It is therefore required, and is typically held during the last two weeks of August.
Coursework — Build a Solid Foundation
The MSSP program requires the successful completion of eight courses (32 credits), including five core courses and three electives. These courses are designed to provide a foundational sequence of statistics courses designed to reinforce and extend your quantitative background while providing essential instruction in statistical theory and analytic methodology.
Core courses
- GRS MA 675 & 676 – Statistics Practicum I & II
- More Information on the Practicum can be found here
- GRS MA 677 – Conceptual Foundations of Statistics
- This course is designed specifically for graduate students with quantitative backgrounds. The goal of the course is to provide an accelerated introduction to key topics in probability, mathematical statistics, linear modeling, time series, and non-parametric statistics.
- GRS MA 678 & 679 – Applied Statistical Modeling & Applied Statistical Machine Learning
- In the first semester, emphasis is placed on classical topics that form the core of the working statistician’s toolbox, while in the second semester, the focus broadens to introduce students to a variety of topics in modern statistical machine learning and data mining.
Electives
- 1 statistics elective at the level of 500 or above
- 2 course electives from statistics or a complementary discipline at the level of 500 or above
Elective requirements may be fulfilled through a combination of graduate-level courses in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and/or courses in other related disciplines. Electives must be approved by a statistics advisor.
Full-time students can complete the program in as little as 1 year (2 semesters), though many choose to complete their requirements in 1.5 years (3 semesters). Part-time students typically complete the program in 2 years (4 semesters).
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Practicum — Put It All Together
All MSSP students are required to take a two-semester practicum course, MA675/676, aimed at developing the communication skills required in doing statistics in practice while integrating those skills with quantitative training received in both this and other statistics courses. These goals will be accomplished throughout, with an emphasis on statistical consulting complemented by a series of modules on speaking, writing, software and programming, and data analysis. All MSSP students must successfully complete a final report/portfolio that is the end result of the consulting experiences gained through the statistics practicum.
