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Graduate Minor in Statistics
The Program
The Department of Statistics at Washington State University offers graduate training leading to a Minor in Statistics for Doctoral students. A number of students at WSU have chosen and are choosing this option. It provides the training they need to perform research in their primary field of study, but also because a statistics minor has the potential to enhance their marketability.
Academic Requirements
A graduate minor in statistics requires a total of 15 hours, 12 of which must be at the graduate level. The prospective applicant specializes in one of two areas: theoretical or applied statistics.
Theoretical statistics requires: STAT 443, STAT 556, one of: STAT 530, STAT 531, or STAT 533, and two additional 500 level statistics courses.
Applied Statistics requires: five 500 level statistics courses or four 500 level statistic courses and STAT 443.
Emphasis is on breadth, so credit toward the minor will only be given for courses that do not have a significant degree of overlap.
To Apply:
Doctoral students must have the proposed minor approved by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of Statistics.
To obtain the Graduate Minor in Statistics, a doctoral student must indicate the Graduate Minor in Statistics on their Program of Study form.
A Department of Statistics faculty member is then appointed to the student’s committee. The program will need to be signed by not only your major department chair but also by the minor department chair.
Preliminary and Final Doctoral Examinations:
The preliminary examination is intended to cover both major and minor disciplines. The minor examination may be written or oral or both. The committee member from the minor department shall vote with the major department/program.
There is no separation into major and minor fields during the final examination of the dissertation; all examiners vote on the total examination.
Courses Available
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Master's of Science Degree in Statistics
Minimum Requirements for Admission
Undergraduates considering graduate study in the Department of Statistics at Washington State University should have a major in statistics or some related field.
Students must adhere to Graduate School admission requirements, including a 3.0 grade point average during their last 60 hours of undergraduate study. The Department of Statistics requires submission of verbal and quantitative GRE scores.
Although the student's committee will determine the exact courses which will be required as preparatory for graduate study, the following is a list of minimum admission requirements:
Prerequisites for Admission
| Math 171, 172, and 273 (Calculus I, II, and III) 3 semesters Math 220 (Linear Algebra) 1 semester At least one 3-credit course in computer programming Statistical Methods 3 credits |
Recommended Prerequisties
| Math 401/402 (Analysis I and II) 2 semesters Math 420 (Linear Algebra II) 1 semester |
Master of Science Degree in Statistics Requirements:
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Statistics include at least 30 credit hours of course work, 26 of which must be graded and 4 credits of Stat 700 or 702, passage of a comprehensive oral examination and a thesis or written special project is required.
The degree program has two option areas: applied and theoretical. Courses are chosen from four field areas: Advanced Theory and Stochastic Processes, Linear Models and Multivariate Analysis, Data Analysis, and Econometrics and Time Series. For both options, the core requirements include Stat 443, 512, 530, 533, 556, at least one course in statistical computing, and a minimum of two credit hours of statistical consulting (Stat 590) spread over two semesters. The remainder of the 30 hours must include a total of at least 3 courses from 2 field areas, chosen from the following:
| Advanced Theory and Stochastic Processes: Stat 542, 544, 548, or 549. Linear Models and Multivariate Analysis: Stat 519, 520, 535. Data Analysis: Stat 422, 428, 513, 514, 515, 518, 536, 547, 555, 572, or 573. Econometrics and Time Series: Stat 516, 531, 552, 555, or 586. Special topics covered in Stat 504 or Stat 510 may be used to satisfy some of the field area requirements with approval of the student’s committee. Students who do not have a background in a field outside of statistics, mathematics, or computer science are encouraged to take at least two courses in another substantive area. |
To Apply to Washington State University Graduate School
You may apply on-line using the following secure web site: http://www.gradsch.wsu.edu or request application material from Washington State University Graduate School website: https://develop.ais.wsu.edu/ais/proact/inforqst_gradsch/inforequest.aspx. A $50.00 application fee is required of all applicants.
All applicants will need to have the Registrar’s Office send official transcripts from your undergraduate studies.
International students will need to provide Financial Certification with bank verification or scholarship letter to the Graduate School.
| Graduate School Washington State University PO Box 641030 Pullman, WA 99164-1030 |
To Apply for the Master of Science Degree in Statistics
Students seeking admission to graduate study in statistics at WSU are requested to submit a letter of application, official GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores (official TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students) to WSU’s School Code 4705, transcripts from undergraduate studies, and 3 letters of recommendation sent to:
Graduate School
Washington State University
PO Box 641030
Pullman, WA 99164-1030
Please note: When using a shipping service such as Fed Ex, UPS, or DHL, they will not deliver to our Post Office box, so you must send to the Graduate School's physical address:
Graduate SchoolStadium Way
French Administration, Room 324
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164
Application Deadline Dates
The application deadline dates for both the Department of Statistics and the Graduate School are:
| For Fall Semester (beginning mid-August) |
For Spring Semester (beginning mid-January) |
| January 10 |
July 1 |
Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis, generally in March. To be considered all application materials should be into the Department by the deadline dates listed above.
Additional Information for M.S. Students
Transfer Credit: Credit appropriate to the program of study (with a grade of B or higher) earned in other accredited graduate schools after the award of the bachelor’s degree may be transferred and applied toward a student’s graduate degree program. The number of such credit hours is limited to no more than half of the total graded course credits required.
Master’s Committee and Master’s Project: There is no thesis requirement; however, an M.S. student is required to do a special written Master's project equivalent to at least 2-4 hours of Stat 702. Therefore, early in the student's graduate program (preferably in the second semester but no later than the beginning of the third semester), he/she should obtain a project supervisor and formulate an M.S. committee. The student's project supervisor will normally serve as the head of the M.S. committee, which will usually include two additional Statistics faculty members. The student will, in cooperation with the project supervisor, develop a project proposal, which must be approved by the student's M.S. committee. The student is required to make the final draft of the project report available to the M.S. committee at least two weeks prior to the final Master's oral exam. It is the committee's responsibility to give final approval to the project.
The M.S. Examination: The final Master's oral exam is a two-hour oral exam conducted by the student's M.S. committee. The oral exam will consist of (i) a 30-minute presentation of the student's Master's project, (ii) a 15-minute period following the Master's project presentation for questions by the committee related to the results contained in the Master's project, and, (iii) a 75-minute period devoted to a comprehensive oral exam covering the material in Stat 443, Stat 512, Stat 530, Stat 533, Stat 556 as well as material covered in additional course work. The student is expected to be thoroughly familiar with a wide array of statistical concepts as contained in the list of topics and concepts obtained from the department.
Master’s Degree Program: A program of studies must be approved prior to the semester in which the M.S. examination is scheduled. The appropriate form is available in the Graduate School website at http://www.gradsch.wsu.edu/forms.htm.
Application for Degree: It is strongly recommended that the Application for Degree be filed with the Graduate School the semester before the student intends to graduate. An approved Program of Study must be on file in the Department as well as the Graduate School. Candidates may not schedule a final examination until an Application for Degree has been filed. Deadlines and Procedures for Master’s Degree, Application for Degree forms, and Final Examination Scheduling form may be obtained through the Department or the Graduate School http://www.gradsch.wsu.edu/forms.htm.
Masters in Statistics for Phd's in Other Fields
There are many disciplines and subdisciplines that require extensive advanced training in statistics to perform graduate research work. One natural avenue for students at WSU to obtain this advanced training is to pursue an M.S. in Statistics. A number of students at WSU have chosen and continue to choose this option. It provides training they need to perform research in their primary field of study and such a degree enhances their marketability.
Students enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Agricultural Economics, Economics, and Mathematics are able to receive advanced statistical training at the Master of Science level. The addition of the M.S. in Statistics degree will better prepare students to do research in their primary Ph.D. degree-granting field. By pursuing this option, a student can simultaneously be enrolled in the Statistics Program and the program of their primary Ph.D. degree-granting unit.
The idea is to design a curriculum that satisfies the requirements of both the primary Ph.D. degree-granting department and Statistics. Many of the courses in those specific Ph.D. degree-granting departments are cross-listed with Statistics. Up to 11 credits may be shared by both the M.S. and Ph.D. programs. A thesis or written special project is required for the M.S. in Statistics and may be related to the Ph.D. dissertation.
Admission Requirements
Although requirements vary from department to department, all students pursuing an M.S. in Statistics must have a background which is the equivalent of the following WSU Math courses: Calculus I, II, and III (Math 171, 172, 273) and Introductory Linear Algebra (Math 220), one 3-credit course in computer programming, and at least one 3-credit undergraduate course in statistical methods. In addition, Math 401, 402 (analysis I and II), and Math 420 (linear algebra II) or equivalent, are recommended.
Application Process
Students need to fill out an Application for Admission form with the Graduate School requesting the Statistics option program. There is no additional application fee. Students need to notify their primary department and the Department of Statistics of their intent to pursue this option prior to submission of their application.
Students on the WSU-Pullman campus may apply for admission into the M.S./Ph.D. option at any time with the approval of the department of their primary field of study.
Students will need to submit to the Department of Statistics copies of their transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation, and their GRE scores. In case of international students, TOEFL scores are also required. Copies of such supporting documents may be obtained from the Ph.D. department files. If you are applying for an assistantship with the Department of Statistics, current letters of recommendation are encouraged.
Graduation Requirements for M.S. in Statistics
For purposes of graduation, all students must complete the required graduate course work for both the M.S. in Statistics and their primary field of study.
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Statistics include at least 30 credit hours of course work, 26 of which must be graded and 4 credits of Stat 700 or 702, passage of a comprehensive oral examination, and a thesis or written special project is required.
The degree program has two option areas: applied and theoretical. Courses are chosen from four field areas: Advanced Theory and Stochastic Processes, Linear Models and Multivariate Analysis, Data Analysis, and Econometrics and Time Series. For both options, the core requirements include Stat 443, 512, 530, 533, 556, at least one course in statistical computing, and a minimum of two credit hours of statistical consulting (Stat 590) spread over two semesters. The remainder of the 30 hours must include a total of at least 3 courses from 2 field areas, chosen from the following:
Advanced Theory and Stochastic Processes: Stat 542, 544, 548, or 549.
Linear Models and Multivariate Analysis: Stat 519, 520, 535.
Data Analysis: Stat 422, 428, 513, 514, 515, 518, 536, 547, 555, 572, or 573.
Econometrics and Time Series: Stat 516, 531, 552, or 586.
Special topics may be used to satisfy some of the field area requirements with approval of the student’s committee. Students who do not have a background in a field outside of statistics, mathematics, or computer science are encouraged to take at least two courses in another substantive area.
Additional Information
In addition to the two primary advisors, the student should, set up degree committees in both the primary department and Statistics. Normally, the Ph.D. committee in the student’s primary department will consist of three to five faculty members whereas the M.S. degree committee will be comprised of three faculty members from Statistics. These committees will function independently in how they carry out unit requirements for the respective degree programs.
For application materials and further information please contact:
Chair of the Graduate Committee
Department of Statistics
P.O. Box 643144
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-3144
(509) 335-8645
E-mail: statistics@wsu.edu
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Statistics Courses
Graduate courses currently listed with the Stat prefix include:
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