All student course programs must be approved by a faculty advisor prior to registering for classes each quarter, as well as any changes throughout the quarter. (This program is offered only under the Comprehensive Examination Plan.)
48 units of course credit subject to advisor approval are needed. Up to 8 of them can be from upper-division Mathematics or related fields, subject to approval. Up to 8 of them can be graduate courses in other departments. MATH 295 and MATH 500 generally don't count toward those 48 units, and neither do seminar courses, unless the student's participation is substantial. Full-time students are required to register for a minimum of twelve (12) units every quarter, eight (8) of which must be graduate-level mathematics courses taken for a letter grade only.
The M.S. in Statistics is designed to provide recipients with a strong mathematical background and experience in statistical computing with various applications. Out of the 48 units of credit needed, required core courses comprise 28 units, including:
- MATH 281A-B-C (Mathematical Statistics)
- MATH 282A-B (Applied Statistics)
and any two topics comprising eight (8) units chosen freely from MATH 284, MATH 287A-B-C-D and MATH 289A-B-C (see course descriptions for topics).
The students are also required to take 4 units of MATH 297 (Mathematics Graduate Research Internship); although the course can be taken repeatedly for credit, only 4 units can be counted towards fulfilling the M.S. degree requirements. This MATH 297 requirement may be waived if a student has other qualified internship arrangements. The following guidelines should be followed when selecting courses to complete the remaining units:
- For a theoretical emphasis, MATH 280A-B-C (Probability Theory) is recommended.
- For an applied orientation, MATH 270A-B (Numerical Mathematics) and MATH 271A-B-C (Numerical Optimization) are recommended.
Upon special approval of the faculty advisor, the rule above, limiting graduate units from other departments to 8, may be relaxed in making up these 20 non-core units.
Comprehensive Examinations
Students must complete two written comprehensive examinations—one in mathematical statistics (MATH 281A-B-C) and one in applied statistics (MATH 282A-B), both at the master’s level (exceptions to the exams taken may be approved by a faculty adviser). Instructors of the relevant courses should be consulted for exam dates as they vary on a yearly basis.
Every master’s student must do the following:
- Attempt at least one comprehensive or qualifying examination (as suitable for the major) no later than by the end of the student’s first year
- Pass at least one comprehensive or qualifying examination by the start of the student’s second year at the master’s pass level or higher
Anyone unable to comply with this schedule will be terminated from the master’s program.
Foreign Language Requirement
There is no foreign language requirement for the M.S. in Statistics.
Time Limits
Full-time M.S. students are permitted seven (7) quarters in which to complete all requirements. While there are no written time limits for part-time students, the Department has the right to intervene and set individual deadlines if it becomes necessary, in extenuating circumstances.
Master's Transferring to Ph.D.
Any student who wishes to transfer from masters to the Ph.D. program will submit their full admissions file as Ph.D. applicants by the regular closing date for all Ph.D. applicants (end of the fall quarter/beginning of winter quarter). It is the student's responsibility to submit their files in a timely fashion, no later than the closing date for Ph.D. applications at the end of the fall quarter of their second year of masters study, or earlier. The candidate is required to add any relevant materials to their original masters admissions file, such as most recent transcript showing performance in our graduate program. Letters of support from potential faculty advisors are encouraged. The admissions committee will either recommend the candidate for admission to the Ph.D. program, or decline admission. In the event of a positive recommendation, the Qualifying Exam Committee checks the qualifying exam results of candidates to determine whether they meet the appropriate Ph.D. program requirements, at the latest by the fall of the year in which the application is received. For students in the second year of the master's program, it is required that the student has secured a Ph.D. advisor before admission is finalized. An admitted student is supported in the same way as continuing Ph.D. students at the same level of advancement are supported. Transferring from the Master's program may require renewal of an I-20 for international students, and such students should make their financial plans accordingly. To be eligible for TA support, non-native English speakers must pass the English exam administered by the department in conjunction with the Teaching + Learning Commons.
