Statistics

Graduate Certificate

  • B.S. or equivalent degree from an accredited university,
  • Knowledge of College Algebra

Master's Program in Applied Statistics

In addition to the Graduate School requirements, the applicant must:

  • Have had at least one year of calculus,
  • Have had at least one course in statistics, and
  • Have had at least one programming language 

Joint Master's Program in Computer Science and Statistics

To be admitted with full status into the M.S. program in computer science and statistics, the applicant must satisfy the admission requirements for both the M.S. program in computer science and the M.S. program in applied statistics.


Ph.D. Program in Statistics

In addition to the Graduate School requirements, the applicant must:

  • Have an M.S. degree in statistics or related area

Students not holding a master's degree in statistics or a closely related field will not be admitted to the Ph.D. program in statistics. These students must first apply to the M.S. program in applied statistics and complete the M.S. degree.


Ph.D. Program in Statistics (with Emphasis in Sports Statistics)

In addition to the Graduate School requirements, the applicant must:

  • Have an M.S. degree in statistics or related area and some knowledge or interest in sports

Financial Assistance

Teaching assistantships are available. To be considered for an assistantship, the application must be complete with the Graduate School no later than March 15.

 Graduate Certificate

  • Students hoping to earn the certificate must take 12 semester credit hours consisting of graduate level courses in statistics. 
    • STAT 725 Applied Statistics  needs to be the first course taken for students with little or no prior knowledge of statistics. No credit will be given for STAT 725 for the certificate if it is not the first course taken.
    • Statistics courses numbered 700-724 do not count towards this degree. 
    • Students in the certificate program cannot receive credit for both STAT 661 Applied Regression Models and STAT 726 Applied Regression and Analysis of Variance STAT 726 is recommended. 
    • Students in this program cannot receive credit for both STAT 670 Statistical SAS Programming and STAT 671 Introduction to the R Language.
  • Students need to apply to the graduate certificate program in Statistics at least one semester prior to completion.

  • After completing the requirements for the certificate, please contact the Department of Statistics to verify completion. 

Master of Science in Applied Statistics

The program for the M.S. degree in applied statistics requires 32 semester credits with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. An oral defense of a research-based thesis or paper is required.

Complete a set of core courses* with a grade of B or better, including15
Applied Regression Models
Introduction to Experimental Design
Multivariate Methods
Generalized Linear Models
Probability and Mathematical Statistics I
Probability and Mathematical Statistics II
Complete an additional 9-12 hours (depends on number of research hours) of course work selected from the following courses:9-12
Applied Survey Sampling
Nonparametric Statistics
Discrete Data Analysis
Introduction to Biostatistics
Statistical SAS Programming
Introduction to the R Language
Time Series
Actuarial Statistical Risk Analysis
Introductory Survival and Risk Analysis I
Introductory Survival and Risk Analysis II
Biostatistics
Introduction to Bioinformatics
Survival Analysis
Using Statistics in Sports
Advanced Inference
Special Topics
Bayesian Statistical Inference
Applied Spatial Statistics
Research (Master's Paper 2-4 credits; Master's Thesis 6-10 credits)
Master's Thesis
Master's Paper
Must have 15 hours of 700-800 level courses.

*If one of these courses has been taken at the undergraduate level, another graduate level course should be substituted. STAT 725 Applied Statistics and STAT 726 Applied Regression and Analysis of Variance will not be counted for this degree program.

  • A plan of study must be submitted at least one semester prior to graduation.
  • Pass a written comprehensive exam. This exam consists of two sections. Exam 1 covers STAT 767 Probability and Mathematical Statistics I and STAT 768 Probability and Mathematical Statistics II. Exam 2 covers STAT 661 Applied Regression ModelsSTAT 662 Introduction to Experimental Design and STAT 764 Multivariate Methods or STAT 874 Generalized Linear Models. Exam 1 is two hours and Exam 2 is three hours. These exams are offered during approximately the fifth week of each semester. A maximum of two attempts is allowed.
  • Complete and successfully defend the research thesis or paper. 

Ph.D. Degree in Statistics

The program for the Ph.D. degree requires an additional 30 credits of course work beyond the M.S. degree and 30 hours of research. An oral defense of a dissertation is required. All students entering program must have an M.S. degree in statistics or closely related field.  Any core course (or similar course) required for the M.S. degree that has not been taken before entering the Ph.D. program, must be taken before obtaining the Ph.D. degree.  This may require additional course work beyond the 30 credits depending on the area in which the M.S. degree was obtained.

Successfully complete two 1-credit practicums in Consulting/Presentation Practicum. Each statistical practicum will be listed as STAT 794 Practicum/Internship                                                                                                             

Complete at least 30 semester credits of statistics courses at the 600- to 800-level (does not include STAT 725 Applied Statistics STAT 726 Applied Regression and Analysis of Variance). At least 15 credits must be at the 700- to 800-level. Students must take STAT 786 STAT 764 Multivariate Methods  and STAT 774  if not taken at the M.S. level. 

Upon approval by the adviser and advisory committee, up to 9 hours may be taken in Mathematics or Computer Science. It is recommended that a student have knowledge of real analysis at some level such as MATH 650 Real Analysis I .

  • A plan of study must be submitted at least one semester prior to graduation.
  • Pass a written comprehensive exam. This exam consists of two sections. Exam 1 covers STAT 767 and STAT 768. Exam 2 covers STAT 661, STAT 662 and STAT 764 or STAT 774. Exam 1 is two hours and Exam 2 is three hours. These exams are offered during approximately the fifth week of each semester. A maximum of two attempts is allowed.
  • Submit a research proposal and pass an oral exam on the proposal and related topics.
  • Complete and successfully defend the research dissertation.
Core Courses
STAT 661Applied Regression Models3
STAT 662Introduction to Experimental Design3
STAT 764Multivariate Methods3
or STAT 874 Generalized Linear Models
STAT 767Probability and Mathematical Statistics I3
STAT 768Probability and Mathematical Statistics II3
Additional statistics courses, not including STAT 725 or STAT 72630
If not taken at the M.S. level, student must take STAT 764, STAT 774, STAT 786.
Doctoral Dissertation
Total 60

Ron Degges, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2011
Field: Sampling, Regression Analysis

Seung Won Hyun, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, 2010
Field: Optimal Designs, Adaptive Designs, Clinical Trials

Rhonda Magel, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-Rolla, 1982
Field: Nonparametrics, Inference Under Order Restrictions, Regression

Megan Orr, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 2012
Field: Biostatistics, Gene Expression Analysis, High-Dimensional Data, Analysis and Multiple Testing

Gang Shen, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 2009
Field: Mathematical Statistics, Asymptotic Theory, Bayesian Analysis, Change-Point Problem

Yarong Yang, Ph.D.
Northern Illinois University, 2010
Field: Machine Learning, Spatial Statistics, Bayesian Statistics, Bioinformatics