Statistics Programs

COSAM Departments Mathematics & Statistics Students Graduate Students Graduate Statistics Programs



Information on all Mathematics and Statistics graduate programs may be found on the AU Bulletin. Prospective students may learn more about admissions on our Prospective Graduate Students page.

Master of Science in Statistics (Non-Thesis)

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a degree program leading to a non-thesis Master of Science in Statistics. This degree is designed to provide a suitable mix of theoretical and applied background for students interested in a career in statistics. The curriculum provides students with the necessary technical, analytical and interpretive skills required of professional statisticians while concentrating on education in the fundamentals of statistics and its interdisciplinary nature. These students are required to complete a project that may involve statistical consulting, programming, and/or data analysis. Learn more on the AU Bulletin.

Program Requirements

STAT 7980 Special Project                      3
STAT 6600 Probability and Statistics for Data Science             3
18 Credits in STAT 6000-8999 (at most 6 credits in STAT 6000-6999)         18
  6 Credits in @ 6000-8999                       6

Total Hours                             30

Master of Science in Statistics (Thesis)

The Master of Science in Statistics degree is designed to provide a suitable mix of theoretical and applied background for students interested in a career in statistics. The curriculum provides students with the necessary technical, analytical and interpretive skills required of professional statisticians while concentrating on education in the fundamentals of statistics and its interdisciplinary nature. Course offerings are structured to give students a variety of choices of specialization in order to pursue a career in academia, government or industry and/or further their pursuit of a Ph.D. degree in statistics. The student must complete and defend a thesis and obtain a passing score on the related oral examination. Learn more on the AU Bulletin.

Program Requirements

STAT 7990                                4
STAT 6600                              3
17 Credits in STAT 6000-8999 (at most 6 credits in STAT 6000-6999)         17
  6 Credits in @ 6000-8999                          6

Total Hours                              30

 

Master of Data Science and Engineering - Data Science Option

The Master of Data Science and Engineering degree is offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics jointly with the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering. Students may choose one of two options: the data science option, managed by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, or the data engineering option, managed by the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering. The program prepares students for careers in data science and engineering, where valuable insights are derived from massive amounts of raw data. Our curriculum offers a balance between theory and applications, equipping students with basic skills and state-of-the-art methodologies related to the next generation of big data applications. The program blends graduate-level courses in core topics like data mining, machine learning, and statistical learning, and includes a wide variety of electives as well as a capstone experience, in which students apply their knowledge and skills to a real-world application scenario.

Recommended Plan of Study

  • Year 1 Fall: Stat 6000, Stat 6600, Comp 6120
  • Year 1 Spring: Stat 6650, Comp 6630, Comp 6130
  • Year 2 Fall: Stat 7940, Stat elective I, Stat elective II, Comp elective I,  
  • Required: Stat 6000, Stat 6600, Stat 6650, Stat 7940, Comp 6120, Comp 6130, Comp 6630

Required background: COMP 1210/2210 Fundamentals of Computing I/II, COMP 3270 Introduction to Algorithms, MATH1610/1620 Calculus I/II, STAT 3600/3610 Probability and Statistics I/II, MATH 2660 Topics in Linear Algebra. 

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics with Concentration in Statistics

The Ph.D. in Mathematics with Concentration in Statistics is a research degree. The goal of the program is to develop in students the ability to think and work independently, vigorously, and creatively in the field of statistics. Graduates will be prepared for employment in colleges and universities, government or industrial research labs, and industries that require statistical analysis and methodology.

Students will be required to pass three preliminary written examinations (prelims) and a general oral examination, covering their major and minor fields of study; to prepare a doctoral dissertation, reflecting high achievement in scholarship and independent investigation; and to defend the dissertation in a final oral examination. We expect graduates to present their research in professional settings and to publish the results in professional journals.

For details about the degree requirements, see the AU Bulletin.

Recommended Plan of Study

  • Year 1 Fall: 7000/7020, 7600, (MATH prelim sequence I)
  • Year 1 Spring: 7010, 7610, (MATH prelim sequence II)
  • Year 2 Fall: 7620, 7030, (MATH prelim sequence I)
  • Year 2 Spring: 7800, 7840, (MATH prelim sequence II)

General Notes

  • Students with some statistical background can skip STAT 7000 and take STAT 7020 directly in Fall of the first year.
  • A student usually takes 3 courses in a regular semester.
  • The courses for a PhD student after two years should be discussed with his/her advisor.