THE MS DEGREE IN STATISTICS

This program is designed for students who wish to pursue careers as practicing statisticians in industry, government, or academia. It is also designed to prepare students for community college teaching or entry into a Ph.D. in Statistics degree program. The degree may be valuable also for people working in other fields who need mastery of a broad range of statistical methods.  Admission:  Transcript must show satisfactory completion of at least the following undergraduate courses:  basic statistical methods (stat 244 or higher), analysis, linear algebra, differential equations.

Candidates must complete an approved 45-credit program, which includes at least 33 core credits in courses with the STAT prefix. These 33 credits must include courses distributed as follows:
( also see Mathematics and Statistics Course Descriptions and 500 and 600 Level Course Offerings in Mathematics and Statistics)

CORE REQUIREMENTS (33 credits):

  • Two 9-credit sequences:
    Stat 561, 562, 563 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and
    Stat 564, 565,566 Applied Regression Analysis and Experimental Design

  • One 9-credit sequence chosen from
    Stat 661, 662, 663 Advanced Mathematical Statistics I, II, III or
    Stat 664, 665, 666 Theory of Linear Models I, II, III or
    Mth 667, 668, 669 Stochastic Processes and Probability Theory I, II, III.

  • 3 credits of Stat 570 Topics in Statistical Consulting. (one credit per quarter).

  • 3 credits of Stat 501, Statistical Literature and Problems.

ELECTIVES (12 credits):

A total of 12 elective credit hours must be completed. The following list of courses is pre-approved for elective credit.

STAT 571, 573, 576, 577, 578, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666.
MTH 567, 568, 667, 668, 669.

USP 655 Adv Data Anly: Struc Eq Modeling.

Other statistically orientated courses outside the Department and other mathematics courses may be substituted, but must be approved as electives by the statistics graduate program advisor. "Approved as elective" means that it is approved inside the 12 elective credit hours but not inside the 33 statistical credit hour core requirements. A course or sequence cannot be counted both within the 33-hour core and as an elective course or sequence.

MS EXAMINATIONS:

Students must pass two examinations, one in Mathematical Statistics which covers STAT 561, 562, 563 and one in Applied Statistics which includes the core topics covered in STAT 564, 565, 566 and two additional topic areas. Examinations are scheduled twice per year, in the Fall and in the Spring. Students may take any examination at most two times. An information sheet detailing MS examination policy as well as syllabi for the two examinations are available in the department office. Copies of previous MS examinations are also available in the department office.  For clarity, below is the grading policy for the MS Exam in Applied Statistics.

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Grading Policy for the MS Exam in Applied Statistics

 

The Applied Statistics Exam is comprised of four components:

 

  1. Applied regression analysis
  2. Design of experiments and ANOVA
  3. Topic area A
  4. Topic area B

 

Topic areas A and B are chosen by the individual student.  Each of the four components consists of a written exam portion and a separate, in-laboratory, statistical computing applications portion.  The Applied Statistics Exam may be repeated once; that is, a maximum of two tries is permitted. 

 

Grading Policy:

 

A Pass (P) or Fail (F) is given on each component 1 through 4. 

 

Decisions:

 

  Four P's equal a PASS on the exam.

  Three P's equal a CONDITIONAL PASS on the exam.  The Examination Committee will inform the student of the requirements for removal of the Conditional.

  Two or fewer P's (two or more F's) equal a FAIL on the exam.  In this case the entire exam must be retaken.

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STAT 501 STATISTICAL LITERATURE AND PROBLEMS:

In this required course for the MS in Statistics, a student works under the supervision of a faculty member in an area of probability and statistics in which the student has acquired the background needed to read current probability and statistical literature, prepare a research paper, and present this research in a colloquium. Requirements for the course are listed separately on the handout: Guidelines and Deadlines for Stat 501 Statistical Literature and Problems available in the department office.

PLANNING AN MS DEGREE PROGRAM:

The department projects its future 600-level offerings. These projections enable students to plan programs that include any necessary 500-level prerequisites. Students also need to plan a program that will prepare them to pass the two MS examinations. Students entering the program with core courses Stat 561, 562, 563 and Stat 564, 565, 566 successfully completed and considering future pursuit of the Ph.D. are encouraged to take Mth 511, 512 and in addition to the required 600 level sequence, at least one additional sequence from among Stat 661, 662, 663, Stat 664, 665, 666, and Mth 667, 668, 669. All students are urged to meet with the graduate program advisor regarding degree requirements and for help with program planning.

Admission Information

For program advising, contact Dr. Mara Tableman, bymt@pdx.edu, 503-725-3636
For admissions information, contact Eileen Mitchell, Graduate Secretary, eileenm@pdx.edu, 503-725-3605

 

Last Modified January 25, 2008